2
After practice was over, and not really ready to go home, Rose decided to take a drive around town. She just needed sometime to breathe and think. Leaving her car at the school, she took one of the L trains and got lost in her thoughts. Tomorrow she was to ask Jack Dawson to go to the dance with her and She didn’t know how she was going to approach him. He barely even said two words to her all year. Sighing she leaned back and drifted off into dreams of her and Jack dancing. He was dressed in a tuxedo and she were a sequiined red and black gown. They seemed to have been having the time of their lives. Jack was just about to lean down and kiss her when there was a squeech and a shudder. Rose sat up abruptly from her dream to find that the train had stopped at the seedier part of town. People were disbarking, including the driver.
"This is my break folks," the burly man said to the remaining passengers. A elderly woman and herself. "I’ll be right back."
"Oh dear," the woman wringed her hands. "I just knew I should have had Jack pick me up. Now I’m going to be late for to make dinner. Hopefully the boy will know to order something for himself and brother and sister."
The woman looked over at Rose and smiled. "I do believe you’re about my Jack’s age. You’re awfully pretty."
Rose blushed. "Thank you."
"Well I suppose I could get out and walk…even though it
is a bit of a ways. I do hate walking alone."
Looking out, Rose saw that it was dark out.
Much to dark for a old woman to walk by herself. Even though Rose
didn’t live on this side of town she knew anything could
happen. This of course was Southside Chicago. "…I could
walk with you if you like," Rose swallowed. "I
don’t feel comfortable with you walking by yourself."
"Oh will you? I’ll have by grandson drive you home when
we get there. This means so much to me. I hate missing cooking
for them."
Rose smiled, she had a feeling this was the right thing and it would lead to something good.
Together, Rose and her new friend got off the train and began their journey. It was a bit of a ways, about a mile. Rose couldn’t help being nervous as she saw crowds of people standing in a group, a couple staring at her as if she was some speciman at the Field Museum. Diverting her eyes ahead, Rose continued to walk, listening to the woman’s idle conversation about her grandkids and her husband who was now retired and bedridden. Finally they reached the woman’s home. A small two story house with a garden. A light shone through the window illuminating the yard. A familiar Saturn sat in the driveway..
"Come in come in!" The woman beckoned, unlocking the door. "You can have dinner with us! And you can meet my grandson!"
"Oh that’s not necessary," Rose stammered. All she really wanted to do at that time was to get back to her car and get back on her side of town.
"No I insist. This was out of your way and you were kind enough to walk with me. By the way, my name is Mae. Mae Dawson."
"Rose Dewitt Bukater," Rose nodded.
"Grammy!" Two blond and blue eyed
children raced towards them as Mae opened the door. Mae laughed
and hugged the boy and girl. "I hope you’ve been good
for your brother."
"We saw news," the little boy nodded.
"Grandma!" a familiar voice rang out and made Rose’s eyes widen with surprise came from the living room. Rose looked away from Mae and the small children to look towards the opening of the living room to see Jack Dawson standing there, worry diming his blue eyes. "There was a shooting on a L that was stopped just a few minutes ago. I was worried you were on that one. The driver was taking a break and two gang members boarded to rob the train. One of the passengers refused to give in. The police are down there now."
"Oh dear. Well Rose, it looks like we did
the right thing getting off that train when we did. Fate was
looking out for us," Mae nodded to Rose who couldn’t
help but openly stare at Jack. Mae laughed, seeing that Rose
indeed had a crush on her grandson. This was nothing new for Mae.
Jack dated a lot of girls and even the ones he didn’t date
soon developed crushes on him. "Oh Jack dear, meet my new
friend Rose. She was kind enough to walk me home."
"You’re in some of my classes aren’t you?"
Jack held out his hand.
"Four of them actually," Rose blushed taking his hand. They both gasped at the electric shock that coursed through them. Rose had never felt anything like that before. Looking into Jack’s eyes, she knew that she was getting lost. His eyes were the most beautiful blue she’s ever seen.
"Jack let go of her hand. That’s
impolite," Mae laughed. The attraction was obviously mutual.
"Come inside Rose. I’ll make dinner and Jack can show
you his portfolio. Then after dinner he can drive you home. Jack,
show the girl your portfolio."
"Yes mam," Jack swallowed, leading Rose deeper into the
house.