Happiness for Hazel

by Pearl A Gardner

  The final gowns were the most expensive ones, and all the girls took more care when climbing into them. Miss Vaughn helped to pin up their hair with glimmering grips and combs to complete the look before ordering them to the stage.

  Hazel felt like a princess in a children’s storybook as she glided along the stage in her silver-grey creation. The hemline swayed around her ankles, and when she twirled, the skirts lifted like billowing clouds. Her legs and feet ached beyond belief, but she carried herself with the grace and dignity that Mrs Wilson had taught her as she followed Ally in her black gown across the stage.

  By the end of the evening, Hazel was feeling shivery and weak as she changed back into her workday clothes. She hadn’t eaten since midday and hunger pangs gripped her stomach.

  “I could eat a horse!” Ally whispered over the clothes rail. “Do you want to join me and get a fish supper from the Mermaid?”

  “That sounds just want I need.” Hazel didn’t think twice about accepting the girl’s invitation. She was hungry.

  Hazel’s dad had made a habit of meeting her outside the town hall after her rehearsals to walk her home, but a few days ago, she’d told him he didn’t need to come as she’d made friends with the other girls and some of them now walked part way with her.

  Since being allowed into town on Saturday evenings, her parents were now granting her more freedom. They always wanted to know where she was and who she was with. Mrs Wilson’s girls were deemed highly suitable, so she knew spending time with Ally would be allowed.

  The truth was, she’d been hoping Glenn might offer to come and walk her home when he was free, but he hadn’t, and she was disappointed. He didn’t seem to think too much about what she might want or like. If she didn’t drop big hints or ask outright, he couldn’t anticipate her wishes as she could his. Hazel made a point of remembering his shift patterns so she could ask him about his life, his work and his pals. She knew when he’d be tired and hungry after a long day at work and she would have a small treat for him when he met her to walk her home. An Eccles cake or a custard tart were his favourites and would help to keep him satisfied until he got home to eat the tea his mam would have ready for him.

  She tried to be thoughtful, but Glenn didn’t seem capable of returning the favour. She didn’t mind too much. She was learning that most men were like that. The other models talked about men all the time, and she’d picked up some things from them that she’d had no idea about beforehand. Eunice had always been her source of information on all things, but she was discovering that Eunice’s knowledge was limited.

  “Will you be meeting Alfred later, Ally?” one of the other girls asked as they were leaving.

  “I hadn’t planned to, why do you ask, Molly?”

  “Just thought you might put in a word for me with his brother.” She fluttered her overdone eyelashes. “Frankie is a dish, don’t you think? I wouldn’t push him out of bed in a hurry!”

  Hazel tried to keep the shock from her face. She thought she might be getting used to hearing such comments from the other models, but they still made her face flush crimson. Molly was worse than the others. The dark-haired girl didn’t seem to care what anyone thought about her or her supposed lack of morals.

  “That’s if you managed to get him upstairs in the first place!” one of the other girls teased.

  “How could any man resist these?” Molly jiggled her breasts, Charleston style, with her arms spread wide.

  “Miss Marsh! Put them away!” Miss Vaughn’s voice was clipped as she reprimanded Molly. “We don’t want to see that kind of behaviour from our girls!”

  “Sorry, Miss Vaughn.” Molly pressed her lips together to suppress a smirk.

  “I’ll see you all tomorrow.” The tall, thin assistant looked down her nose at the girls. “Don’t be late!”

  “No, Miss Vaughn,” they chorused.

  Ally grabbed Hazel’s hand and pulled her along, leaving the other girls behind. “Isn’t Molly a hoot?”

  “Don’t you think she’s a bit forward?” Hazel hadn’t made up her mind about the brunette.

  “She’s all talk, that one. If she ever tried to take a man into her bedroom, her mother would have a fit, and poor Molly would be out on her ear!”

  “But most men don’t bother waiting for a bedroom, do they?” Hazel ventured, knowing Ally was indulging in a passionate love affair with her sweetheart, Alfred, who was a good deal older than her.

