Dangerously Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Author:Phyllis Reynolds Naylor [Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, GR
ISBN: 9781442466043
Goodreads: 13546673
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

11

Edgar’s

I rode in with Dad the next morning to my part-time job at the Melody Inn and decided to tell him as much as I cared to about the dance before he had a chance to ask. If he had to prod things out of me, he’d figure there was more beneath the surface, which, of course, there was.

“The gym was all shimmery with glitter, just like a mountain snow scene,” I said, “and the band was great.”

“You went to a restaurant first?” he asked.

“Yeah. Thai. One in Bethesda. It was really good,” I said.

“And … after the dance?”

“Well, we stayed almost to the end, the music was that good. Then we dropped off Pamela and her date, and Tony brought me home,” I said.

Dad turned at the corner of Georgia Avenue and drove another block before he asked, “You didn’t invite Tony to come in?”

“No. It was almost one, and I’d danced practically every dance. I was tired,” I said.

“Well,” Dad said, “I’m glad you had a good time. I guess I’m going to have to get used to your going out with boys I hardly know.”

I smiled. “Guess so, Pops,” I said.

The store had been decorated for Christmas during the week, and I found the Gift Shoppe—the little section under the stairs—wreathed in evergreen and tiny twinkly lights.

“If I stand behind this counter, I’m going to feel like I’m onstage,” I said to Marilyn, Dad’s assistant manager. She’s married now and happy as a clam.

“Just wanted to add a little excitement to your boring Saturday job,” she explained.

“Well, this is your first Christmas as a married woman,” I said. “Now, that’s exciting. What are you getting Jack?”

“I’ve been saving up for a new guitar for him—a really good one,” she said. She and Jack are both folksingers. “Ben says they go on sale next week—the Christmas bonus sale—and with my employee discount, I think I can afford it.”

Dad had ordered a lot of extra stuff for the Gift Shoppe because people who’ve never been in our store will come in looking for Christmas gifts for musician friends. In addition to bikini underwear with BEETHOVEN on the seat of the pants and long silk scarves like the keyboard of a piano, we had coffee mugs with Mozart’s face on the side; music boxes with dancing bears on top; tie clips in the shape of a clef sign; earrings like tiny violins; T-shirts with part of the “Hallelujah Chorus” on the front; and little wind-up drummer boys. Customers came in as soon as we opened, and we were busy all day.

David, the young man who started working for Dad about a year ago—the one who’s trying to decide if he should become a priest—shared a sandwich with me at the little table and chairs we keep for employees back in the stockroom.

“Now, why do I think that last night was special for you somehow?” he asked, studying my face.

It took me by surprise, and I instantly felt my cheeks redden, as though he’d seen through the window of the Buick.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.