Hattie's World by Thomas Bauer

Author:Thomas Bauer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2024-02-14T13:56:09+00:00

11

Tom Franklin never came to steal Hattie away. Over the months, her longing for him waned slowly. She was too vibrant a young woman to be down for long. Soon, her natural gaiety returned and she began to enjoy life once more.

Lucy was involved in her own romance. She had fallen for a young man she met at an ice cream social at church. His name was Freddie Jenkins. He was below her social class, which presented a problem with her parents, though they were fond enough of the young man to allow him to go out with their daughter. The two young lovers went to the movies together, lunched at Dunphy’s Soda Fountain, and took long walks on the beach. Freddy had a good job at the lumber mill. Lucy was certain that if things really got serious and marriage was discussed, her father would approve and take a hand in the young man’s future. It was now Lucy’s turn to bend Hattie’s ears with the sensations she was experiencing. Hattie was happy for her friend, but was too absorbed in her own longings to pry too deeply into Lucy’s romance.

Hattie was more than ready to be courted herself. Unfortunately, the young men of Fanning’s Harbor were intimidated by her father. No one had summoned up the courage to ask Owen if they could call on Miss Hattie. There weren’t that many prospects in town, but Hattie was growing so desperate, that she would have been happy to go out with anyone.

It wasn’t that Hattie shut herself off from society. She never missed a dance party, which was one place young men weren’t afraid to approach her. She was a wonderful dance partner and anyone lucky enough to spend a few minutes holding her in his arms caused envy among his friends, all of whom were in awe of her beauty. On pleasant days, Hattie put on a bonnet, opened her pink parasol, and sashayed about town. She window shopped, sometimes went into a clothing store to try on the latest arrivals, or stopped at Dunphy’s Soda Fountain for a chocolate sundae or ice cream soda. She particularly liked to walk along the waterfront. There was always a buzz of activity and exotic sights and smells along the docks. Added to the excitement, was the awareness of the effect she had on the men working there. They all knew who she was, so no one dared whistle or make the bold comments other young women received. She was Miss Winthrop. An unwritten rule said, “Hands off.’”

It was a colorful crew that fished on the boats, unloaded a day’s catch, mended nets, hosed the fish entrails off the decks, or sat on old barrels chewing the fat with their peers. There were Italians, Mexicans, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, and Negroes. English was not always the language reaching Hattie’s ears. When it was, it was often delivered with a strange brogue, an accent, a musical lilt, or a pidgin version of the language.

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