June's POV
As I sat in the taxi and watched the scenery go by my mind began to wander. It's the summer of 1922 and I'm moving from Chicago to New York. There's nothing wrong with Chicago of course, it was nice living there for a little while. But I wanted to get away from it all. Not to mention the fact my cousin Daisy lives here. Daisy is my second cousin. We used to be best friends as children but our relationship died mostly due to neglect. So I moved into a little old gardeners shack squeezed between two mansions that aren't too far from her. Now I can start a new life and be friends with my cousin again.
"Ma'am we've arrived." The taxi driver said breaking me out of musings. I got out of the taxi car and looked around. I felt a grimace come to my face. The yard looked terrible! The grass was overgrown, Ivy was everywhere, the pathway leading to the house was broken up, and there was even a little broken bird's bath. Goodness I'm going to have my hands full getting this place in order. If this is how it looks outside I shudder to think of how it must look on the inside.
While the taxi man grabbed my bags I walked carefully up the stairs and onto the porch. I opened the door and looked around inside. The inside wasn't bad. A lot of the furniture was a little old but other than that all it needed was some dusting and a little mopping and it would be fine. I paid the taxi man and carried my suitcases upstairs.
Once I got in my room I started getting everything sorted out. I opened the window to let out the stale air, wiped down the dresser, put my clothes away, changed the sheets on the bed, and mopped my bedroom floor. After all that I was dead tired. I looked up at the clock and saw it was noon. Maybe I should call Daisy and tell her I can't make it to dinner tonight. After all if it takes four hours just to tidy up my bedroom how long will it take to clean the rest of the house?! Oh what am I saying! I'm trying to be friends with my cousin and coming to dinner will help immensely.
I grabbed a clean towel and took a quick bath. After I scrubbed myself down and washed my hair I got out of the tub and dried off. Then I put on deodorant, and went to my closet to pick out a lightweight short sleeved creamed colored floral dress. I put on stockings and cream shoes. Then I picked my favorite pearl necklace with matching earrings.
Lastly I went to the mirror to fix my hair and put on my makeup. My hair is brown and blonde that's all mixed up like bird seed and very curly so I'll just brush out the tangles and put a bucket bell hat over it. Then I put on brown eyeliner, black mascara, and a rust color eye shadow to make my amber eyes stand out. After putting on a light shade of red lipstick and spraying some Mitsouko perfume I was ready to go.
I called the taxi and 10 minutes later I was on the way to Daisy and her husband Tom's mansion. After a long while I finally made it and as I got out of the taxi I saw who I believe is Tom riding up on a horse after finishing a game of polo. He threw his polo mallet to a servant, grabbed the glass of water that was held ready to him, and finally answered the phone that was also held ready for him. He said something to the person on the other end before rudely hanging up on them. As he took a sip of the water he noticed me. A look of pure awe crossed his face before he replaced it with a wide grin.
"Hello Tom! I'm June; I believe we spoke on the phone. It's so nice to meet you!" I said smiling and sticking my hand out for him to shake it but instead he gave me a hug.
"Oh stop with the formalities. We're family! Come we'll go inside." He said giving me a good squeeze and a kiss on each cheek before leading me into the house. We passed through the entry way which was lined with all sorts of trophies and signed sports gear. I know guys love sports but this is a little ridiculous.
Tom pushed through the double doors and we entered the spacey living room. Every door was open which let in a nice cool breeze and made the white curtains flow. Tom barked orders for the butlers to close the doors before he went behind the bar and started mixing martinis. As I walked further into the room I noticed what looked like Daisy and another dark haired woman relaxing on a couch. Daisy must have heard me come in because she turned around to look at me.
She hasn't changed very much at all! She's still very skinny. Her hair is still blonde and her eyes are still brown. The only changes are that she has short hair now and her face has lost its childhood chubbiness.
"Is that you my lovely? Tom told me that you've come from Chicago! Do they miss me? " She said.
"At least a dozen people send their love. Everyone is absolutely in mourning for you. Their all crying, wailing, and screaming 'Daisy Buchanan we can't live without you!'." I said. A wide smile spread over Daisy's face at the news of how much everyone missed her.
