04
As promised, Jack, Helga and Fabrizio arrived at the Dewitt Bukater residence to pick up Rose. Rose was waiting on her doorstep so her mother wouldn’t be alerted and ask questions about where she was going and with whom.
"Rosie!" Helga waved as the small group approached.
"So this must be Miss. Dewitt Bukater," Jack smiled, offering his hand in greeting, trying to hide the instant attraction he felt towards the lovely red-head.
"Call me Rose," Rose smiled, letting herself get lost in Jack’s sparkling blue eyes.
"So Rose, are you ready for a night of dancing?" Helga giggled, pulling Rose off her porch and down the street in the opposite direction.
"Well…I must warn you, I’m not a very good dancer," Rose nervously glanced at the ground as she walked next to Jack while Helga and Fabrizio strolled along ahead of them.
"Don’t worry Rose. I’ll teach ya. Swing dancing is not hard to learn at all. Just let the music move you," Jack dismissed Rose’s fears with a laugh.
"So Mr. Dawson…"
"Jack," Jack smiled flirtatiously.
"Jack…so Swing dancing is your passion?"
"No. Not at all. My real passion is art. I love just setting in the park sketching everyday people in everyday life. Swing dancing is just another way for me to protest all the hate going around now a days."
"Oh," Rose nodded.
"The nazi’s are horrible," Helga nodded in agreement.
"Here we are! Persimmion’s dance hall!" Jack led Rose to a large building that was fully lit and full of music.
"This place is hopping tonight Jack," Fabrizio smiled widely.
"Oh I can’t wait!" Helga grabbed Rose’s hand and pulled her into the building ahead of the boys. "Isn’t this grand Rose?"
Rose’s eyes widen with sudden delight at what she saw and heard. Swing music filled the air and kids her age were all dancing, some dance moves complicated but a lot of them simple. "Wow. This is great."
"Come on. Let’s find
a table," Jack took Rose’s hand and led the small group
to a table that was in front of the band. "Here we go. Can I
get you something to drink Rose?"
"Oh no thank you," Rose shrugged, just as a slow song
began to play.
"Well then let’s dance," Jack took her hand and pulled her into his arms.
"Jack!…I can’t do this. I don’t know the steps," Rose gasped in dismay.
"I’ll teach ya. This is slow enough. Just move with me," Jack slowly began swaying to the music, slowly moving along the floor. He stepped away from Rose a bit so she could watch his foot movement. "See. You’ve got it. It’s not that hard at all."
"You’re right," Rose nervously smiled as Jack pulled her closer, once it was clear she knew the steps. Her heart beat in the same rythmn as his as they danced close together.
"It looks like Jack and your friend are getting along just fine," Fabrizio looked at the couple.
"It’s amazing. I’ve never seen Rose so relaxed with anyone this quickly before. Jack definitely has a way about him."
"That’s because he has a good heart," Fabrizio grinned just as a fast tune began to play, one of his favorites. "Shall we dance?"
"Of course!" Helga accepted the offer.
"Jack I can’t dance to this one! It’s too fast," Rose pulled away.
"I’ll teach ya," Jack took her hand. "Just follow me. Or better yet, just move the way you feel. Just don’t let go of my hand."
Together Jack and Rose dance, drawing a crowd, they were fantastic together. Especially Jack who was more experienced at Swing dancing. He never once let go of Rose’s hand as he twirled and turned her about. All too soon the dance was over and poor Rose was exhausted and thirsty.
"You were great. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you’ve been swing dancing all you life," Jack led her back to their table.
Rose just laughed, giddy from
the music. "Trust me. This was my first time."
"Well then you’re a natural," Jack smiled, leaning
in closer to her, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"We’ll definitely have to do this again."
Rose’s breath stopped in her throat, all of a sudden aware of how close he was to her. She could feel his warm breath on her face. "Uh Jack…I don’t know if that’s possible. You see…I’m…" before Rose could finish her sentence officers bursted into the building, guns drawn and ready to arrest people. The dance broke out in a uproar of paniced kids. Jack grabbed Rose’s hand and began pulling her deeper into the dance hall.
"Jack! Where are we going? What about Fabrizio and Helga?!" Rose yelled over the noise, tightly clinging onto Jack’s hand.
"Fabrizio will take care of Helga! Just follow me Rose. Everything will be alright!" Jack called back, trying to conceal his own panic. This was Rose’s first night and first raid. She shouldn’t have to go to jail for just trying a certain form of entertainment.
"Jack!"
"Don’t let go of my hand Rose! I’ll get us out of here!" Jack tried his best to reassure her all the while pulling her through the crowd, keeping her as close as possible.
‘We’re never going to get out of here,’ Rose thought to herself just as they bursted out through a door and into the brisk night air, causing Rose to shiver against the chill after spending a hour in the warm dance hall. Her eyes widened when she saw patrol cars just a little ways up ahead loading kids into the back of a truck. "Jack!"
"This way Rose," Jack pulled her into the opposite direction Both breaking into a dead run. "Follow me! Don’t let go of my hand! Trust me Rose!"
"I trust you!" Rose called as they both disappeared into the swirling darkness of the night, hoping to get away from the nazi patrolmen.