CHAPTER 15

By ten the Pally was bursting. Half price night dragged all the girls out on the town and, of course, all the men followed. The small stage had somehow managed to cram a ten-piece jazz orchestra onto its vibrating boards as it crashed out all the popular numbers. The blonde lady in the long red dress standing to the side almost shouted out the words but in a most harmonious way. She had no trouble with the tops. Eased her way up and held the high for as long as she was able. The drummer, a wild man, full of flams and paradiddles making the beat more complicated than it needed to be.

  Riotous. That was how the scene on the floor appeared. Not a huge space but the jitterbuggers somehow made room. The guys swinging. The ladies twirling. Those mid-length, full shirt swing dresses swirled as the girls hit the top of a high move exposing deliberately frilly knickers.  

Around the walls round tables covered in glasses and bottles rattled with a deep bass beat. Chairs emptied as the 1930’s classic ‘Stompin’ at the Savoy’ fired up. The singer tapped her feet and swung her dress as the band got into the groove. 

“See those two over there?” said Tolly pointing across the floor towards the bar as the waitress placed their top-up drinks on the table. 

“Where?” 

“Over there, you dummy. Those two. The blonde and the sugar head. They look bored. A bit older than the other girls here. Maybe they’re being sidelined.” 

“I see ‘em… what the hell’s a sugar head?” 

“You know… candyfloss. All wild, tight packed. Stands up high and fluffy. I love that sugar head look.” 

“Oh, yeah. I see what you mean.” 

“Come on, Cap. They’re Lindy Hoppers and you’re the greatest Lindy Hopper.” 

“How d’you know they’re not the wild swinger types. I don’t do that flat out wild stuff.” 

“She’s Lindy tapping.” 

“What's that?” 

“Hey, does it matter? Stop with all the questions. Just go and Lindy. She’ll work with you. Trust me. Who knows the girls better than old Tolly?… Come on or the music’ll finish.”  

And Tolly was up straight lining through the throng on the floor and grabbed the sugar head by the hand. Sure enough she was off. Lindy hopping with Tolly struggling to keep up until he hit the rhythm. Cap close behind but more gentlemanly. Tried to say, “Would you like to dance?” but got as far as the ‘Would you’ before the blonde grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the middle of the floor then was surprised how quickly Cap hit the beat. They gelled immediately, hopping and kicking in perfect harmony. She laughed and he smiled. 

Space opened up as they topped the beat big time. Couples moved back, making room. Stopped dancing. Watching. Yelling. Screaming. The moves getting more complicated. Cap leading the way. The blonde lady followed as though she was part of a well-rehearsed routine. The band kept it swinging, driving them on. Upped the tempo more than a fraction. Added those extra bars to the eight bar phrases. The medium fast tempo, perfect for the best Lindy Hoppers. The crowd watched. Screamed and clapped as the band wound it up with a high-pitched exaggerated ending leaving the girl panting in Cap’s arms. 

“Judy,” she managed to say and looked up at Cap smiling. He saw a pair of bright blue eyes laughing after the exhilaration of the last five minutes. 

“Just call me Cap. Everyone else does.” 

Recovering a bit, she said, “I need a drink,”  

“What of,” asked Cap. 

“I don’t care as long as it’s something wet,” she replied. “Boy, you sure can dance. Where'd you learn to dance like that?” 

“1944 with the American GI’s… Now, those guys are the real experts.”  

He sat her down at their table and for a second watched Tolly swing as the next number started up thinking, he can’t dance for shit but he sure tries hard and looks like he’s having fun. “Back in a moment,” he said to Judy and drifted off to the bar. Shouted something across the bar top to a fella with a white shirt and bow tie and dodged back clutching two glasses. With a rattle of ice and handed one to Judy. 

“What’s this?” she said, taking a sip. 

“Whisky and coke with ice and a slice… like it?” 

“Sure. Where’s the idea for that come from then?” 

“Where’d you think?” 

“America and all those Gi’s.” 

“I thought you had a bright look about you… You dance real good as well. Where did you pick up all the moves?” 

“Those same Gi’s when I was in my twenties. Then three years of Thursday nights and some quite good dancers.” 

“Lots of men then?” said Cap. 

“Yup and no. I’m not free and easy. Free yes but definitely not easy.” 

“Is that a ‘so don’t go getting any ideas’ then.” 

“Something like that… Who’s your mate?” she said, glancing towards the dance floor. 

“Tolly.” 

“That’s a strange name.” 

