Chapter 4
The overhead speaker suddenly stopped blaring and April stood a moment in Gray's arms, waiting for the music to resume. Instead, Mr. Collins called everyone to a spot before the table. The principal stood behind it, smiling, but with just a hint of steel in his eyes as he watched his teachers gather. April and Judson Gray moved reluctantly forward.
The principal hoped all of them had enjoyed themselves, reminded them that the school year began on Monday. He gave the floor to Mr. Collins, who said much the same thing in different words. He then called Judson Gray forward.
Gray first welcomed the new teachers. He made a mild joke, sobered.
"Now let me say for the board that we know you're underpaid and we hope to do something about that before the end-of the school year."
A faint murmur swept the group.
"Perhaps, you feel I have no right to ask you for an added effort, no matter what subject you teach. But I don't ask it for myself or the board, but for our students. We're afraid they're getting out of hand. They're in revolt-foolish revolt, perhaps-but revolt nevertheless."
April frowned slightly as she listened. Everything he said might be true but he sounded as though the necessary changes in the town's morale should start with the kids.
Gray continued after a short pause. "So the board asks you to drive home ethics and morals along with history, literature, math and science. We must show these kids they're going at life all wrong. Hot-rodding, under-the-counter booze and sexual excesses can only get them in trouble."
Gray smiled, thanked the group and stepped away from the table. The principal led them in a wavering chorus of the school song. While Gray had been talking, Peg Mason had worked her way to April's side.
She whispered to April as Gray circled the table after his talk, "Well, the party's about over and another bust as usual. How about a drink to forget we came?"
"Can't," April whispered her reply. "Mr. Gray and I are having lunch."
Peg's eyes widened, then swiftly narrowed.. "Well, now!"
She smiled at Gray when he came up and joined them in the singing. At the end of the song, the Pep Day party broke up. April felt Peg's eyes on her as she and Gray left the gym.
Heat smashed at them as they left the building. Gray gasped and hurried her to his car. In a matter of minutes it began to cool as its refrigeration unit went silently to work. By the time they rolled across the campus and onto the street April was comfortable again.
But the man beside her bothered her more than she cared to admit. Being alone beside him was almost as bad as that physical contact during the dance. She instinctively breathed deeper as she leaned back in the seat and knew she was showing off her bosom. She felt a swift feminine glow of pleasure as she saw that he noticed. She wondered at herself, at her swift reaction to him, at the surge of what was basically desire. It frightened her-she felt that powerful instincts moved her. She knew she had to fight against them.
He turned back to the center of town and pulled to the curb before an old brick hotel with a new, modern facing. The moment April stepped inside with him, she knew this was the town's finest dining place.
Gray led her to a spacious, upholstered booth, ordered cocktails and then eased back against his seat, smiling across the table at April.
He spoke of the town and its problems. Much of what he said she had already heard but his low, vibrant voice seemed to her to give the subject matter new meaning. He radiated an intense emotional quality. How would he sound, she wondered, when he made love?
At one point he said with a rueful grin, "Thank heaven I'm 'old family' these days. Some of my ideas for the town sound pretty far-out for the merchants. But, they listen. I still might get in hot water."
"How?"
"I'm kicking the old, set ways in the teeth. Whoever heard of a town practically buying a factory, waiving the taxes so someone will agree to run it?"
He sobered and April, fascinated, watched the play of light in his dark, somber eyes. "But it's the only way out-if not for the older people, then for the kids."
"By the way, you were rough on them back at the meeting."
"I should be."
"Do you blame them for the situation? I've always heard young people react to conditions. They don't make them."
"I'd say that idea came right out of some kind of sociology textbook."
April felt a jab of irritation. "Perhaps-but it's still true."
He waited until the waiter had served coffee before he thoughtfully shook his head.
"Not for our bunch of teenagers-not entirely."
"But they have no jobs, nothing to do. I hear that most of them simply wait until they're old enough to leave their homes here and make a life somewhere else. I suppose they caused that?"
"No, but-I'd like to show you something tonight. Okay?"
Through her anger, April realized he was asking her for a date of sorts and she barely hesitated. "Okay."
"Make it eight. Right now I have to get back to the store. May I drive you home?"
"No, my car's at the high school."
He grinned, boyish once more. "Then well call a truce. But only until tonight."
April drove home from the high school and, despite the heat, ran up the walk across the porch and into the house. She called out but there was no answer and she stood uncertain and suddenly deflated in the hallway. Then she saw her reflection in the hall mirror, the high color of excitement in her cheeks and the lift and fall of her breasts.
She laughed wryly. She was lucky Peg had not seen her like this after that very good advice on not getting entangled. A handsome man had looked at her, danced with her, taken her to lunch during which they had promptly argued. To win his point, he would take her somewhere tonight-and then promptly forget her, for all she knew. And she looked like a teenager with a new boy friend.
She moved through the cool, air-conditioned rooms to the kitchen and looked out through a closed window on the sun-bright rear lawn. It was bordered by high thick bushes against a solid fence and no one could casually look in. She saw Peg lying naked on a blanket her tanned, richly curved body absorbing more of the sun. April stared enviously, tracing Peg's contours from thin ankles past full, tapering thighs, strong loins, narrow waist, deep curve of back to tanned shoulders. April had a figure herself, but not as richly promising and mature as Peg's.
Peg rolled over and sat up. April saw firm, thrusting breasts, a flat stomach and wished that in ten years she would have as excellent a body. Peg glanced toward the window, saw April and waved. She stood up in one smooth, flowing motion and picked up the blanket. She walked toward the house and April watched the quiver of the woman's full breasts, the sway of her hips.
Peg disappeared from view and April heard the outer door open. A moment later, Peg came into the cool and spacious kitchen. She dropped the folded blanket on a chair.
"How did you and Judson Gray get along?"
"Well enough, if you don't count an argument."
"You don't like him?"
"Oh, but I do. But he frightens me, in a way." Peg's smile flashed. "Smart girl. Men can hurt."
"I know."
Memory put a fleeting pain to April's face. Peg came to her and embraced her. "There, now! No harm done."
April's arms had automatically gone about Peg's nakedness in the friendly embrace one woman would give another. Peg stood quite still, close against her, and April felt a slight quiver in the woman's body.
Peg said in a voice not quite normal, "The sun baked me. Can you feel the heat?"
April could. She was aware of another sensation as well She dropped her arms and stepped back. Peg's eyes held a strange expression. She forced a little laugh and turned toward the hall door.
"I'd better get dressed or some man could walk right in and find no barriers at all."
April found herself trembling. The nameless feeling she had known an instant earlier was gone-and she still could not define it.
"He'd see a vision in tan," April managed.
Peg swung around at the door. "You are sweet. I love you for it even if I am an old woman."
She seemed to wait for a reply but April said nothing. Finally Peg broke the awkward little pause, "Well, what will we do with our last night of freedom before school starts?"
"Judson Gray's picking me up at eight."
"Jud? I thought you had an argument."
"We parted friends."
"So I see," Peg said dryly. She turned and disappeared silently down the hall.