by G M Barlean
Betty kept her fingers laced together on top of the table as she stared out the window with worry in her eyes, as though the answer was somewhere out in the trees.
Gloria realized her own fingers were laced together in much the same way.
Then Debbie leaned forward and stubbed out her cigarette with sharp, angry motions. She locked eyes with Gloria. Dark memories shrouded the old woman’s glare as she blew the remnants of smoke out of the side of her wrinkled mouth.
Gloria held her breath, then Debbie’s raspy voice escaped like a threat. “You sure you don’t have any other agenda?”
Gloria swallowed hard. Was now the time? No. Not yet. “I’d like to know why you decided to see me after the way I acted when we first met.”
“I guess there’s just something about you.” Debbie’s eyes sparked. “We visited and decided to give you one more chance.”
The others nodded in agreement and watched Gloria closely.
“And you know what, sweetheart? We do have a helluva story. So buckle up. This story may get a little bit weird. But it’s a good one. I promise you that. And when it’s all said and done, you may learn a little something more than you even realized you came for.”
Goose bumps crawled up Gloria’s arms, but she kept her mouth shut. Not only was now not the time—she was beginning to wonder if there would ever be a good time to ask any of these women if they had once given a child up for adoption. Maybe she’d just as soon not know. Maybe her mom was right after all. She might not like what she found out.
Chapter 6
Gloria readied her pen. She could sense by the women’s furtive glances at each other that they were about to start telling their story.
“Where do we start?” Betty asked the other women.
Debbie banged her fist on the table, shaking the ashtray and the stubs within. “At the funeral!” she yelled.
Everyone jolted in their chairs, and Gloria began to wonder about the stability of Debbie’s mind.
Tanya set her mouth in a hard line and tears formed in her eyes. “I think we should start on the night Mari died.” She pushed her finger under her thick glasses and rubbed a tear away.
Gloria’s eyebrow rose. Mari? Who was that? But she didn’t have time to ask. More ideas flowed from the four women.
“Or the night we…” Josie left the remainder of the sentence hanging in the air like the smoke from Debbie’s cigarette.
Gloria held her breath. Yes. It was right where she wanted them to start.
Betty shook her head. “No. We need to start in the beginning. This all began back in high school, senior year… We were seventeen.”
The group of women nodded in agreement and murmured to each other.
When you were seventeen? Dear Lord. This is going to take forever. Gloria imagined sitting in this room, listening to these women chatter on about their youth for months on end. Patience was not one of her virtues. She groaned, but not out loud. But the more they talked, the more story she would get. And if they wanted to start back in the stone age instead of where Gloria would have liked them to begin, so be it.
Betty stood up and began to pace back and forth. It looked like she was putting her thoughts together. After a few minutes, Betty took her seat and faced Gloria. She took a deep breath. “It was a long time ago—1950. We were all in the same graduating class with Mari.” She glanced around at the other women as if asking permission to begin the story.
They nodded in approval. Even Debbie.
“Who is Mari? Gloria asked.
“Mari Brent was our friend. We were all like sisters.” Betty reached out and grabbed the wrinkled hands of the two women on either side of her. The others did the same, forming a circle that excluded Gloria. It looked to be a bond stronger than anything the world could throw at them.
“We were always together. We went to grade school and high school together, raised our kids together, went to the same church. Our kids even ended up going to the same high school we attended.”
“And then that bitch, Naomi, killed Mari.” Debbie banged her fist on the table again, almost sending the ashtray flying.
What the hell?
Gloria scooted her chair back and stared at Debbie, then looked around at the other women. This was new information. Naomi had killed someone? This was something that hadn’t been in the papers.
Josie put her hand on Debbie’s arm. “Calm down. Naomi is long gone. She can’t hurt us anymore.”
“I know, but she didn’t suffer enough. We ended up suffering more than she did, and it wasn’t right.” Hatred shadowed Debbie’s eyes. Her words hissed out between gritted teeth.
