Chapter 2. Finding Baby at Mount Holyoke

I'm sure she's at Mount Holyoke by now, but I don't think the college will tell me where to find her. I might be able to find Dr. Jake Houseman in Brooklyn, but although he knows I didn't get you pregnant, he probably doesn't think I'm the right guy for his daughter. I'm just going to drive to Mount Holyoke in Massachusetts. It's only three hours from Fallsburg.

I drive up highway 209 and fill up the tank at Kingston, New York—seems high (31-cents a gallon), but that's a rural area with not many stations. Then I turn right on highway 23 where I cross into Massachusetts on highway 20 and left on 202 past Springfield. The signs tell me to take 116 to Mount Holyoke. Phew. I sure hope I can find her because these roads are confusing.

Well, here I am in South Hadley, but I don't know where she could be. I see a dorm, Buckland Hall. It's near the main student parking lot. I stash the car, and walk over there.

I stand on the sidewalk in front of the dorm. I'm like a sore thumb since this is a women's-only school. I yell, "Frances Houseman, are you in there?" No answer. I yell again. Finally a student leans out her window and says, "Stop yelling. I'll find her for you." Bingo. I found the right dorm! I can't believe my luck!

"Frances, there's a guy outside yelling for you. Do you know him? Better take a look before you go out. He might be a stalker, but he sure is a good-looking hunk."

I lean against a tree and wait. Finally, Baby comes out the front door, sees me, and comes running towards me. She says, "Oh, oh, Johnny. I thought I'd lost you! I'm so happy you found me. I dream about you every night. I can't believe you're here. But don't touch me until we get away from here. The college frowns on fraternization."

Fraternization? Is that like joining a fraternity? "No, silly. It means hugging and kissing in public."

Let's go to my car and get away from here. It's parked down the block. We get in the car and I can barely keep my hands off her until we get away from the college. We park under a secluded tree, and she comes into my arms, kissing me all over and hugging me. I pull up her top and kiss her soft skin everywhere. This is agony. We want to make love, but I don't know where to go. I don't want to get her in trouble with the college or anyone else. I start the car and we drive across the Connecticut River. We find Pulaski Park. It's near dinnertime and nobody is around. We find a shady spot and tenderly touch each other. Then it becomes more urgent. We make love on the grass. It's so great to have her in my arms again like when we were in my cabin at Kellerman's. I don't know how I'm going to leave her tonight, but at least we found each other again.

Baby said, "You're my one and only Johnny, and I love you. Does it make you angry when I say that? I've read that telling a man you love him sends him running out the door like the house is on fire."

No, it makes me so happy. No one has ever said that to me and meant it, not even my mother. I love you, too, with my body and soul. I never felt this way before. You're the only one for me, and I can't get enough of you. I wish we could sleep together all night like we did this summer, but I don't think your roommate would go for that. Besides, I have to drive back to my job.

Baby is the only one I can bare my soul to and talk about my life. I tell her I don't want to go back home to the Painters and Plasterers Union jobs. I'm a dancer, but I won't go back to being an instructor in the Catskills resorts with women pawing me. That's over.

Baby says, "You can do much better than that. You're everything to me, and I admire that you've had to support yourself and make a living. Me, all I do is vacation all summer and read. But that can come in handy sometimes. I read in a New York City newspaper that Gower Champion is auditioning for the cast of Hello, Dolly that's coming to Broadway from Detroit. It's a musical with dancers. You'd be great. Why don't you try out?"

Oh, I don't think they would hire me. I'm a nobody. People treat me like I'm nothing because I am nothing. "Don't say that. You're a fabulous dancer. Don't sell yourself short. Please try out for my sake. You're my guy, and you can believe me," said Baby.

Okay, I'll give it a try. I have to leave you to get back to my job, but now I know where you are, I'll call your dorm and talk. I'm at the Sheldrake Hotel until early November. Then I don't know where I will be. But I will be in touch and never lose you again. See ya, Doll.