  “No, love. There’s more ways to skin a cat, so I’ve discovered. I’m sure our friend Molly knows that too. She’s lucky she hasn’t already found herself in the family way.”

  Hazel dared to ask a question that was close to her heart. “Do you worry about getting pregnant?”

  “Sometimes, but Alfred uses French letters, and they work well most of the time.”

  “What’s a French letter?” Hazel asked.

  “Oh, my! You are the innocent one, aren’t you?” Ally took her arm as they walked toward the fish shop. “It’s what a man puts over his thing before he puts it inside you. It stops you from getting in the family way. But even if you do find yourself in such a predicament, there are ways of making it go away, you know.”

  Hazel decided she would ask Glenn whether he might consider using one if she ever let him make love to her again. She knew she would have to let him. He was getting impatient with her excuses.

  “You don’t have to worry about that kind of thing, though, do you? You’re such an innocent little virgin, Hazel.”

  “I am not!” Hazel said a little too quickly.

  Ally glanced at her and raised her brows. “Really?”

  Hazel clamped her teeth together and wished she’d said nothing.

  “You can’t drop a bombshell like that and clam up on me!” Ally took her arm and dragged her into the side alley near the fish shop. “Who’s your sweetheart?”

  “Glenn Bradshaw is his name. We’ve been seeing each other for months now, but my parents don’t know about us.”

  “I can’t say I’ve heard of him. What does he look like?”

  Hazel smiled as she thought of Glenn’s face. “He’s got dark hair and green eyes. He’s tall and muscular and when he smiles he makes my insides melt.”

  “He sounds like a dream! Why haven’t you introduced him to your parents?”

  “They think I’m too young to be interested in lads.”

  “Oh dear, and I suppose you’ve already done the deed with him, have you?”

  Hazel nodded and couldn’t quite bring herself to meet Ally’s eyes.

  “Well, you’re a red-blooded girl. And with that red hair, I bet you have a passionate nature. I suppose you couldn’t help yourself.”

  Hazel smiled. It was nice to hear Ally understood. “Can we get our supper now, please.” She tugged Ally’s sleeve. “I’m starving!”

  Chapter 15 – Having fun

  Raymond escorted the girls to the parish hall where the tea dance was being held. Eunice was wearing her blue printed dress, and Hazel wore a pink cotton shirtwaister. Eunice had allowed Hazel to apply some makeup to cover her spots and the two girls walked arm-in-arm behind Raymond.

  “Will you dance with Kenny?” Hazel asked.

  “Not if they play that swing music. I wouldn’t know what to do! I like the waltzes or the foxtrots.”

  “Me too.” Hazel agreed, though she secretly envied the couples who could shine on the dance floor to the new craze in band music. “I couldn’t do the lindy-hop to save my life!”

  “Are you talking about the dance craze from America?” Raymond asked from behind them. “I know the steps if you’d like me to teach you.”

  “Really!” Hazel was surprised. “Where did you learn them?”

  “A girl showed me a few months back. I haven’t forgotten them.”

  Hazel glanced back to see Raymond had some colour in his cheeks.

  “Who was she? A sweetheart?”

  He shook his head. “Just a friend.”

  “
She must be a good friend to teach you some dance steps,” Eunice teased, grinning at her brother.

  “Do you want me to teach you or not!” Raymond barked. “Why do you have to be so childish, Eunice?”

  “I’m sure she didn’t mean to upset you, Ray.” Hazel slowed her pace to drop back and walk with the young man. “I’d love you to teach me the lindy-hop.”

  He smiled and seemed placated. “Well, we’ll have to see what kind of music the band decides to play first. If they perform some swing, I’ll come to find you.”

  “Thanks, I’d like that.”

  Hazel could see people milling around outside the parish hall. Glenn’s dark head stood out among them. He was craning his neck to see over the heads, and when he saw her, his face brightened. She smiled back and waved.

  “Will you be all right with Ray if I go to Glenn?” Hazel asked.