“Short form of Batholomew. Tolly suits his character real well. You’ll see when you meet him. Just don’t call him Batholomew or Bart. He’ll sulk.” 

“What about you?... Cap? what’s that all about?” 

“Captain. I was Tolly’s captain during the war.” 

“No other names then?” 

“Nope, just Cap or captain. I lost my names years ago when the fighting started and so far I’ve not found the courage to get them back.”  

“What a war captain with no courage,” Judy said. “I don’t believe that. I bet you’ve got medals and everything… Have you got medals?” 

“Somewhere in the closet I expect.” 

“Okay, Mr Mysterious, you heroes never want to talk about it… What earns your living now?” 

“Bit of this and that.” 

“More mystery. You do this and that with Tolly?” 

“Sure, we’re partners. We’re in the procurement business. What about you?” 

“Hairdresser.” 

“You do your friend’s hair?” 

“What, Shirley, no way. That’s all home grown.” 

“Tolly called her a sugar head. You know, after candyfloss.” 

“That’s good. I’ll remember that… Yeah, that’s real good.” 

“Create a new style and make it take off.” 

“Yeah, maybe there’s something in that. Sugar head… I like that.” 

“There you go. A new creation. You can call it The Candyfloss look. How about that?” 

“You know, that might just work. I’ll think about it.” 

Before Judy could finish Tolly was there hanging onto a chair back taking off his jacket and wiping his face. “Drinks,” he said. “Shirley’s gone to the… well, you know. She wants a drink so I'm off to the bar.” 

“I’ll have another of these please… Bart,” Judy said, making Cap throw his eyes in the air and scowl at her. 

Tolly looked at her but double took her when she said Bart. “What’s that?” he said without too much charm and pointing at her glass. 

“Whisky and coke with ice and a slice. Get one for sugar head. She’ll like it for sure.” 

And Tolly stared at Cap with his eyes wide and mouthing ‘why’. Cap just shrugged, “Why not,” he said. 

“Because… Oh forget it,” and Tolly stomped off towards the bar. 

“You’re a mischievous one, aren't you?” 

“Just having fun… Will he sulk?” 

“Probably.” 

“For how long.” 

“The longest is two months but we’ll see.” 

“Really?” 

“What do you think?” 

“I think he’ll get over it real quick. By the time he gets back perhaps. He doesn’t look the sort to sulk.” 

“He’s not.” And for that he got a punch on the arm. Which he was rubbing when Tolly got back. 

“Hope it hurt,” Tolly said. 

“Not so much… Tolly meet Judy. Her favourite line is, ‘I won’t tell a soul.’” 

“Yeah… I’ll tell you a secret that you mustn't share, Judy,” and Tolly bent low and whispered in her ear, “He likes you. He’s not spoken more than a few words to a woman since I can’t remember when.” He turned his head and smiled at Cap. “You hear what I said?” 

“Nope,” said Cap, “and I don’t care.” 

“Don’t tell him,” said Tolly as he looked around to see Shirley. “Here we are… Shirley meet Cap. He’s a nice guy who’s in love with a girl called Judy.” 

 

After they had spent the next hour drinking and dancing, Judy said, “Well, it’s getting late. Work tomorrow we need to get going.” 

Tolly looked at Shirley and said, “See you again?” 

“Why not,” she replied. “Here’s the number of my lodgings. Call me sometime and make it soon.” 

The Pally was starting to thin out anyway, so they all left. “We go this way,” said Cap. 

Judy pointed down the street opposite, “That’s us,” she said. 

“Nice meeting you,” said Cap although he thought he would like to say more. Fortunately, Judy took over. 

“Is that all, just nice? I can do better than that,” and put her hands on his shoulders each side of his head, stood on tip toes and kissed him on the lips. “That's better, eh?” she said. 

“Much. Here’s my number. Give me yours and I’ll call you. It’ll be next week. We’ve things to do.” 

“Procurement?” 

“Yup, something like that.” 

“Well, be careful and take care.” With that she put her arm through Shirley’s and, with a lasting smile, they both strolled off momentarily illuminated by a streetlight before they disappeared into the gloom of the side street. 

“You sure can be cold sometimes, Cap,” said Tolly. 

“I know. I try not to be but there’s a reason.” 

“I know. The shells. The nighttime sweats.” 

“I hope I’ve not put her off. She’s real nice.” 

“Don’t worry about that. Take it from an old soldier, ha ha, it'll take more than that to shift that one out of your life. She’s just what you need. It’s time to move on, Cap, in more ways than one.”