Chapter Eighteen
Owen carried me into the foyer of the Country Club. It was even more exquisite then before, as it was decorated for the holiday season. Glistening Christmas trees lined the walls and were filled with glass ornaments and colored ribbons. We were greeted by the flash of a photographer's camera. The fat, older man lowered his bulky equipment and walked towards us. "That's quite an entrance! Can I have your names for the picture caption?"
"Scout Curtis and Owen Jasper." Owen obliged as Pete and a gaggle of Owen's other friends began to huddle around us.
The newspaper photographer lifted his eyebrows. "Owen Jasper the high school running back?"
"That's me." Owen smiled with pride.
The man shook his head in dismay. "That was just a shame to hear about you breaking your arm in that automobile accident. Your football team really struggled with out you on the field, and ya'll had a good chance of making it to the state tournament."
"Yeah." Owen said quietly. "There's always next year." I remembered his conversations with me at the side of my hospital bed. He hated sitting on the sidelines watching the football team struggle and lose without him. I hated that some of the players, like David, continued to blame their losses on the fact that Owen wasn't able to be on the field to score the points and win the game. It sure put a lot of pressure on him.
"Good to hear you'll be back out there again." The photographer said cheerfully, and stepped away to take a photo of another couple entering the building.
I turned towards my date with a frown. Owen noticed my look and stopped me from saying anything. "Quit worrying Scout!"
I widened my eyes. "Who said I was worrying?"
"I know what you were thinking. You wanted to blame yourself for the accident, and for the football team losing, and for the fight outside, but it's not your fault!" Owen stared at me waiting for an argument. I didn't give him one. He was right and Owen realized I knew that, so he smiled at me. "Are you ready for a wonderful night?"
"It's been more than interesting so far." I said with a hint of sarcasm. I turned and looked ahead to the large doorway that led to dance hall. An arbor covered in satin ribbons and fresh flowers graced the entrance. "It's all so elegant!"
"This is one of the biggest events of the season in Tulsa!" Owen offered his arm to escort me inside.
The two of us walked into the ballroom where the ornate decorations continued and a band, in matching turquoise smoking jackets, played one of my favorite songs. I remembered how Sodapop and I loved to dance to the song, our feet moving quickly to the beat. I hoped Owen didn't want to dance to too many fast songs. There was no way I would be able to dance like I used to. Thankfully, we walked to the side of the dance floor and sat down at a linen covered table. Pete and Bethany quickly joined us followed by Matt and Mary, a couple I remembered from the day at Rusty's Diner. I politely greeted the guests then turned back to watch the crowd of kids dancing to the music. I didn't think they danced as well as a group of greasers would. The Socs appeared to dance a little farther away from their partner and with less rhythm. They danced as if they were being judged or watched. Greasers just danced to dance, as if they had no cares or concerns. Well, at least the greasers who danced, danced that way.
In the new social scene I began to realize more of the pressures the Socs had to live with. They were constantly judged for the clothes they wore, the car they drove and the friends they kept. It wasn't like that in my neighborhood. We seemed to understand and accept each other better. I doubted that Tim Sheppard worried that Sodapop was better looking then him or that Darry wore nicer clothes. Again, I was a little more thankful that I had few possessions and less pressure on me from being judged by my peers.
"Earth to Scout! Come in Scout!" Owen yelled trying to gain my attention. I snapped from my thoughts and laughed at him. "I asked you twice if you wanted to dance?"
I listened to the band and the rapid rhythm of the song. "I'd love to dance, but I don't know if I'll be any good."
"Don't worry, I'll lead." Owen assured me. I took his hand and he led me out to the dance floor just as the band changed it's tune to a slow song. I thought about how perfect the timing was because I just didn't have the strength or the coordination to dance the way I usually would. As promised, Owen wrapped his arm around my lower back and held my other hand up to lead me across the floor. We slowly moved with the music. I looked into his eyes, as blue as the ocean, and my nerves grew calm. The outside world seemed to drift away. I breathed in deeply and smelled his sensual cologne.
Softly I felt Owen's breath in my ear as he talked just low enough for only me to hear. "Scout, there's something I've been wanting to tell you." My date swallowed hard and I felt his hand begin to sweat as he continued. "I never thought I would meet a girl like you. Someone so smart and beautiful who doesn't judge others. I didn't know girls like you existed." Owen pulled his head away and looked into my eyes with a smile. "I love you."
My heart raced and a nervous smile formed at my lips. I struggled a few seconds for the words to say. Then a feeling of serenity filled my senses and the perfect words formed at my lips to express my emotions. "I love you too." Owen stopped dancing and leaned in close for a passionate kiss that made me weaker in the knees than I already was.
The band played two slow songs in a row, which was enough dancing for me. Owen and I returned to the table to watch the others dance. There wasn't a dull moment for hours as Owen's friends stopped by our table to laugh and swap stories. A few times Owen and Bethany took to the dance floor for a couple of fast songs. It was fun to watch them, and they were both decent dancers. I guess most girls would have frowned at their date leaving them behind, but I didn't mind. Pete kept me company, and Owen saved all of the slow dances for me.
