The Schwartzes of Rydell

Chapter 1

Wilhelm Schwartz had been living in America since the age of eight, and today, it was the summer of 1958. He'd been attending Rydell High School, and this coming term, he'd be a senior. He had just arrived at a cocktail party, arranged to greet some new neighbors who'd moved in a week ago. He was wearing, instead of the white shirt, dark blue jeans, pointed, steel toed boots and sunglasses to which he was accustomed, a brand new suit, finely tailored, with a black bow tie. His father had gotten him this suit because, as he put it, "every man should own a suit." Wilhelm stepped into the parlor of the house and smiled when he saw a lovely brunette standing in the corner.

"Ah, excellent," he said, walking up to her. "Marty Maraschino. I was hoping to find you here."
Marty smiled. "Morning," she said. "Here's hoping this party shapes up to be decent."
"I hear there'll be a nice dinner and some dancing afterwards, to burn off those horrible calories."
Marty laughed softly. She and Wilhelm had been good friends since he'd moved from Dusseldorf, and he'd always found her to be pleasant and engaging.
"How are your pen-pals?"
Marty smiled. "Oh, they're wonderful!" she said. "Bobby and Freddy, they're deployed to Korea. They just wrote yesterday, and…" She continued to wax on about her pen-pals for a good half-hour, but Wilhelm listened nonetheless.
"So you're saying that this Steve sent you a locket?"
"Yeah, with his picture in it. Much as I appreciate the gifts, they're too far away for me to be romantically inclined towards them."

"Well," said Wilhelm, "why haven't you told them? You can't just lead the poor men on."
Marty sighed. "I know," she said, "but at the same time I can't break all those hearts at once."
"So let them down easy," Wilhelm suggested. "Just… tell them how you feel in a gentle way, and if you're ever upset about this whole situation, I've got two perfectly good shoulders."
Marty managed a smile. "Thanks," she said sincerely. "I just might need them. I'm afraid of getting a nasty-gram."
Wilhelm chuckled. "I'm not afraid of much," he said, somewhat boastfully as he ran a hand over his dark brown hair, "but heights? And snakes? The only good snake is one behind a glass case at the zoo. Those I can handle."
"Ooh, I hate snakes!" Marty said, shuddering. "Especially the venomous ones."
"Eh, I'll keep them away from you," said Wilhelm. "It's the least I can do for a pretty girl."
Marty blushed slightly. "Well…" she said shyly. "Gee, I didn't think you found me pretty."
"I don't think pretty is a strong enough word," Wilhelm admitted.

"Hey Bill!"
Wilhelm's cousin Alexander, who'd been living with him and his parents since he started high school, had just walked in on the scene.
"Alex," Wilhelm said. "Was ist los?"
"Eh nothin'. Just enjoying the party. You know Alex Schwartz is always up for a party, even if it is with his stick-in-the-mud cousin."
"Shut up, you," Wilhelm said, giving Alexander a playful smack on the back of the head, "and get us and yourself a glass of champagne."
"That should hold him for a few minutes," said Wilhelm. "Sorry my cousin's so juvenile."
"At least you're mature," Marty replied.
"By the way," said Wilhelm. "Guess who just got his license and got done souping up a nice, tender, delicious 1957 BMW 507?"
Marty gasped. "Shut up!" she exclaimed.
"I'm serious!" Wilhelm said, spreading his arms. "Finally got my parents to cave after having worked at my father's law firm for the last, what, two years?"

Marty's heart skipped a beat. She was an absolute sucker for maturity. A job? A car? In her mind, Wilhelm had just scored a few points!
Vincenzo, Marty's father, walked over. "Nice suit," he said.
Wilhelm turned. "Thank you, Herr Maraschino," he replied.
"Now, now," said Vincenzo. "That's Vincenzo to you, pal. Always has been."
"We Germans are a bit stiff," Wilhelm said, "but I suppose this is America."
"There he is!" an older woman's voice cried out. "Little Billy!"
God, Wilhelm hated being called that, especially in public. He cleared his throat. "Evidently so," he said brightly. "Might I say, Mrs. Wilkins, you are getting younger by the day. Why, soon you'll be twenty! That does make you the lady of the house, doesn't it?"
The old woman laughed. "Enjoying the party?"
"Immensely since Marty's here," he said.

"Eh, that's just Marty," said Vincenzo. "A lot of people enjoy being around her."
"Speaking of that," said Alexander. "I met this girl at the beach while I was there last week. Said her name was Sandy."
"Sandy," said Wilhelm with a nod. "A fitting name for a beachgoer."
"She was with a guy, of course. All the pretty girls are. So I couldn't move very much, if at all."
"Who was the lucky man?" Wilhelm asked.
"You aren't gonna believe this Bill, but he's someone we both know. Danny Zuko."
"What? Zuko?! God's hooks, I thought he was taken! Ooh, Rizzo won't be happy!"
"Danny and Rizzo broke up last year, remember?"
"Oh ja," said Wilhelm thoughtfully. "Well I certainly wish Danny Zuko the best of luck. He'll need it. Poor Dummkopf can't keep a girl to save his own hide. He breaks their hearts, or at least he thinks he does, and he's bloody proud of it!"

By this time, Marty and her father had left along with Mrs. Wilkins.
"I had another chance encounter with our mystery girl a few days later, if you recall."
"Ja," said Wilhelm. "I remember you two joked around a bit as you sipped on cherry sodas. I believe you said something about Danny Zuko being a 'regular heartbreaker.'"
"Yeah, and she laughed it off, but at least she didn't get mad."
"A point for you," said Wilhelm.
"I can't move in on her because, again, she's not exactly single."
"So just be her friend!" Wilhelm said with a chuckle. "It's not like it's black and white!"
"That's what I intend to do," said Alexander. "She's probably got men lined up outside her door, but she doesn't strike me as that kind of girl."
And so the party rolled on, with banter being exchanged and new friends being made, and Wilhelm, like the others, had a fantastic time.