"I'm paralyzed with happiness!" She said reaching out her hand for mine. I took it and she gave it a squeeze before pulling me down for a hug and a kiss.
"Oh this is Jordan Baker. She's a very famous golfer." Daisy said gesturing to Jordan who was now looking coolly at me from over her magazine.
"It's nice to meet you." I said holding my hand out for her to shake.
"I've been lying on that couch for as long as I can remember." Jordan said ignoring my greeting. She got up and stretched her arms over her head. One would think that she respond with a greeting of her own or would shake my hand. But I guess some people just don't have manners. I ignored her and held my hand out for one of the drinks tom was passing out.
"So June, Daisy tells me you're over in West Egg. It's hard to believe a woman such as yourself would be around those social climbing primitive new money types." Tom said looking me up and down like a piece of meat as he gave me my drink. How can Tom look at me like that when he's married to Daisy?! And right in front of her too!
"As long the neighbors are nice it doesn't really matter to me. It's a nice little house with a good price of $80.00 a month. It will only need a little fixing then it'll be a wonderful home." I said with a tight little smile.
"Well if you need any help with that I'm sure I could be of assistance." Tom said with a 'charming' smile.
"It's ok there isn't much to it. I can manage it by myself." I said with a small smile. If this idiot thinks I'm letting him anywhere near me alone he must be out of his mind.
"Your life is adorable." Daisy said giving me a mocking smile. I smiled the same smile back at her. Is she upset with me?! She needs to be mad at Tom not me! He is the one flirting!
"I know somebody in West Egg." Jordan said as she went to look out the window with a golf club strewn across her shoulders. I pretended not to hear her. If she can't properly greet me she shouldn't try to start a conversation with me.
"Have you met anyone yet June?" Tom asked me with a small smile.
"Unfortunately no, I don't know a single person that side of the bay." I said before taking a sip of my drink.
"Oh but you must know Gatsby." Jordan said looking at me from over her shoulder.
"Gatsby? What Gatsby?" Daisy said curiously.
"Madam. The dinner is served." A butler with a thick French accent said as he gestured to the doors. They all were opened revealing the table and the white curtains started to flutter again. We went outside and started to eat while making small talk.
"So Junie would you like to hear a family secret?" Daisy said peeking at me from behind her fan.
"That's why I came over."
"It's about the butler's nose." She said and at that moment I started to tune everything out. I already know about that family secret and Daisy knows it. I always get annoyed when I hear it so she makes a point of telling it every time we are near each other. Apparently a butler's nose turned a different color from polishing the silverware. She made it up when we were children. I didn't like it then and I certainly don't like it now.
"I heard a rumor that Junie was getting married to a man out west." Daisy said snapping me out of my thoughts.
"You should know that's a lie. You know why I can't get married." I said taking a bite of my baked chicken.
"I don't know why you refuse to give up on that little fantasy of yours."
"It is not a little fantasy. It's the truth now leave it alone."
"June I want to see you happy! Don't you see you're wasting your life away! You've been waiting so long for someone you'll probably never see again and-"
"Daisy I said leave it alone!"
"…I'm sorry I just-"
"I know, I know. Let's just talk about something else now." I said purposefully looking at Tom for him say something anything!
"Civilization is going to pieces! Have you read the rise of the colored empire? Everyone should read it. The idea is that it's up to us the dominant race to watch out or these other races will have control of things." Tom said effectively changing the subject. I smiled at him and he winked at me. While he spoke he got up and after plucking the shirt collar of a black butler walked over to stand behind daisy's chair.
"Toms become very profound lately. He reads deep books with long words in them." Daisy said as Tom kissed her head.
"It's been proved scientifically-" Tom started.
"- we've got to beat them down." Daisy finished with a smile.
Then the phone rang. All of a sudden everyone was so silent you could hear a pin drop. A butler quickly went over and answered it.
"This is the Buchanan residence… Mr. Buchanan it is Mr. Wilson from the garage." The butler told Tom.