“Calm down, Debbie. Anyway,” Betty continued, “it was 1950, and we were all seniors in high school. It was a wonderful time in our lives, and we were all having a grand year.”
For a moment, Gloria hesitated. Maybe she should tell Betty she had to start the story in ’74 when Naomi went missing. But the women were all smiling. A flash of youth filled their faces with joy. Memories of poodle skirts and saddle shoes, ponytails and sock hops, danced across their faces. Betty had such peace in her eyes. If the old woman wanted to start the story with their glory days, there had to be a reason.
Betty’s face darkened. “Then Naomi Waterman moved to town.”
The mood in the room went sour in a split second.
“She waltzed into that school and ruined our senior year.” The wrinkles in Betty’s brow deepened.
“And she tried to ruin the rest of our lives.” Tanya’s tears began to flow.
“We let her ruin our lives,” Josie mumbled as she pulled her handkerchief out from the end of her sleeve and dabbed at her moist eyes.
Betty waved her hand to shush them. “Anyway, it was homecoming. Mari had always been the nicest girl in the class. Everyone loved her.”
The other women nodded.
“She was never mean to a soul, was she?” she asked the others.
They shook their heads.
“And Mari and Doug Talbot were going steady—going to get married after he graduated from law school.”
Gloria perked up. Talbot. Naomi’s last name.
“Mari and Doug started dating sophomore year. No one thought of only Mari or only Doug. It was always Mari and Doug. They were the perfect couple.”
Tanya sniffled.
Josie sighed.
Betty continued, “I was out on the dance floor, a few steps away from Mari and Doug when Naomi Waterman walked through the doors of the school gym.”
Betty’s voice was mesmerizing, taking Gloria back—way back—to a time filled with school dances, pretty dresses, and nostalgic music. As Betty spoke, the words came alive, painting scenes into Gloria’s mind as she settled back and listened, nearly forgetting her role as a reporter while she fell comfortably into the tale.
Betty Starts the Story—1950
Jack Anderson gazed into my eyes. He spun me out and my dress twirled, brushing against my legs. I loved that dress. Made me feel like a princess when I danced.
He was trying hard to hold me close, but I wasn’t much interested in him. I kept exchanging glances with Mari… rolling my eyes about Jack’s advances.
Mari and Doug were homecoming king and queen, and Jack and I their runners-up, sharing the spotlight dance.
Mari’s head leaned against Doug’s shoulder and his chin rested on her head. Their arms hung down by their sides and their fingers were clasped together as they swayed in the center of the dance floor. I remember watching them and wondering what it would be like to be so in love.
Nat King Cole was singing “Mona Lisa.” Mari wore a light pink skirt dress with little burgundy dots and a white lace collar. She was the Olivia de Havilland of the school and Doug the Jimmy Stewart. Doug’s dark blond hair and strong jaw, Mari’s soft eyes and graceful smile… the dim lights, the soft music… everything was perfect.
Then the gym doors opened and closed with a heavy clang. Heads turned and the new girl, Naom
i Waterman, came strutting in like she owned the place. She wore a silky red dress and her full bosom almost burst from the bodice. Her pointy-toed, black spiked heels clicked on the floor, and her long red hair flowed over her shoulders like Bette Davis in All About Eve. She’d moved here from California and held her nose high, looking down on us small-town girls.
The eyes of every boy—and most girls—in the gym were drawn to her like magnets. She’d come to the dance alone, something not many of the girls had the courage to do. Her dress was sleek and expensive—most likely something she’d bought in California. The rumor was her parents had money.
Most of us wore crisp cotton with rounded collars and soft hairstyles, pink lipstick, and a little light blush on our cheeks. But Naomi slinked around like something from the pictures in Vogue, painted up and full of curves, like nothing any of us had ever seen in person. Those emerald eyes with long false lashes, the clear and obvious outline of her hips, those shapely calves, the bright red lips and heaving cleavage… how could we not all stare?
But not Mari. Her eyes were closed as she smiled and snuggled into Doug’s shoulder while they swayed to the music. She was completely oblivious to Naomi’s grand entrance.
