Fervent | h.s. au

01

    It's the summer of 1940, the Great Depression is slowly coming to an end, FDR is president, and swing music is in full play. Although some were still unemployed, others were a bit more fortunate, capable of getting back on their feet adequately. Even with the steady percentage of unemployment, a majority of Americans found a way for an escape; movies, dancing, music. All of these temporary distractions, for fun. It was most people's way of dusting the depression under the carpet, for only a short period of time.

War was able to be seen just over the horizon. Nazi, Germany was rising in Europe, and America has still managed to stay out of it for now. There has been headlines in the newspaper of friendship between Japan and the U.S. This was a sign of hope for the millions at home.

My friend, Annie, held tightly onto my hand as we ran across the street to the night club with gleaming lights. The brightness was new, the sign in perfect condition as it blinked. A 'Grand Opening!' sign was hung, as large as the stone wall next to the club.

"Annie! Slow down, will ya?" I rushed to skip over the hot steam coming out from the heating system in the streets as I stepped off the curb, hastily trying to follow her without letting her pull me over.

"Sorry, but I'm so excited to see him! I'm telling ya, Evelyn, he is a hunk!" She peered back at me, grinning. The dark, auburn color of her hair reflected the light in the street, with the small clips in her hair glimmering too.

"Didn't you say you only met him a couple of days ago?" I asked to be sure, as she started to slow down once we reached the other side of the street that the club was sitting on.

She slid two dollar bills on the counter to the man sitting in a booth, the glass enclosure separating us. His red bow tie was pristine, along with his slicked back hair and a toothpick resting in the corner of his mouth. The two bills bought us admission, and the man slid two small tickets back to us in return.

"Thank you, ladies, enjoy your night!" He said smoothly, already taking the next customers behind us.

"Yeah. Your point?" Annie continued in conversation, shrugging her shoulders with a sparkle in her eye. I smiled, holding in my small urge to laugh. "I guess I don't have one." Once we entered the night club, Annie immediately began to search for the mystery man that I had yet to meet.

She had been going on about this man for only a small amount of time, considering it hasn't been long since she first told me all about him. But, boy, did she go on and on about his dreamy blue eyes, wide smile and the rest of his amazing qualities. I was so happy for her, it wasn't often that she was this ecstatic about someone, whether they were officially together yet or not. Usually it was something new with a man she had met at one of these music clubs, and about a week later it turns into, "men are completely useless."

"Annie!" Both of our heads turned to see a blonde fellow standing on a stool near the bar, waving his arms to get Annie's attention.

My friend beamed with excitement, still holding a grip on my hand to drag me with her. The lean tender at the bar was snapping his fingers, urging the man to get off the stool as we approached him, to which he complied to him with a wary glance.

Annie finally released my hand as the couple greeted each other, him kissing her cheek. Her hand laid on his chest as she turned towards me.

"This is my friend, Evelyn. Evelyn, this is Niall." She smiled brightly as she looked back and forth between us.

"Nice to meet you, Niall. I've heard plenty about you," I smiled, putting a strand of hair behind my ear.

He reached out to shake my hand, "you too, Evelyn," which I accepted.