"Excuse me I'll be right back." Tom said as he went back into the house and closed the door behind him.
Daisy sat there for a moment before she muttered an "I'm sorry" and went in after Tom.
"Jordan could you pass me-"
"Hush now! Don't speak I wanna hear what happens." Jordan said looking forward to try to get a good look at Tom and Daisy.
"Is something happening?" I said a little annoyed that she cut me off.
"Why I thought everybody knew!" Jordan said her eyes widening in surprise.
"Well I didn't know."
"Tom's got some woman in New York."
"Got some woman?" I said in disbelief.
"You'd think she'd have the decency not to telephone him at dinner time. Don't you think?" Jordan said before she went back to her seat. I should've known he wasn't a good man! And poor Daisy! I can't imagine how she must feel. And how can Jordan talk about manners?! I haven't even known her very long and she seems to know as much about manners as the person who keeps calling.
"I love seeing you at my table Junie. You remind me of a rose. An absolute rose isn't she?" Daisy asked everyone once she sat down.
"So after dinner June and I will be going to town. I think since she just moved here I should show her around." Tom said ignoring Daisy and smiling at me. Is this man out of his mind! I'm his wife's cousin!
"Junie stay here with me." Daisy pleaded. Her voice was very sad and her eyes were wide making her look terribly pitiful. It was almost like she was begging me not to betray her. She shouldn't worry though. I wouldn't touch Tom if you paid me!
"I have to go home. I have work early tomorrow." I said. Daisy looked a little relieved I wasn't going with Tom but she still seemed sad all the same that I was leaving.
"Oh nonsense. A woman like you has no business working. You deserve to be taken care of." Tom said giving me that "charming" smile again.
"June can take care of herself Tom. And in any case you have to stay! We have so much to talk about." Daisy snapped at Tom before she smiled sweetly at me. Tom went to say something but the phone rang again. It was obvious who it was.
The rest of the time everyone ate in silence. I tried to eat but the food now tastes cold and dull sort of like baby food. I take another bite but I can barely chew. After I ate half of the food on my plate I couldn't eat anymore. I know Daisy saw but happily this time she didn't say anything. Normally she'd start this rant about how I need to eat more and etc.
After dinner we all drifted apart. Jordan went back into the living room to drape herself across a chair. Tom went with her but seemed to be lost in thought. I went to go call a taxi but Daisy grabbed my hand and pulled me to walk through the yard with her.
"Are you ok?" I asked as I lightly squeezed her hand which made a small smile come across her face.
"Oh Junie it's just…I think everything's terrible right now."
"I can only imagine. I'm so sorry."
"It's alright. It's really not your fault. You know Junie I've been everywhere, seen everything and done everything. I've had a very bad time Junie so I'm pretty cynical about things."
"How's your daughter? I suppose she's healthy and happy." I said. Maybe the thought of her baby will cheer her up.
"Oh yes. I suppose she talks and eats and everything. Listen June when she was born Tom was god knows where and with god knows who. And I asked the nurse if it was a boy or a girl. And she said it was a girl and I wept. 'I'm glad it's a girl' I said 'and I hope she'll be a fool'. That's the best thing a girl in this world can be. A beautiful little fool."
"No Daisy. You don't understand that a fool is the worst thing a girl can be. She not only puts herself in harm's way but others around her as well." I said before I went back inside to call a cab. The taxi came in 15 minutes and soon I was on my way home.
The drive seemed to take longer than normal but when I finally arrived home it was 10:00. I got out of the car and went to go inside when I saw this figure of a man. He was standing on the dock and I don't know how I knew but something deep inside me told me that that's Mr. Gatsby. He seemed to be reaching for something in the dark. I looked closer to see that he was reaching for a green light at the end of a dock across the lake.
I stood on my toes to try to see whose dock he was reaching for but it was too dark. That and I'm so sleepy that if I don't get inside now I might sleep on the swing. So I went in the house, threw off all my clothes, put on my favorite silk blue nightgown, and washed the makeup off my face. I got into bed and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.