Our Duty

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Straighten Up and Fly Right,” surged from the band while the crowd cavorted to the zany rhythm. As the song ended, laughter and conversation replaced the music. “Boy, I’m hot. How about you? Uh, was it Polly?”

“Yes, Polly Garrity. And yes, it’s stifling in here.” She glanced at the window openings where the crowd blocked any hope of air.

“Ya wanna go outside? It might be cooler, and maybe we can get a drink.” Jim moved toward the open door.

“Sure, but first I need to head out back.” Waving at Eileen Hay, Polly added, “I’m going to ask my friend to walk with me.”

“You can both join us in the parking lot afterwards. Hi, I’m Jim,” he greeted as Eileen came up to them.

“Hi, Jim, sorry to be rude, but I gotta go. Polly will ya come with me?”

Jim laughed as the girls hurried away. The September night air was refreshingly cool compared to inside the low-roofed, old wooden building. “The music is great, but I think I’m gonna pee my pants if I don’t get to use the john soon,” Eileen said. A faint light from a kerosene lamp beside the privy door cast shadows of three other women waiting.

“Well, you may jist hafta get your fancy dress all messy, sweetheart,” a voice slurred. “You two are some of those bitches from St. Francis come to steal our men, aren’t ya?”

Eileen cut off Polly’s, “Takes one to know one,” retort and pushed her into the wooden shack. “Whew! That broad sure stunk up the place!”

The girls found Jim with a group in the parking lot. “Looks like lots of people had the same idea,” Polly noted as they approached. Light chiffon and seersucker dresses were romantic in the moonlight. Most of the young men had discarded their jackets and ties. Amid friendly conversation and laughter, the group passed around a bottle or two of liquor.

“Hey everyone, these are some St. Francis girls, Eileen and uh…”

“Polly.”

“Sorry, Polly. Anyone got a short snort to share with them?”

“We thought you were bringing the booze tonight,” one of the guys joked while passing a bottle of Old Crow.

Polly shivered as the liquor seared her throat and fondled her nerves. Eileen pushed the bottle away.

Several laughed, and one young man said, “Jim, when are you going to learn how to treat a lady?” He handed Polly a bottle of RC Cola. “You’re quite a woman to drink that straight, but here’s a chaser.”

“Thanks.” Polly took a big sip of cola and passed it to Eileen as introductions began. The last was the young man who had shared the RC.

“I’m Johnny Wetta.”

“Thanks again for the chaser. Did you take your sister-in-law to Lincoln?” Polly smiled.

“Yes. How do you know about that?”

Polly recited the events of the dance several weeks prior. Then, in a secretive voice, “Actually, I’m on a very important mission tonight at risk of being kicked out of nursing school!”

“Oh really, what’s your mission?” All within hearing turned their attention to the pretty brunette.

“A bunch of student nurses think your plan to unite your brother and his wife before he had to fly overseas was just about the most romantic thing we’ve heard in ages. We’ve been dying to find out if you went.”

Groans arose at Polly’s words. “Oh wow!” “Some secret mission!” and “Let’s get out of here and dance!” blended with the notes of “Strip Polka” that drifted from the hall. Someone called, “You tell her the romantic story, Johnny”

“If you don’ mind, I’ll leave you with Johnny to complete your war mission. Wanna dance?” Jim asked Eileen. They sauntered toward the music.

Johnny took Polly’s hand. “Well, is it dance or talk?”

“Dance first, then talk,” Polly answered, and they joined the polkaing crowd.

“You’re really great,” Johnny complimented as the notes faded and he brought Polly into his arms with a double twirl.

“You’re a lot better than my sisters or friends at the dorm,” she grinned, easing away but continuing to hold his hand.

“How many sisters do ya have?” Johnny maneuvered her toward some men selling soft drinks from a long cow tank filled with melting ice.

“Five, always fighting like banshees and driving Mom and Daddy and our two brothers nuts. Mom says it’s the crazy Irish blood. My sister Nonie is sleeping at the dorm in my bed tonight, so I don’t get caught for sneaking out.” She took a bottle of ice-cold Royal Crown Cola (RC) dripping with frigid water, and they walked toward the door amid greetings from Johnny’s friends.

“That’s why this is a dangerous mission?” he wondered.

Just then a young woman stumbled near, throwing her arms around Johnny’s neck. “Hi, handsome. You haben’t danced wid me yet.”

“Maybe later, Gladys.” He eased her arms from his neck and took Polly’s hand.

“You’re rather popular.”

But she stuck her tongue out at Gladys who seethed, “w***e,” as Johnny moved Polly toward the cool air outside.

She said, “Now tell me all about your trip. Was your sister-in-law just terribly excited when you told her your plan? Was Ben surprised?”

“Can’t believe you’re so interested.”

“Well, remember the only thing we student nurses usually get to talk about are babies, bedpans, and bloody surgeries. And those stories get a little old. A romantic story is so much better than work and war news all the time.”

They reached a car in the lot, and Johnny handed her his drink then easily lifted Polly to the hood. She tingled at the touch of his warm, strong hands. “You really wanna hear this?” He looked at the lovely, intent face gazing at him. “When I told Margie that I had enough tires and gas stamps to make the trip, she burst into tears and hugged me like a vice-grip. The next day when I pulled into the drive of her dad’s house, she flew out the door with her little satchel like she’d been waiting for hours.”

“Did Ben know you were coming?”

“I’d called him a couple of weeks earlier.