End of the Line

Chapter 28. June

Chapter Twenty-eight

June 

Bill's brother Jack was no slouch. He had a way with the ladies, and long before his sixteenth birthday, was dating regularly. Much to Pop's dismay; he started to spend a lot of time with a French girl. He even had the gall to bring her home. It didn't perturb Ma Benson. She used it as a spur for Bill. 

"Maybe you can learn a thing or two from young Jack."  

His mother had been right about one thing, there was no way he was going to meet a nice young woman under his present circumstances. Some gorgeous looking young girls worked as nurses at the hospital, but he knew they would look askance at an orderly, especially one working in pathology. The Pierce Street ladies were friendly enough, but obviously not suitable. The women that came to Rockhead's were out of his league. They were always on the arms of well-heeled studs and had such expensive tastes. There were several gorgeous coloured girls working the club. Bill found them very attractive but was wary of making advances, especially after his experience with Jenny, a girl who worked the bar. She had responded amiably to his one attempt at small talk. Later, Franco, the head barman had pulled him to one side. 

"Back off Bill unless you want trouble. Jenny's one of the boss's girls," he muttered. 

She was too exotic for me anyway, Bill later rationalized.  

Jack finally convinced him to try the Victoria Hall. It was mid-November, the weather atrocious, the city abuzz with talk of the abdication. Jack and Bill arrived at the Hall around ten. The dance was in full swing. The two brothers stood just inside the entrance facing the raised bandstand at the opposite end of the dance floor and surveyed the scene. Most of the girls, more primly dressed than those at the Paradise, were already partnered. This didn't bother Jack. He spotted a threesome. He struck. Bill watched enviously as his younger brother whirled around the floor with an attractive curly headed blonde on his arm. She seemed familiar. Bill was sure he had seen her somewhere before. The music stopped. Jack escorted the girl back to her seat  at one of the small circular tables bordering the shining maple floor and then returned to Bill's side.

 "You should give her a try, Bill. She's unattached. She's here with her brother and sister-in-law." 

"Aren't you interested?" 

"No I think she's a bit too old for me." 

"How do you know?" 

"The way she talks. She seems so mature." 

"She's quite a looker." 

"Quite a body on her too." 

Bill, despite his many visits to Rockhead's had never learned to dance. Consequently, he was hesitant to ask the young woman to take the floor. He just watched. She seemed a genial type always with a smile on her slightly rotund face made florid probably by a touch of frost. She moved well, and once as she passed by, she gave him a fleeting smile. That was enough for Bill. When the M.C. announced the next slow tempo dance, he pounced. 

"May I have the pleasure of this dance?" At least he knew the formalities. 

"Sure," she said, turning and giving her sister in law a wink. 

"My name is Bill. Bill Benson." 

"And I'm June. June Robinson." 

"I'm sorry, but I'm not very good at this dancing business."