The Spoon Asylum by Caroline Misner

Author:Caroline Misner [Misner, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thistledown Press
Published: 2018-04-01T04:00:00+00:00

Bess hadn’t felt so insouciant and free since the early years of her marriage. If she closed her eyes and leaned her head against Wetherby’s strong solid shoulder, she could swear she was a young woman again, dancing with her suitor on Saturday night at the Davisville Dance Pavilion. The memories of her youth pinched her soul; she opened her eyes and gazed up at Wetherby. Her mind swirled from the liquor. The disc on the turntable had run its course and a steady crackle hissed from the horn.

He had taught her a dance called the Fox Trot, a jig she had often seen her daughters do, but thought it undignified for a woman of her age. Before that he had taught her to Charleston; they laughed as she knocked her knobby knees together and struggled to keep up with him. He was incredibly light on his feet for such a big man. His entire being abounded with rhythm as they sashayed together across the faded rug, taking care not to trip over the frayed tassels in the corners. When he sang along to the records, she was reminded of a song she had heard on the radio but couldn’t quite place.

“You’re a divine dancer, Mr. Wetherby,” Bess said and stepped away from him, though she yearned to stay in his arms.

“You ain’t so bad yourself, Mrs. Washburn.” Wetherby smiled.

“Please, call me Bess.”

“That would be mighty fine, Bess.” Wetherby raised his empty glass. “Mind if I trouble you for another spot? All this dancing sure works up a thirst.”

“I was just thinking the same thing myself.” Bess hadn’t giggled so bashfully since her early teens. She lifted the decanter toward Wetherby’s glass.

Jude barged through the front door uninvited; Haven was at his heels, anxiously peering over Jude’s shoulders. Startled, Bess gasped, nearly dropping the decanter and sloshing brandy onto the rug. Jude’s dark eyes darted from one corner of the room to the other until they fell upon Wetherby, who stood gaping at him, his empty glass still in his hand.

“Judy!” he smiled. “What brings you all the way out here?”

“I ought to be asking you the same thing.” Jude scowled and pointed at the Victrola where the disc still wobbled on the turntable.

“Bess here invited me in for a drink,” Wetherby explained, “then we got to dancing. She ain’t half bad once she gets going.”

“Jesus, Pa!” Jude slapped his forehead with the base of his palm. “You ought to know better than that! Ain’t you learned nothing?”

“It’s my fault,” Haven cut in. “I didn’t think there’d be any harm in you two getting together.”

“Well, there is harm.” Jude snatched the glass from Wetherby’s hand and sniffed the rim. “Drinking too, Pa? What’s come upon you?”

“We was just having a little fun, Judy,” Wetherby said. “Ain’t nothing wrong with that.”

“Can someone please explain what’s going on?” Bess demanded. She surreptitiously slipped the decanter back into the hutch.

“My pa ain’t supposed to be seen with the likes of a nice lady like you,” Jude said and pointed toward the door.

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.