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At about 4:30, Jax and I started back for Manhattan. She wanted to see what this surprise Jack had spoken about was. I really couldn't care less. I had a pretty good idea what the surprise was anyway. Me and my stupid premonitions. They're useful at times, but they do get annoying at other times.
Jax and I arrived at the Lodging House at about five. We walked up the stairs into our room. Jax went in first.
"Hey, Birdie, check this out," she said, staring at one of the bunks.
I walked up behind her and looked around her. Sure as anything, there were two dresses, one blue and one green, layed out on the bed. I smiled.
"I see, Jax. They're quite lovely," I said, looking at both dresses. I picked one of them up. "This one must be yers; it's too long fer me." I handed her the blue dress.
"Yeah, I think yer right. Green looks better on you anyways," she commented and took the dress from my hand.
"I'm gonna go wash-up a bit. I'll be back in a few," I said, starting towards the washroom.
"Kay," she mumbled as I walked away.
I entered the washroom and turned on the sink. I washed my face and ran a wet comb through my hair. I used the bathroom and then washed my hands really well. I walked back into the bunk room and found Jax half-dressed. She couldn't get all the buttons in the back done up. She was having quite a bit of trouble with them.
"Need some help, Jax?" I asked, walking up behind her.
"Could'ju get these fucking buttons?" she said, letting her arms drop to her sides. I started buttoning the buttons for her. "I dunno why they put buttons on the back. Ya can't get to 'em without help," she complained.
I smiled. "Jax, they do that because they haven't got zippers yet, or velcro. Buttons're high-tech," I joked. She laughed, and I finished with the buttons.
"Thanks, sweetie," she said happily. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom now." She grabbed a wash cloth and her bag of toilitres and headed for the washroom.
"Kay, but I'll need yer help doing up the buttons in a bit on mine."
"Right."
I pulled off my shirt and skirt and set them on my bunk, folded nicely. I picked up the green dress and looked it over. I wonder if I'm s'posed ta wear a corsett with this? I thought. I shrugged. I noticed that the back of my dress wasn't buttons. The bodice was laced up in the back. I guess I'm not, I thought.
"Well, I'll definitally need help with this," I mumbled.
I slipped into the dress and fixed it on my shoulders. The neckline was scooped a little; it showed my collar bones nicely. It hung on my shoulders loosely. I wondered if it would show my tattoo. Probably, I thought. I grabbed my make-up bag out of my book bag and joined Jax in the washroom.
"Hey ya, Jax. Could'ja do me up back there," I said and set my bag down by the sink.
"Yup," she said and came over to me. "Cool," she said, seeing the laces.
"Ain't it?" I asked with enthusiasm.
She nodded and began tightening the laces. I rested my hands on the edge of the sink. She pulled the laces relatively tight, but not so that I couldn't move. She finished it by tieing a neat square knot, and then a bow, at the bottom of my back. She fixed the dress on my shoulders and then turned me towards her.
"Perfect," she said with a grin.
"Uh-huh," I mumbled and turned to the mirror. I did my make-up softly, so it looked like it was just barely there. I found one of my favorite lip sticks, pink suade. I put it on and it looked perfect with the outfit.
"Birdie, how's zis look?" Jax asked. She was referring to her hair.
I turned to her. "Not too bad," I said, "but go with it half up. I think it'll look better that way."
"Really? Ya think so? It'll drive me nuts; ya know that," she said.
"I know that! But I think it will. What 'bout me; how d'ya think I should wear mine?"
Jax looked at me. "Hmm," she mumbled. She took my hair in her hand and messed with it fer a minute or two. "Come'ere," she said and pulled me back to the bunk room.
"What're ya doin'?" I asked.
"Jist wait," she said and plopped me down on a chair in the middle of the room. She stood over me and began messing with my hair again. Jax messed with my hair for a while. When she was finally finished, she walked in front of me. I stood, and she looked me over. "Perfect," she said with a smile.
"Well, are ya gonna let me look at it er what?" I asked.
"Oh, right," she said and moved out of my way.
I went to the washroom and looked at myself in the mirror. "Yup, you were right. Perfect. Ya do real nice work. Ya should work at a hair shop er somethin'," I said. She'd taken half of my hair and twisted it back into a bun.
She shrugged. "Mom always made me do Heather 'n' my hair," she said (by the way, Heather's her sister).
I looked at my watch. "Oh, look, it's jist after six. Let's finish gettin' ready 'n' git downstairs," I said.
"I'm ready."
"Okay, I guess we're both ready, then. Let's go wait fer the guys in the lobby. Knowing them, they're not even near ready yet," I said with a laugh.
She laughed, too. "Yeah, come on," she said and started towards the door.
I followed her, and she opened the door. We could hear the chatter of the boys downstairs. They had obviously left their door open. Jax and I walked out into the hallway. I was going to shut the door, but I thought better of it and left it open.
We walked over to the stairs and started down. We passed the boys' room. All of them were in the washroom getting washed up. None of them noticed us walk by, but we sneaked by anyways. Couldn't interrupt their getting dressed, now; could we?
Jax and I came to the lobby. A few of the boys and Kloppman were already there. They all stood when we came down.
"Whoa, Boidie, Jax, you'se two look great!" Blink blurted out.
Jax blushed. I laughed. "Thanks, Blink. Might I add that you look pretty snazzy yerself," I replied with a flirtatoius tone.
Blink extended his hand and came towards me. "Shall we dance?" he asked, being gentlemanly.
"We shall," I said and put my hand in his.
