“Mmmm, yes, I do,” Amanda said. “It doesn’t seem fair, does it?”
“It’s not fair at all,” the boy protested. “If you need experience to get the part, but you can’t get the part without experience, why it just isn’t fair at all.”
“It certainly isn’t,” Amanda said, smiling.
“Say, would you like another drink?”
“Yes, thank you, I would,” Amanda said. He took her glass, and she leaned against the wall, smiling, watching Gillian talking to a sailor across the room, and then seeing the sailor’s eyes shift to her, and then Gillian turned and looked at Amanda, and Amanda knew the sailor had asked Gillian who she was. Gillian took the sailor’s hand and led him across the room, stopping before Amanda, who still leaned against the wall, feeling very much like closing her eyes and listening to the music all around her. Gillian’s voice became a part of the music.
“Amanda, this is Rudy. He’s been dying to meet you, but he’s shy.”
“Hello, Rudy,” Amanda said, smiling. “Don’t be shy.”
“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen in my life,” Rudy said. He was a chunky boy with curling brown hair and dark-blue eyes. He had cut himself shaving, and a piece of adhesive tape clung to his heavy jaw.
“Why, thank you, Rudy,” Amanda answered dreamily.
“Would you like to dance?”
“Later,” she said. “Someone’s getting me a drink.”
“Do you live in New York?” Rudy asked.
“No, Minnesota.”
“That’s a long way off.”
“Oh, yes.”
Music everywhere, the doorbell sounding again, and the clicking of Gillian’s heels as she ran to answer it, “Brian! Hello! My God, what took you so long?”, a chorus of answering voices from the door, the carolers suddenly bursting into “Deck The Halls,” Somebody flat in there, Amanda thought, the door closing again, and then a voice joining the harmonious medley of carol and phonograph, a remembered voice with a Southern drawl, “Well, well, if it isn’t Miranda!”
She turned her head and recognized Brian first. Hadn’t Gillian said something about his coming down from New Haven? And then she saw the older boy in uniform standing alongside Brian, the same features, his brother no doubt, and then the army uniform on the third boy, not a boy, a man, approaching her, and the voice again, repeating, “Well, well, if it isn’t Miranda.”
“As a matter of fact, it isn’t,” she said easily. “It’s Amanda.”
“Yes, yes, Amanda, of course. And how are you, Amanda? Merry Christmas, Amanda.”
Gillian walked to them swiftly. “You remember Matthew Bridges, don’t you?” she asked apprehensively.
“I remember the captain,” Amanda said.
“The major,” Matthew corrected. “The captain is now a major.”
“Matthew Anson Bridges,” Amanda said. “Congratulations, Major Bridges.”
“Your congratulations are a trifle belated,” Matthew drawled, his mustache askew over his lopsided grin. “I was promoted in June.”
“For action in university parking lots?” Amanda asked, and then turned away from him swiftly and walked directly into Rudy’s arms. “Let’s dance, Rudy,” she said.
“Sure,” Rudy answered, somewhat bewildered by the exchange. He drew her close the moment they were on the floor, and Amanda pulled away gently.
“Now, now, Rudy,” she murmured.
“You’re beautiful, Amanda.”
“Yes, you are too,” she answered. “Everybody is beautiful. But if you hold me so tight, I won’t be able to breathe. Now, you wouldn’t want me to stop breathing, would you, Rudy?”
“No, I wouldn’t want that,” he said.
“I didn’t think so. So just... just... there, that’s better. Now, that’s much better, Rudy. My, but you’re strong,” she said, and she made a face to Gillian over his shoulder, and then saw Matthew Anson Bridges mixing a drink for himself and then turning, looking into the room, that same silly smile on his face, his eyes capturing hers, and she felt suddenly embarrassed. She did not turn her eyes away. Not at first. She stared directly across the room, defying him to remind her of her shame, challenging him to behave like the cad he surely was, with that silly mocking grin under his silly black mustache, daring him to force her into remembrance of their shameful secret; he had touched her breast, he knew the feel of her nipple extended and erect. She felt herself blushing, and she thought again, I must be a little drunk, and she lowered her eyes and gave herself to the music, Alvino Rey, was it? her feet following the clumsy graceless steps of her partner, one hand firmly against his chest, forcing him to keep his distance.
He suddenly backed away from her. She didn’t know what was happening at first, and then she looked up and saw the grinning mouth and the evil black mustache, and she wanted to run. Rudy grunted and frowned at Matthew and then slouchingly left the floor. Belatedly, Matthew asked, “May I?” and swept Amanda into his arms. His grip around her waist was very tight. She felt herself close against his chest, felt something very hard pressing against her, hurting her — his stupid sharpshooter’s medal, she thought — and tried to pull away. But this was not Rudy, this was Matthew Anson Bridges, and she lifted her head and very politely and very softly said, “Please.”
“Please what, Amanda?”
“Please let me go.”
“Why? Don’t you like to dance?”
“I do not like to wrestle!” she said sharply.
His grip relaxed suddenly. She looked into his face and saw that he was still grinning.
“Thank you.” She was silent for several moments. “Does it give you pleasure, Major?”
“Does what give me pleasure?”
“Teasing me?” And she knew the words were a mistake the moment they left her mouth.
“Oh, am I teasing you?” Matthew asked innocently. “How do you mean that, Amanda?”
“You know very well how I mean it! You take great pride in your ability to annoy me! Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like not to dance with you, Major.”
She tried to pull away, but he would not release her.
“Ah, but I like to dance with you, Amanda.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Yes, it certainly is.” His arm tightened around her waist.
“If you pull me in against that medal again, I’ll scream.”
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry.”
“Yes, I’ll just bet you are.”
“I am.”
“Don’t you do any fighting? Isn’t it time they sent you to Japan or somewhere?”
“As a matter of fact,” Matthew said, “I’ve applied for transfer from the Judge Advocate’s office.” He lowered his voice. “I’m leaving for Europe on New Year’s Day.”
“Good,” Amanda said flatly.
“Don’t mention it to anyone. It’s a military secret.”
“I certainly wouldn’t want to see your ship get sunk,” she said sarcastically.
“No, I know you wouldn’t. That’s why it’s best to be cautious. Besides, I’m going by airplane.”
“Well, I imagine you’re in a hurry to pack and all, so if you’ll excuse me,” and again she tried to free herself, but his arm was tight around her, unyielding.
“I imagine the war will be over soon,” he said.
“That’s nice,” she answered, seething.
“Yes,” he said. “Once I get overseas. No one can hold out against me for very long.”
“You might be surprised, Major,” she said.