Page:Jay Little - Maybe—Tomorrow.pdf/29

 Another push lunged him forward almost to the auditorium door. A buzzing sound, mingled with shouts of laughter and music greeted him. A boy beside him said something and giggled happily. Gaylord had not heard the cause for the laughter but he laughed with them.

Gaylord stumbled to the door during the last strains of a song. At the end there was a storm of hand-clapping. The singer hurried back to his seat without bowing. Almost immediately the seven-piece dance orchestra struck up again, and couples jammed the floor.

The hall was large and hot, smelling of wax and mixed colognes. Gaylord stood stiffly looking about as if trying to locate someone. He pressed his lips together and looked at the dancers, joggling on the floor. The trumpeter, blowing deafeningly into the microphone, held his glance for a second. Then he spied Robert Blake on the dance floor. He was dancing with Joy Clay and her hand was resting on his massive shoulders. They reminded him of incidents in novels about love. They did seem like they were in love. It was not pleasant for him but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the dancing couple. Blake was his one link with what he had wanted. Joy was sweet but … gosh, he wished he were she. This existence was only a perfumed glamorous unreality, he realized, like a Hollywood movie about a poor girl who marries a prince. But it was nice to dream about. Nice to think about. Too precious a dreamworld to be broken up; and so he persisted in his fervid pointless imaginings.

"Hi, Gay …"

"Hello, Vic … having a good time?" Gaylord asked.

"I'm trying like hell." Victor's face twisted in a wry grin. The drops of perspiration dropped from his broad forehead. "Sure hot, isn't it."

"I'll say." There was no point in this kind of talk but Gaylord was glad. Vic was a nice boy … He wasn't good-looking and his ears were too big for his head. But he was always nice and friendly.

Victor gave him a big smile. "I'll see ya, Gay."

Gaylord watched him race through the dancing couples. He was fascinated by his ease and speed. Already he had tagged a girl and had her in his arms. He watched them a moment and then Blake and Joy came into view. He watched Joy look up and laugh into the bronze face so close to her own. What did she say, he wondered. Did 19