Blink twirled me around and into his arms. We waltzed to the imaginary music in the room. Everyone was laughing and having a good time. Blink was showing off his dancing skills. Several more of the guys were moseying down the stairs and watching Blink and me dance. Blink twirled me once more, but his hand slipped and he let go of me. I lost my balance and fell into Jack. Everyone laughed.
"Gee, hi, Jack. Fancy meetin' you here," I said with a laugh.
"May I cut in?" he asked, taking my hand.
"Oh, no," I said, smiling and backing away from Jack. I looked at Jax.
"Oh, my, look at the time-" She grabbed Race's pocket watch from his vest pocket.
"Hey!" Race yelled.
Jax clicked open the watch. "It's half passed six. Time ta git goin'," she said quickly.
"Yeah, wouldn't wanna be late, now; would we?" I said with a laugh, scurrying out the door.
"Right," Jax agreed and followed me out.
Jack laughed a little and followed the two of us. The rest of the boys followed him into the street. Jax and I waited there for them. We didn't know where Medda's was, or Irving Hall, or whatever she called it. Jack led the way. I walked next to him, and Jax walked with Mush behind us.
"Hey, Jack, where's Spot? I thought he was comin' tahnight," I asked casually.
Jack looked at me with a goofy grin on his face. "He'll be heah. He had somethin' ta take care of in Brooklyn. His woik as leadah ain't nevah done," he said, still wearing the goofy grin.
I raised an eyebrow. Jack definitally knew something, and he wasn't hiding it too well. "Gee, Jack, I wonder what yer hidin'," I said sarcastically.
Jack looked surprised. "I ain't hidin' nuthin'!" he exclaimed, defending himself.
"Yeah, yer right. Yer not hidin' anythin'," I replied with a smile.
Before Jack could reply, we arrived at Irving Hall. The lights were lit up and the hall was bustling with people. I watched the women in fancy dresses walk into the hall. The men didn't look as beautiful, but, then, they're men.
Jack led the way into the building. He spoke with an usher, who then directed us to a table down front. We followed Jack down to the table.
"Jack, how many we gots tahnight?" Race asked.
"Dunno," Jack said with a shrug. "We gots as many as we got."
"Profound," I commented. Jax looked at me and agreed, jokingly of course. The boys ignored us.
"Well, since dis is a dance, why don't we'se dance?" Mush asked. He offered Jax his hand, which she took, and they went to the dance floor.
The rest of us took our seats at the table.
"Hey, Boidie, d'ya like da races?" Race asked, striking up a conversation.
I think I've answered that question before, I thought. "Never been ta one, but I think it'd be fun. Perhaps I could get some real nice shots, kinda like Degas. Maybe I could be of some help to ya, too," I said.
"Like how?" he asked, curious.
I shrugged. "You'll hafta wait ta see that one," I answered with a smile. "So, what's up fer the night?" I asked, pulling my knee up onto the chair (I did it so that my shoe was on the chair, not the dress, and my dress covered everything).
"We'se heah ta pawdy; dat's all dat's required," Jack answered, still wearing the goofy grin.
That stupid grin really bugged me. "Will you stop with the stupid grin!" I said loudly. The boys jumped, and Jack tried to stop grinning, maybe from fear or something, but he couldn't.
"Sorry," he apologized, still trying to make a straight face.
I rolled my eyes. Frustrated, I stood up and grabbed Blink's arm. "Come dance with me. Jack's really buggin' me," I said and pulled him to his feet.
"Uh, sure," he said, being dragged to the dance floor.
"Okay, let's dance," I said once we were on the dance floor.
Blink placed his hands, and we started dancing. The music was lively, but still slow-dance music. Blink twirled me around a few times, dipped me a few others, but only when the music permitted. We were having a lot of fun out there. Soon, everyone stopped dancing and watched the two of us. I guess we looked pretty good together. The music ended shortly after that, and we all clapped for the band.
"That was fun, Blink. We gotta do it again sometime," I said, turning to go back to the table.
"We ain't gonna dance ta da next song?" he asked.
I turned back to him. "Blink, yer a great dancer. You really are. But I see that Spot finally strode in-"
"Ter gonna leave me fer Spot?" he asked, trying to act hurt but not really pulling it off.
I rolled my eyes. "Blink, I still love ya," I said.
He laughed. "Really?" he asked.
I shrugged. "Besides, I'd like a drink," I said. "Come on," I said and walked back over to the table. "Ah, Spot, I see ya finally showed up," I said with a hint of criticism.
Spot looked up at me. He gulped. He stood up. "I got ya dis," he said, looking at his feet and handing me something.
I took it from his hand. It was an iris. "Thank you, Spot," I said sincerely. "Gee, I wonder who it was who told Spot here what my favorite flower is." I looked at Jax. She laughed and scrunched up her nose. I took a sip of someone's drink. I set the flower on the table and took Spot's hand. "Come with me," I said and turned to walk away.
"Oh, no, I don' care who ya is; ya ain't gittin' me out on dat floah," he protested and pulled his hand back.
"Oh, really?" I turned back to him.
"Really."
I stepped closer to him. "Really?" I asked again.
"Really," he said, a little less confident.
I stepped even closer to him. "Really?" I asked in a sweet voice, with almost puppy dog eyes, too. Spot couldn't answer. "Good," I said, grabbing his hand once more and pulling him out to the dance floor. This time he didn't protest at all.
"She's good," Jack said to the group as Spot and I left the table.
"Too good," Race mentioned to himself. He was putting some things together in his head.
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