  “Go ahead,” Eunice answered. “Kenny will be along soon. I’ll see you inside.”

  Hazel hurried to Glenn’s side, putting her hand in his, she kissed his cheek. “I can’t wait to get inside. This is the first proper dance I’ve ever been allowed to attend, and, oh, I’m excited!”

  “Do you like to dance, Petal?” He guided her to the entrance.

  “I love to dance, but I’ve only danced with my dad and Eunice in the front parlour to the bands on the radio.” She lowered her eyes shyly. “Except, when you danced with me in the street. That was so romantic.”

  “The waltz is the most romantic dance in the world, and it’s easy enough for anyone to do it. It’s not difficult, is it?”

  “Have you seen the cinema bulletins where they do the lindy-hop?” she asked as they made their way inside the Parish Hall.

  “I’m not too keen on the American dancing fad. Seems all shuffle and jumps to me. I prefer the waltz. You know where you are with a waltz.”

  Hazel remembered waltzing in the street with him and couldn’t wait to repeat the experience. Glenn was a good dancer. “Raymond said he’d teach me how to do the lindy-hop.”

  “Did he now?” Glenn glanced at the tall young man with the shock of bright blond hair standing with his sister, some way behind them. “We’ll have to see about that.”

  “You wouldn’t mind, would you?” Hazel felt a shiver of concern at Glenn’s show of jealousy. “He’s a friend and is no threat at all to you, I promise!”

  “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and I don’t like it. I don’t want you dancing with him.” Glenn’s mood changed instantly. He tugged her arm to pull her closer to his side. “You’re my girl, Petal, and don’t you forget it!”

  “I know, Glenn, but—.”

  “But nothing, Petal.” He lowered his face close to hers. “Come on; let’s get a drink before they run out.”

  Hazel didn’t know how to feel about Glenn’s possessive outburst. Should she be flattered that he wanted her all to himself? She wanted to dance with him, but she also wanted to dance with Raymond. She wanted to learn the new dance steps, but Glenn had made it clear he didn’t want her to dance with her friend’s brother. She sighed and followed Glenn to the trestle table laden with cold drinks, tea urns, and sandwiches.

  Glenn turned to her. “Can you believe they don’t have any beer?”

  “Well, it is a church tea dance, Glenn.” She chuckled. “What did you expect?”

  “I thought they’d have something stronger than tea!”

  She didn’t like to see him grouchy. “Why don’t you take the teacups and get us a table and I’ll bring us some sandwiches over,” she suggested.

  “Well, if that’s all they have on offer, I suppose it’ll have to do, Petal.” He smiled and left her to choose a selection of sandwiches for them both.

  Eunice came to her side. “What was all that about with you and Glenn?” she asked. “He seemed to be cross with you.”

  “We were fooling around. Having a laugh, you know?” Hazel quickly replied, covering her own confusion. “He thought they might be serving alcohol.”

  “At a church tea dance?” Eunice laughed.

  Hazel felt she should try to explain and excuse Glenn’s behaviour. “I think he likes to have a glass or two of beer on Saturday afternoons when he doesn’t have to work.” She remembered their first date when he arrived smelling of booze. “I suppose it will be his way of relaxing after a hard week down the mine.”

  “Well, he’ll have to do without today, won’t he? What kind of sandwiches have they got?”

  “Fish paste and potted meat.”

  “Cheapskates!” Eunice tutted. “With the price of the tickets, I expected egg and cress at least!”

  “I’d better get these to him.” Hazel lifted the plate she’d filled. “I don’t want to make his mood any worse by making him wait, do I?”

  “Don’t forget you’ll be dancing with our Ray later,” Eunice called as she left.

  Hazel didn’t want to worry about that right now. Ray might have to find another dancing partner. She still had to keep Glenn sweet. Her monthly hadn’t arrived, and if she were to find out she was pregnant, he would have to marry her. She shook her head to clear the unsettling thought. This was her first proper dance date with Glenn, and she was determined not to let anything spoil it.

