All the Little Hopes by Leah Weiss

Author:Leah Weiss [Weiss, Leah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781432892098
Google: nYR-zgEACAAJ
Amazon: 1728232740
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2021-07-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Lucy: Last Dance

In the heart of April, when the Nazis have morphed into something benign, we get exciting news—a military traveling band is coming to town. The band is called the Top Hats and posters go up on telephone poles and in storefront windows. They play big band music, so we practice the swing and jitterbug with Irene. We turn up the radio, push back the table, and work up a sweat dancing to Harry James, Benny Goodman, and our favorite, Glenn Miller. Some local dances are held in the high school gymnasium, but this one will be in the tobacco warehouse because it’s bigger. The warehouse is our community center when it’s not auction time. Square dances and bluegrass music and local talent shows are held on some Saturdays. This is the first big band to play.

This Friday, we pile in the back of the truck, and Grady drives. The dance music reaches our ears before we even get there. Grady warns us to stay in the truck till it stops, then we’re off for the time of our lives. I don’t know half the people at the dance, and that makes it extra exciting. The musicians are men in white uniforms, and they play swing as good as the real thing. Irene pulls us out on the floor to dance in public. Byron Toots holds his own next to Irene. Cora and Lydia coax Tiny Junior from the corner, and he shifts from one foot to the other, moving to his own beat.

Why does that pest Ricky Miller stay so close to me? He brings me punch when I’m not thirsty. He asks me to dance when I’m already dancing. The only good thing about Ricky Miller is his last name. It’s the same as my favorite music man, Mr. Glenn Miller, but that’s where the similarities end. Ricky can’t carry a tune in a bucket. Plus he should know I’m still perturbed at him for setting fire to poor Assassin’s tail.

Bert is swept up in a cluster of admirers she couldn’t care less about. Nobody has her attention—till a new band member jumps up on stage.

“Hello, everybody. I’m Frankie Tender,” he croons into the microphone, a man in uniform who is movie-star handsome. Women get up on tiptoes to see him better. A spotlight shines on his perfect hair and polished belt buckle. He sings “You Made Me Love You,” and girls rush the stage to watch him. They sway to the beat, singing, “I didn’t wanna do it, I didn’t wanna do it,” and love on him with their eyes. His voice is as smooth as Bing Crosby’s. He even whistles like Bing.

I watch his eyes land on Bert and lock in a possessive way. Bert possesses him back. The words he sings are for her. She is magnetic. The light from the warehouse rafters shines down on her. I feel a pinch in my breasts and pit of my belly from the chemistry I heard Irene talk about to Helen.

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