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The Serviceman’s Hall was buzzing that night, there was a Big Band playing all the hot hits; all rock, rhythm and jazz. It was an English late summer’s evening; the twilight haze had crept in though the sweet warmth of the day still lingered in the air. The two men strolled in through the heavy metal entry doors that were wedged open. Each was dressed to the nines, the taller man, Ted, was in his full dress uniform with his cap tucked under his arm. His friend, Jay, wore a crisp black suit, pressed white shirt and carefully fixed bowtie. They’d pulled out all the stops to look their best, even fudging a couple of ration booklets to do so. Ted pulled out his metal folding comb and gave his hair one last primp as they passed a mirror in the corridor, earning a roll of the eyes and a scoff from his friend. Though just moments later he himself ran his fingers through his perfectly oiled curls and fluffed out his mutton chops before swinging open the doors to the dance and striding inside. He took a drag of his cigar as he casually made his way through the crowded arrangement of tables, all full of couples, friend groups and strangers, chatting jovially. Ted caught up to him and they looked for an open table. Spotting a girl sitting alone near the front they nodded at one another and strolled over to her. “Evenin’ dollface, these seats taken?” Jay placed his hands on a chair, leaning over so she could hear him. The girl looked a little annoyed and surprised to see the men, but nonetheless she waved them ahead and they took their seats, turning them to face the dancefloor. Ted tossed his hat on the table and Jay crossed his ankles, watching the couples dancing to the rock’n’roll that was reverberating through the stage. The beat of feet on the floorboards and the deep rumbling bass walking around the scale was infectious, “No wonder the kids back home are all about this, eh?” Jay quipped to Ted, keeping his cigar clenched in his teeth on the left side. Ted smiled, not paying all that much attention to his friend anymore and Jay chuckled wryly. Ted leaned in to say something to the girl whose table they’d joined, Jay watched her reaction as her chest and cheeks flushed red and quick as a flash, she slapped him and turned away. The man just grinned and chuckled to himself, shrugging when he caught his friend’s questioning look as he leaned back in his chair “I only asked her to dance!” he laughed.
Jay’s wide, weathered hands beat a steady rhythm on the table as he admired the array of dresses, and their occupants, moving around the dancefloor. Ted’s warm hazel eyes darted around the room, looking for an in so that he could snatch up a partner; he needed to let off some steam and he just couldn’t keep his feet still to the swinging jive that the band played. A girl with vibrant, shiny curls, bright eyes and a full skirt whirled out of the arms of some English military schmuck and tottered over to their table, giggling all the way. Both men were more than a little speechless and frankly glad to be sitting down as this girl would surely have made them weak at the knees. All they could see was her approaching them, smiling. She greeted the other woman, sat down next to her and they proceeded to gossip away between themselves for a few minutes. Jay leaned over to Ted and huffed “Phew, now that’s a dame,” nodding towards the new girl. She looked up and caught sight of the two men; she hadn’t realised they were part of the same table at first. “Oh, hi there! Pleased to meet you fine gentlemen,” she smiled warmly at them both, her tone was friendly and playful. She gave her name and reached out her hand. Jay was the first to lean in, take her dainty hand, he tried to be as gentle as he could, his hands looked like veritable paws holding hers. He kissed her knuckles, a single curl falling forward across his brow; “The pleasure, the privilege, is all mine, Miss.” he said just loud enough for her to hear, the gravelly quality of his voice clear even through the din. She flashed him a coy smile and her eyes flicked up and down, from his rich chestnut curls to his well-groomed moustache and right down to his meticulously polished dress shoes. As soon as he’d let go, Ted scooped up her outreached hand and also bent to kiss her delicate fingers, his thick dark moustache tickling her skin. “How d’you do Ma’am, Lance Corporal Theodore Kennedy Nivison Jr, at your service.” He smirked, playfully winking at her. She grinned, throwing her head back, a sweet and melodious laugh bubbling up from her chest. Jay felt a sudden burst of effervescent warmth course through him, a crooked, genuine smile spreading on his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes. Ted watched her with a soft, dreamy smile, his eyes full of admiration already. She was a breath of fresh air in their dreary, stressful lives, she radiated warmth and joy, something you just didn’t see these days. Not in this political climate. Just then her friend snatched her arm, pulling her back into her seat, she gritted her teeth and hissed in her ear “They’re AMERICANS!” The woman simply laughed again, that wonderful, songbird sound; “I know they’re Americans, Georgina, just look at that uniform.” she chided her friend. Georgina, as they now knew her, folded her arms and shot them all a disapproving glare. The men knew how Americans were seen here, they knew they weren’t the most popular people in the world, and they certainly weren’t welcome here, especially in this small town in England, where people felt they were a totally unnecessary reminder of the horrors of war.
“So, care to dance?”
Oh, was she talking to him? She couldn’t be, right? Everyone knows he doesn’t dance; he’s not even dressed to dance. Jay’s mind was running a mile a minute to try and find an excuse not to dance with this...impossibly beautiful woman. What was wrong with him?? He’d give his right arm for a chance to hold her in any other setting, and here she was offering it up on a plate and he was scrambling for an excuse not to. His silence stretched for an uncomfortable length of time before Ted hopped up and took her hand, “He doesn’t dance, but I’ll dance with ya honey!” he grinned, her face lit up and he let her pull him onto the dancefloor. Jay watched the sway of her hips as she walked and gritted his teeth around his cigar ‘til his view was obscured by Ted’s hulking frame behind her. They looked absurd together; she must have been over a foot shorter than him. At 6ft 4, Ted towered over most people, but with this slip of a girl he just looked clumsy and ridiculous. Until they started dancing that is, and even Jay had to admit, boy could he really make her fly. She was lithe, nimble and knew what she was doing, her hips were swinging with purpose and passion for the music. He spun, dipped, threw her across the floor; very quickly a circle had formed around them, rarely had anyone seen someone Lindy like that in England, and what a sight it was. Jay stewed in his envy and regret, taking drags of his cigar and watching the pair with a face like thunder.