Doug, on the other hand, couldn’t take his eyes off the vixen.
It soured my stomach. But what worried me more was the glance of acknowledgement Doug and Naomi exchanged—like they already knew each other.
I told Jack thanks and left his grasp. He wasn’t really my date, just the guy I shared a title with for the night. His face drooped—but those big ears and freckles—he wasn’t my type.
As I walked up to Mari and Doug, the spotlight dance ended. Doug caught his knuckle under Mari’s chin and lifted her face to his.
He nodded toward Naomi. “Naomi is here and she came alone. I feel bad for her being the new girl and all. Do you think I should ask her to dance… to make her feel welcome?”
I put my hand over my mouth. What a farce. Did he think Mari was going to buy such a phony line?
But sweet-natured Mari only beamed at her guy. “That is so nice of you, Doug. You absolutely should. Betty and I will go visit with the girls while you dance with her.” Mari gave me a nod.
I stared, openmouthed. Doug kissed Mari’s nose and headed toward Naomi. Mari watched him for a moment, gave me a smile, and turned to go meet up with the girls by the punch table.
I followed her off the dance floor. How could I explain she had made a big mistake? Before I could put in my two cents, the other girls jumped in with their opinions.
“What are you doing?” Tanya stared past Mari at Doug, who was leading Naomi out onto the dance floor with his hand resting on the small of her back.
“What do you mean?” Mari asked.
“You can’t let Doug dance with the new girl. He belongs to you.” Tanya held up her hands in alarm.
Josie added, “It’s a slow dance, Mari. A slow dance! Look.” Josie pointed toward the couple.
Doug held Naomi close and she had her arms draped over his shoulders, her head cocked the way girls do when they’re flirting. She stared up into Doug’s eyes, wearing a sly grin.
“That girl is a man-eater,” Josie added as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Mari shook her head and smiled, but it was a tight smile. There was a hint of doubt behind her bravado. “Not my Doug,” she said. “He’s not like that. He’s just being polite. Besides, her father is Mr. Talbot’s new law partner. Naomi and Doug have been friends all summer. He says she misses her home. It’s hard to move to a new school in your senior year. I think we should all be nice to her.” Mari picked up a glass of bright red punch and tried to change the subject. “So, where is Debbie?”
“Where do you think Debbie is?” Tanya giggled. “Same place she always is at school dances.”
We all looked toward the bleachers right as Debbie and Bud Coleman came stumbling out from the dark, straightening their clothes and hair. They couldn’t hide their mischievous grins. Bud strutted, his ducktail a mess, gelled locks hanging down on his forehead. They parted ways, Bud off to brag to his friends and Debbie sauntering toward the punch table with long, lanky steps.
“Debbie, if Mr. Franks catches you and Bud behind those bleachers, he’s going to kick you out of the dance. You’re asking for trouble.” Josie wagged her finger, one hand on her hip.
“Yeah. It’s a disgrace,” Tanya added, then leaned in and whispered, “So, what all did you do?”
“Tanya! It’s none of your business.” Debbie unwrapped a stick of gum and popped it in her mouth. “Besides, we weren’t doing anything unnatural.” She winked at me.
“Your shirt’s on inside out.” I stared at her seams and winked back.
Debbie glanced down. “Oh crud.” She ran off to the girl’s restroom.
I shook my head, then looked back to Mari. “And if you aren’t careful, that siren you let Doug dance with is going to lure him off behind the bleachers, too.”
Mari held her head high. “Nope, Betty. I trust my fella.” She sipped the red punch.
“Are you sure?” Tanya pointed out to the dance floor, her eyes wide.
We watched Naomi twirling a lock of Doug’s hair in her fingers as she whispered with those red lips right by his ear.
Mari straightened up and her eyebrows peaked.
I began a slow boil. Mari and I had been friends since we were little girls. I wasn’t about to let some new girl waltz into the school and steal her guy. “That’s it. I’m going to put a stop to this,” I said, then took a step toward the dance floor.
