Secrets and Rendezvous

Chapter 4: Movies and Milkshakes

"Mother?" I ask conversationally. She looks up and raises her eyebrows indicating for me to continue. "Mother I was wondering if I could join Betty at the cinema to watch The Wizard of Oz on Saturday." Her eyes squint as she reads about the latest fashion in the newspaper. "Of course darling! Betty is a lovely girl. You mustn't ask to hang out with her." I respond with a polite thank you and pick up the phone.

"Bet-Oh? Hello Mrs. Brown! Might I speak with Betty?...Thank you. Betty!"

"Can you come on Saturday?"

"That's what I was calling to talk to you about! What time should I be there?"

"The movie starts at seven pm. Could you pick me up?"

"Of course! See you at seven!"

And with that I hang up, pick up my book and head to my room. It's been almost three months since Betty and I have been together and my oh my have these months been wonderful! Betty says that we are ahead of our time and that the world isn't ready for our kind of love. And I agree that we are ahead of our time but it isn't the world that has a problem with our love. It's these small minded imbeciles beating our kind in the streets, arresting us for kissing the same gender and forcing us to hide who we are. It's not the world, it's the people in the world.

I sit down at my vanity unable to get thoughts of Betty out of my head. Her contagious laughter, her electrifying eyes, and her beautiful personality consume my every thought as I stare in the mirror. After a few moments of daydreaming I head down the hall to say goodnight to mother. I hug her and kiss her cheek. "Is father working late again?" She just nods tiredly.

*Saturday*

All week things passed quickly and quietly with many stolen moments and stolen kisses. Betty comes over pretty much every night to listen to music and to study. And finally Saturday was here! I put on my black dress and pin all my hair on the back of my head. I paint my lips the popular rouge red, apply a natural blush to my cheeks, coat my lashes with mascara and slip on black dainty heels.

"Okay mother! I'm gonna go pick Betty up for the movie!" I yell as I head for the front door. "Are you meeting boys Judith?" That stops me right in my tracks. "Why do you think that mother?" She gives me her no nonsense look which consists of her raising her eyebrows, slighting parting her mouth, leaning back, and crossing her arms over her chest. "You're all done Judith! Makeup, hair, heel!"

I take a deep breath and square myself. "Mother, Betty and I are going to the movies. We're dressing up because we feel like it." That seems to calm her down and I leave before she can make another accusation.

After picking up Betty I drive straight to the theater. As we sit down the lights dim and the screen brightens in response. The intro credits play and I cautiously reach for Bettys hand. Our fingers hug around one another as we stare at the screen.

Soon Judy Garland starts singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow and I hum along as I pull her hand up to my lips placing a delicate, silent kiss on her knuckles. After that we relax and watch the movie. The colors of the flowers and Dorothy's dress shock me everytime. How do they make movies with color? I ask myself.

The movie is over too soon and we're forced to leave the comforts of the dark theater. As we walk to the car I see a diner down the road and get an idea. "How does a milkshake sound to you?" She smiles as she says "Perfect!" As we walk side by side down the street I stare up at the full moon. We arrive at the warm diner and order two shakes. One vanilla and the other strawberry.

As we eat our shakes as we talk and our feet tangle in and around each other under the booth. I smile at her as my foot traces a line up her calf making her visibly shudder. I smirk, drop my foot and focus on my shake.

"Do you think I could sleepover tonight?" Betty asks. I nod and recommend that she call her mother from the phone booth outside. "I don't have money." She says guiltily. I fish around in the pockets of my dress and pull out four quarters. "This should be enough." I watch her rush out and call her mom. Warmth spreads through me as I watch her stand there and speak to her mother.

"Ahem." I snap my head away from the window and look up at an annoyed waiter. "Your total in three dollars miss." I quickly grab three one dollar bills, pay and head outside. As I walk out I feel the waiter staring at me. Betty is hanging up the phone as I walk towards her.

"I can't sleepover. Church is tomorrow." I shrug and start walking towards the car doing my best to look casual as the snoopy waiter stares after us. If he calls the cops it's on me. If Betty gets hurt it's on me. If we get caught it's because I stared too long...It's my fault.

I pull myself into the car not waiting for Betty to buckle before I speed away. "Betty, listen to me and don't speak. That waiter suspects something. He caught me staring at you and probably saw our legs hugging under the table. Before you go to bed hide our letters. If police show up, deny everything. If we get caught it's my fault and I'm so sorry doll." Betty takes all the information in with grace and the rest of the car ride is silent.

I pull up to her house and tell her "Remember." And with that our date is over. I get home and the house is dark. As soon as I get to my room I grab my letters from under my pillow and bury them in a trunk at the end of my bed after ripping Betty's name off the bottom.

I don't sleep that night. Fear keeps me awake. As I lay in bed I realize something. Fear will haunt me every day and night until I die. Just because I love a woman...

A/N Homosexual couples actually did rip the sender's name off  letters to protect them and themselves. Sad but true. Please vote, comment, share, and follow to show your support! xoxo birdy si