1
It was a beautiful starry night. Jack Dawson was walking home along side his two friends Fabrizio DeRossi and Tommy Ryan, letting the excitement of the night slide off him. It was a great night at the dance hall. He and his friends danced the night away, letting all thoughts of the war and Hitler float away. It was just what they needed after a run in with Caledon Hockley, Hitler Youth in training.
Jack was still bristling with anger at the hateful words that Cal had said, but instead of using violence, which would have made him feel a hell of a lot better, he followed his late father’s advice. Don’t use violence to stand up for what you believe in, instead find a nonviolent means. So Jack had found Swing music and have been going to the Swing halls ever since and that was where he went after the confrontation to work off his anger and protest the Nazi regime by dancing to music that they hated so much.
"Jack! Jack!" Fabrizio called out to his friend as they strolled down the street along with another one of their friends, Tommy Ryan. "Tomorrow night let’s bring dates! There’s this girl I promised to take to the hall…name’s Helga."
"Fabri, Jack doesn’t have a girl to take as a date," Tommy Ryan reminded his friend, straightening the derby hat he wore over his unruly curls, a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth.
"I don’t need a
girlfriend to take dancing," Jack dismissed both
suggestions. "That’s the great thing about swing. You
can dance by yourself or just find a girl that’s willing to
dance with you. How about you Tommy? Are you taking a date?"
Tommy snorted. "I may not be able to go back to the hall
after tonight. I had to sneak out tonight just to join you
guys."
"Your folks still on your back about joining the youths?" Jack frowned.
Tommy nodded. "They won’t let up. They think that just because my cousins and uncles have a part in the regime I should do the same."
"Don’t give in Tommy! Don’t! The Furor is evil! The Nazi’s came and took my Aunt Isabella away and we haven’t heard from her since! It’s not just the Jews they’re going after. It’s us Gypsies too and who knows who else!"
"Fabri’s right
Tommy."
"You guys don’t understand. My folks…they’re
upping the ante…they won’t let up," Tommy sighed,
kicking a nearby can.
"Well…if the pressure gets too much and you feel yourself caving in…just come find me. I’m always here for you Tommy," Jack squeezed his friend’s shoulder in a show of support.
"Same goes for me too Tommy," Fabrizio nodded, stepping up next to Jack.
"Thanks you guys. You’re the best friends a guy could have," Tommy hugged his friends, gratefully for their unconditional friendship.
"Tommy! Get over here!" Tommy pulls away from his friends and looks across the street to see his uncle glaring at him.
"I better go. See ya around," Tommy waved joining his uncle on the other side of the street.
Jack and Fabrizio both frowned as they watched their friend disappear into the darkness of the night.
"I wish there was someway we can help him," Fabrizio sighed helplessly.
"We’ll think of something Fabri. Don’t worry," Jack reassured his friend. "Come on. Let’s get home before the patrol picks us up." Jack led his friend away, both disappearing around a corner, their thoughts with their troubled friend.