Ted’s hands were getting just a little too familiar with her waist for his liking. He had no idea why he was so territorial over this girl he’d just met, maybe it was being stationed here for over a year already and never having met a woman he felt he could bring home. He was a young, hot-blooded man, he felt like a caged lion being stuck here alone without so much as a sweetheart to write home to. But this one? Now she was something special. That twinkle in her eye, that big broad smile that she wasn’t afraid to dazzle you with. She was bold, confident...and while yeah, he may also have been looking at her lethal curves, I mean that dame was built like a straight up hourglass, what’s a guy supposed to do? He was drawn to her for much more than that. She had this magnetism about her that set his soul on fire. He felt his legs twitch and before he’d even made up his mind what he was going to do about it, he’d stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray and was upright and storming towards the pair on the floor. The mood had slowed, the band were playing a nice little number called In a Sentimental Mood, Jay was a record nut back home in New York, he knew all the Big Band standards and Duke Ellington’s orchestra was a favourite; he’d even seem them live. “May I cut in?” he barked at Ted, slipping his hand between them and seamlessly whisking her out of his arms. Now, Jay didn’t dance, as a rule, he didn’t like the image being a dancing kind of guy, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t dance. He could foxtrot and waltz just as well as the next guy. She gazed up at him, a small smile playing on her lips, “I thought you didn’t dance, Sergeant Schlatt?” she punctuated his name with a giggle. He of course wasn’t in his uniform, so he cursed Ted for telling her. “Look, I didn’t wear this damn monkey suit today just to be addressed as a rank above who I am as a man toots, I get that all damn day, every day. I just wanted to be Jay tonight.” he sighed, glaring at Ted who was now pulling Georgina up onto the floor. To his credit, she looked decidedly keener on the idea than she had earlier. “I’m sorry, Jay. I was only teasing. I’m rather glad you decided to cut in after all.” she smiled at him, and he just melted, completely. The hand he had placed on the small of her back pulled her in just a little closer, wrapped around her just a little more. The hand he clasped in hers held just a little more tenderly and his smile grew just a little wider and a little warmer. The band struck up In the Mood by Glenn Miller, he pulled her tight against him and they started to move to the swing. She was surprised by just how well he could move; he was just a little shorter than Ted so he couldn’t have been less than 6’2 or 6’3 and yet he was light on his feet and matched her every move. If he spun her, he caught her on her way back, if she moved in close, he’d grab her waist so skilfully. There was something that just clicked between them, she felt like she’d known him for years.
Later that evening, the two pairs stood outside, watching the stars, leaning on the railing outside the hall. Conversation flowed freely, and laughter was plentiful. “You just don’t see stars like this back home.” Jay remarked, she nodded. He lowered his voice and smirked a little; “Y’know, I think they oughtta name you after where I’m from,” his arms wrapped around her waist as she leaned her head back on his strong shoulder. “And why is that? Or rather where is that?” she laughed. He blushed, grateful she couldn’t see him in the dim light and mumbled “It’s a place called Queens, and damn if I don’t wanna make you my Queen.” hoping she wouldn’t quite hear him. She turned in his grip, placing a small hand on his broad chest, the moon caught the gentle curve of her face as she looked up at him, her eyes shining as much as ever. “Oh Jay. Though I’ve only known you these last few hours, I... something about you makes me never want to part.” she whispered. Their eyes met, a moment in time that sparked an eternity, and he closed the distance to kiss her so tenderly. She shivered in his embrace, her hands moving up to his neck, then gently stroking the scruff on his cheeks. She was enamoured with him in every way, his wit, his natural humour and his sharp mind. He’d shared his desire to settle down and get married, it felt like he was hinting to her that he wished she’d join him, and she’d be lying if she said she didn’t want to. The kiss lingered, passionate and sweet, Jay was a gentleman and kept his hands on her waist and back. “We don’t ever have to part toots; I’ll take you home with me, you can be my pretty little housewife, and we’ll go dancing every weekend, every jazz club in New York City. I’ve got a house back home with enough room for kids, I’ll buy you all the finest dresses, anything you want doll, it’s yours. All I want is to see that beautiful smile for the rest of my days.” he said, rubbing her back tenderly and clutching her hand over his heart. Something about the look in his deep honeyed brown eyes was so earnest. She couldn’t believe that she was even considering it, but her heart spoke for her, “Oh Jay, of course I’ll come with you.” She stretched up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. He caught her lips as she pulled away and kissed her deeply. Grinning wide, he gathered her up in his arms and spun her around, that wonderful laugh of hers breaking the silence. "What's all this for?” Ted asked with a chuckle. “We’re going back to New York; we’re gettin’ hitched, Teddy my friend!” Jay rejoiced. Georgina gasped. Ted laughed. Eventually they both congratulated them, Ted even nudged Georgina “So, whaddya say sweetheart, you wanna come back to Massachusetts?” she gave him a withering look and an exasperated sigh, turning to stomp back into the hall. “I’m still workin’ on it, I think she’s warming up to me.” Ted quipped to the pair as he followed Georgina back inside, clapping Jay on the back as he passed.
Standing out there, his arms enveloping her, the faint hum of the horn section from inside. Something about his warmth, his touch, even his spicy cologne that filled her senses; It all felt like home. It was just her and Jay against the world, and she felt like they could conquer anything.