  When the band began to play a waltz, Hazel breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps they wouldn’t play any new music, and she wouldn’t have to face refusing Raymond. She glanced at the elderly men on the stage and hoped they were too old to know anything about the modern swing dances.

  “Do you want to dance?” Glenn asked.

  “Well, that’s why we came, isn’t it?” She jumped to her feet, happy to know that he seemed in a better mood now he’d had the sandwiches and tea.

  She went into his arms with a smile on her face, loving how she felt with his body close to hers. They moved around the floor, swaying to the music, and Glenn nuzzled her throat affectionately. When she felt his hand move lower down her back, she put her hand behind her to stop his progress. “Not here, Glenn, please!”

  “What’s wrong, Petal? I’m not doing anything wrong.”

  “Your hand should be at my waist, not on my bottom!” she whispered. “People will start to look!”

  “Let them! I’m not ashamed of loving you. Can I help it if I can’t keep my hands off you?”

  His words filled her with a sweet longing for his touch, but this wasn’t the time or the place for what Glenn had on his mind. “Later, Glenn. Not in public, please!”

  “Spoilsport!” He grinned at her and whisked her around in a fast spin. “You’re making my blood heat up with love for you.”

  She giggled, enjoying the way he made her feel. He’d admitted to loving her, and she felt she was dancing on clouds. “Do you love me, Glenn?” she asked as they glided around.

  He nodded, pressing his lips together and looking at her with a serious frown. “I must do. I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re always on my mind.”

  “I feel the same way about you,” she confessed.

  “What will we do about it?”

  She shrugged, hoping he might suggest that it was time he met her parents.

  “We could go outside.” He bent to kiss her ear and whispered, “I know a place not far from here, where we could be alone.”

  “But I want to dance, Glenn!” She didn’t want to leave the dance hall. People would notice, and there was already enough talk about her and Glenn. She didn’t want to add fuel to the flames of gossip.

  “Perhaps during the interval, then?” he persisted.

  “We’ll see.” She didn’t want to refuse him outright, because she could see he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  The music changed to rumba, and she shook her head. “I don’t have the rhythm for this one. How about you?”

  “Pity. It’s a sexy dance. I could help you if you like?”

  “Can you dance the rumba?” She was amazed. Glenn didn’t seem the type to know more than the basic dance steps and moves.

&nbs
p; “I can be full of surprises, Petal. Come here.” He pulled her into his arms and began to sway his hips close to hers. “It’s a simple box step. Follow me.”

  He stepped forward, making her step back. “Now to the side, bring the other foot over to meet it, bringing them together. Now I go back. You go forward, then step to the other side, together, forward, side together.” He grinned as he led her through the steps. “You’re a fast learner. Now put some rhythm to it. Slow, slow, quick, quick slow, side, together, step back, that’s it!”

  She swayed in his arms, moving to the beat of the music. He was a good dancer and was making it easy for her to learn the steps. “You are full of surprises, Glenn Bradshaw,” she said. “Who would have thought a collier could dance like this?”

  “My mam had some grand ideas when me and my brothers were kids. She paid for us to have ballroom dance lessons. I was the only one who turned up for them.” He laughed loudly. “My brothers thought I was a pansy, but I didn’t care. I enjoyed the dancing.”

  “I can see that!” Hazel was delighted. He was making her feel as if she’d been dancing the rumba for years.

  “Are you ready to try a three-step turn?”

  “What do I do?” She was eager to learn and followed his instructions, stepping away from him while keeping hold of his fingers, walking a three-step circle, and then coming back into his arms.

  “Perfect!” He grinned. “I’ll make a dancer of you yet, Hazel Harris!”

  She was enjoying herself immensely. The dances kept changing and each time, Glenn would show her the steps, or if she already knew them, would teach her something new to add to the movements. He was showing another side of himself, and she loved him all the more for it. She found his considerate attention intoxicating.

  When the interval came, she’d completely forgotten about his earlier suggestions and asked whether he’d like another cup of tea.

  “I’d prefer a beer, love. Let’s get out of here and go to the pub. What do you say?”