On stage a dark haired man in a dark suit stepped in front of the microphone and yelled out! "Is everybody having a good time?" I recognized his voice from the radio.
The crown enthusiastically answered back.
"That's great to hear because it's time to announce the election of the Tulsa Country Club Winter Formal Court and King and Queen!" The crowd screamed even louder.
The emcee continued, "Club members have cast their ballots to form the Court and here are the results…" I listened as the names were called out. Girls screamed and cheered as their selected friends jumped for joy and gracefully walked up the stairs to the stage. Boys hooted and hollered for their friends as the young men strutted to the stage being sure their tuxedos and hair were looking their best. I sat in my chair and thought about the newspapers articles I had read in the past about the Tulsa Country Club Winter Formal. Owen was right. It was the biggest teenage social event of the year, and to be on the Court was a high honor among the upper class community. "…the final two entries to the Winter Formal Court are … Charlotte Evans….. and … Owen Jasper!"
Owen stood up from his chair and cheered for his appointment to the Court. I stood up as well to join the standing ovation Owen received. My date smiled at me and kissed me on the cheek before trotting up to the stage. The boys in the crowd began to chant the running back's last name as he and Charlotte took the stage with the eight other entries, which included Bethany and Pete. Now, I sat alone on my side of the table, but I was happy for Owen. He was such a sweet boy and he deserved the accolade. The Emcee called for applause as the finalists for the Court stood in a line under the bright lights for the hundreds of Soc's in the crowd to marvel at.
A lady from the Country Club, dressed in a blue gown, stepped forward on the stage and began to read a slight biography for each member on the Court. I crossed my feet underneath me, right over left, as all young ladies should and leaned forward to listen a little more intently about each member. Their life stories seemed full of charm and glamorous achievements, nothing like me.
When the woman finished the Emcee sized up the Winter Formal Court members one last time then turned back to the microphone to address the crowd. "And now the moment everyone has been waiting for, presentation of the Tulsa Country Club King!" The crowd cheered loudly in response. "I have here in my hands the name of the winner." The crowd quieted down as a semi-silence spread across the room.
"This year's King is Owen Jasper!" The crowd of socialites screamed in excitement as Owen cheered for himself and walked over to the Emcee. I stood up to applaud and laughed to myself as Owen adorned a royal purple cape and crown to go with his new title. The lights went dim and Owen stood in a spotlight.
The Emcee turned towards Owen and spoke into the microphone. "Congratulations Owen, from what I hear your election as King was a landslide. Now, in keeping with tradition here at the Tulsa Country Club it is time to select your queen." The man motioned towards the five young ladies who were jittery with excitement.
Owen Jasper stepped in front of the microphone and looked out into the crowd. "Every year the Winter Formal King makes his selection for Queen. This girl should be one who meets the required qualities. She must be intelligent, virtuous, responsible, respectful and above all she must present herself with grace and dignity. I know a girl who possesses all of those qualities, and more." Owen looked to the girls on the stage beside him and then back to the crowd. His blue eyes shimmered as he flashed a slightly defiant smile. "For my Queen I choose Scout Marie Curtis."
The crowd gasped and the noise quickly turned to a steady murmur of disbelief. I stood frozen in my spot stunned by the honor yet too scared to move into this seemingly forbidden world. My state of shock went unnoticed as Charlotte Evans stormed toward Owen.
"Owen Jasper! You must choose one of the girls from the Court. You can't just choose anyone you want!"
Owen laughed at the demand. "There are no rules that say the King must choose from the Court."
"Sure there are!" Charlotte protested and looked towards the Emcee and the woman representing the Country Club who was standing on the stage holding the Queen's crown and bouquet of roses.
Owen's voice was amplified by the microphone as he challenged the girl. "The rules say the Queen must possess the qualities listed and nothing more. She doesn't have to be on the Court."
Charlotte twisted her attention back to the woman with the crown and stomped her foot in a fit. "Tell him it must be a lady from the Court!"
A second woman in a red skirt trotted up next to the Country Club representative and whispered in her ear. The two women shared a short conversation and the one holding the Queen's royal endowments stepped forward to the microphone. "I'm sorry, but after a review of the requirements Owen Jasper, as the elected King, is free to choose any Queen he sees fit. She need not be a lady elected to the Court."
Charlotte cried out in disgust and threw her hands down, being sure to stomp her feet as she stormed back towards the ladies on the Court.
Owen reached for the microphone and repeated his earlier statement. "As your elected King, I choose Scout Marie Curtis." My date smiled with pride and took the Crown and roses from the woman. He jumped down from the stage and sauntered towards me. My hands trembled and a very worried smile spread across my face in an attempt to hide my fear of rejection from the crowd.
Owen walked up to me, laid the bundle of roses on the table and took my hand to lead me to the center of the dance floor. The crowd was almost silent as he slid the tiara onto my head. Close by I noticed Randy Anderson as he rose to his feet and slowly began to clap his hands together in approval. Seconds later, Cherry Valance rose to her feet to join her date in congratulating the new King and Queen. Slowly the applause began to build into a thunderous gesture as the Socs began to accept the idea of an Outsider as their Queen.