Free Still House Pond by Jan Watson

their eyes, and several men cleared their throats. Manda was mesmerized. She didn’t notice when Gurney took his arm away.
    The auctioneer broke the spell when he called for the auctioning of the maids’ boxes.
    The musicians leaned their instruments against the wall. Two men stepped off the stage and headed for the door. The middling man rolled a cigarette.
    Lilly and Jay, Dance’s eldest son, appeared at Manda’s side. They were going to eat with her and whoever bid the most for her box supper.
    The children clutched at her, pulling her toward the maids’ table. Manda looked over her shoulder and saw the middling man strike a match on the sole of his shoe to light his smoke. He squinted with his first puff. Was he still looking at her? Her hands trembled inside the children’s clasp. What if he bought her box? Her heart skipped a beat.
    â€œAunt Manda,” Jay said, “look, the auctioneer’s holding up your parcel. Reckon who will buy it?”
    â€œEverybody knows Gurney Jasper will,” Lilly said. “He’s Manda’s beau. Right, Manda?”
    Manda didn’t answer.
    When the auctioneer called for bids on her supper, nary a soul bid against Gurney. After he claimed his prize, Gurney selected one of the school desks pushed up against the back wall and spread the supper across its top. Lilly and Jay took a chicken leg each. Gurney smiled so big that mustard-style potato salad spilled from the corner of his mouth. Manda handed him one of the red- and white-checked napkins she’d ironed this morning. He wiped his mouth on one corner.
    â€œThis here will put a man in hog heaven,” Gurney said.
    Manda split a biscuit for the children. “I’m glad you like it.”
    â€œWhat’s not to like? Say, you ain’t et a bite.”
    Manda’s emotions churned like the butter she spread on the biscuit. She couldn’t wait for the music to resume. All she wanted was to watch the middling man again.
    When they had finished supper, Cara came over and claimed the children. “Gurney asked permission from Dimmert to see you home,” she whispered in Manda’s ear. “Don’t worry about Lilly. I’ll take care of her. You have some fun.”
    So she was supposed to jump at the chance to ride home with Gurney? It was just taken for granted? Says who? Then again, Dimmert and Cara were likely to leave earlier than Gurney. If she let him take her home, she could stay until the very end of the dance like the other young folks would do. This could work in her favor. “Thanks,” she said.
    â€œSounds like they’re starting the cakewalk,” Cara said with a tinge of excitement. “I hope my chocolate cake brings a lot of money. I think the school board’s buying maps of the world for the students with the proceeds.” She squeezed Manda’s shoulder. “See you later.”
    Manda always enjoyed cakewalks. It was lots of fun watching.
    Gurney nudged her. “See that cake at the end of the table? The widow Sparrow always brings one.”
    â€œIt looks like a fruitcake,” Manda said.
    â€œIt is a Christmas cake—leftover that is. One year my pa bid on it out of kindness. We used it for a doorstop.”
    Manda laughed. “You did not.”
    Gurney held his right hand aloft. “Upon my honor.”
    After several rounds of heavy bidding on all manner of confections, Mrs. Sparrow’s doorstop cake was the only one remaining. Manda was interested to see what would happen. Who would take pity on the poor widow this time?
    Joe Little looked at the cake. He looked at Mrs. Sparrow. “I believe I’ll buy this one myself,” he said, bringing his gavel down with a smack.
    Soon Mrs. Sparrow will be baking cakes for a passel of young’uns, Manda surmised. Better her than me.
    The fun picked up as the evening progressed. By nine o’clock most of the families with children had gone and