Mari pulled me back. “No, Betty. You’ll embarrass me.” Her voice was firm.
“Being embarrassed? That’s what you’re worried about? Mari. Doug is only human. He needs help.” I pulled my arm away from her grasp and started again.
“Betty, I will be furious if you do this. I do not want to be one of those jealous girls who sends friends to do her dirty work. I’ll talk to Doug later.”
I stopped. “Do you promise you’ll talk to Doug?”
“Yes, I promise.” Mari’s eyes pleaded. “Besides, I still trust him. He wouldn’t do anything like that.”
Tanya interrupted our conversation. “Well, I hope you’re right because they’re leaving the gym together.”
Dumbfounded, I watched as Naomi led Doug through the gym doors and out into the dark night. I could see a tear form in the corner of Mari’s eye, but she pushed it away with a quick hand.
Tanya and Josie both shook their heads and started whispering to each other. I didn’t know what to do other than offer encouragement.
“There has to be an explanation.” I patted Mari’s shoulder, but I could see her faith in Doug shattering.
The minutes ticked by and I was praying Mari would come to her senses and storm out of the gym to find Doug and Naomi.
Then we saw Debbie and Bud leave the gym.
“Where are they going?” Mari asked.
“They can’t get enough of each other. They’re probably going to his car to tongue wrestle some more,” Tanya said.
“Doug’s car is out front, too,” Mari whispered. It was clear she realized what Doug and Naomi were doing outside.
Debbie burst back into the gym. “Mari, come quick!” she yelled from across the gym.
Mari’s face turned every shade of red imaginable and she froze.
“Now!” Debbie ordered.
The command pushed Mari into action and we all hurried with her. When we reached Debbie, she grabbed Mari by the hand and dragged her out onto the steps in front of the gym. She pointed her finger toward Doug’s car. We stopped and stared in shock. Every window of the big Ford was steamed and the car rocked ever so slightly. Then a black stiletto rose above the back seat and was planted on the rear window.
Debbie turned to Mari. “Well? Aren’t you going to go kill him?”
Tanya and Josie covered their mouths with their hands.
I expected Mari to break down and run to th
e restroom to cry her eyes out, but she surprised me. She clenched her fists, marched down the steps and over to Doug’s car, then swung open the back door. We stayed back, still on the steps but close enough to hear and see the whole sordid episode. Most of the kids in the gym had poured out from the big double doors to see what the fuss was about. They were about to get a good show.
Doug scrambled off Naomi, his suit coat wrinkled, his tie loose, and his face covered in Naomi’s bright red lipstick. He had a dumb grin on his face like he couldn’t leave the last moment he’d experienced to face this new one.
Mari reared back and slapped him so hard she let out a scream. Doug stumbled and fell back into the car, right on top of Naomi.
Apparently amused, Naomi laughed as she pushed him off.
Doug stood back up. “Mari. I don’t know how this happened… I… It’s not what you think.”
Doug reached out to grab Mari by the shoulders. She pushed his hands away, then slapped him again and shoved him back down into the mess he’d made. Mari straightened up, proud and tall, and glared at him. He continued to blather on, trying to find the words to make her understand, but she turned and stormed away, leaving him red-faced and pleading.
Mari stomped past all of us—the whole school it seemed. She marched up the steps and went back into the gym, the doors now clanging shut behind her.
Josie, Tanya, and Debbie ran down the steps to take their turn at Doug and Naomi. They screamed at Doug and yelled insults at Naomi while the school of onlookers watched and shouted encouragement as they giggled and squealed.
Naomi exited the car and adjusted her dress like nothing had happened. She even put on fresh lipstick while the girls yelled at her.
I stayed back, trying to decide what to do next. My best friend had been crushed and Naomi Waterman thought the whole thing was a joke. “Girls!” I yelled out to Josie, Tanya, and Debbie.
They turned, left Doug, and ran up to me on the steps of the school.
“Don’t waste your time. Doug’s a bastard and Naomi’s a slut. Everyone knows it now. You’re wasting your breath on them. Let’s go help Mari.”