West Side High School - Legenda Yearbook (Saginaw, MI)

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He again took his chair by the fireplace, but the whole family was there. Barbara was the most sympathetic. She said that she could explain it to Jane. Jane was older and she would not be hurt as much as Jane Towner. Walt advised Jimmy to get sick. His mother didn ' t know what to say so she remained silent. Mr. McMurran said that it was all up to Jim, but he did not approve of Walt ' s proposal. Walter was taking someone else and Jim could hardly take both girls. I know what I ' ll do, said Jimmy. I ' ll take Miss Dale. She is only twenty-two, at that. I ' ll get Don to take Jane. I ' m glad of your stand, Son, was Mr. McMurran ' s only reply. It was arranged that Don was to take Jane out but he was not to tell her of this affair. All he had to say was that owing to complicated matters he would be glad to take her in Jim ' s place. Jim called her up and told her he would be unable to go with her. He would be pleased if she accepted Don ' s invitation and he would explain later. When Jimmy called for Miss Dale the next evening he nearly for- got this complication until he called at Towner ' s for Jane. Don and Jim were riding in the same car. Every one was pleasant, in fact, ex- tremely so. However, Jimmy began to feel uneasy, for this would be his first experience on a dance floor. Don asked for two dances. Jimmy gladly gave them to him. After filling out his program, he returned to Miss Dale. The music started, it was a snappy fox trot. By the end of the first encore, Jim began to feel more at home. Miss Dale was a delightful conversation- alist. He was enjoying himself more than he thought possible, especially under so amusing circumstances. By the end of the second dance that awkward feeling, which usually accompanies one at his first dance, had left him. He then con- sulted his program, more because others were doing so, than that he did not remember with whom he had exchanged. He had looked forward to this dance, the third, because he would dance it with Jane. Now he was going to make the big ' hit. ' He was beginning to feel ner- vous. Glancing to his left, he saw Donald and Jane slowly coming over to them. They were talking and laughing together. Both apparently were enjoying themselves. He felt that he should be talking to Miss Dale. This would be hard, not that Jane Dale was not agreeable com- pany, only talking was hard for Jimmy, when girls were concerned. He glanced up, they were nearly there. After the usual salutations had been given, the four talked merrily. Jimmy chatted with the best of them. When the music started, he and Jane glided over the floor. But, somehow, he was unable to talk. He had felt the power in numbers while the four were together. Now he felt alone, although there were fifty other couples on the floor. His throat seemed parched, he could not think of anything to say, let alone suitable for the occasion. Their silence became appalling. Something must happen to break the dreadful silence. Then a very timely incident, or rather accident, occurred. Roy Smith, the school ' s Baby Elephant, became entangled in his own feet

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I ' ll bet you a dollar, Jim, that you are afraid to ask her. I ' d even dare to dare you. I know what ' s the matter. You are afraid to ask her. You think the fellows will laugh at you, when you go on the floor. Do I? he exclaimed. I ' ll show you. I ' ll show the whole family who ' s afraid. Where is that telephone book? Where it usually is, she replied. If Barbara had not left the room, it is not likely that such an amusing incident would have occurred as that which did. Towner ' s number was 2964-J. It cannot be said whether it was from excitement or from hearing Dale ' s number so often, that caused him to ask for 2946J. As both girls ' name was Jane, he had no trouble in speaking with Jane. He thought that the voice which belonged to Jane was not Jane Towner ' s. But because he had never spoken to her over the telephone he was not sure. Jane very gladly accepted his invitation. He left the phone, kicking himself because he had asked her. Jimmy did not know or have any idea that he had asked and talked with the wrong number until the day before the dance. He and a few of the boys were down at the hall planning where to put their class numeral. The conversation naturally drifted to the dance. Each one told of whom he was going to take. Going to take tickets tonight, Jim? some one asked. No, Don is, he replied. Going to take Jane tonight, Joe asked Tommy Jones. No, I heard Jane ' s sister tell Miss Brown that Jim asked her, Joe replied. Yes, that ' s true, fellows, said Jim. Do I get dances? Sure do, they all answered. That ' s funny, said Reggie Arnold, who knew every one ' s busi- ness except his own. I heard Jane say yesterday that she hadn ' t been asked. Jimmy began to have his doubts whether he had asked her or some one had been kidding him over the telephone the night he thought he had asked her. On his way home to dinner, he met her and, to erase any doubt there might be, he asked her. At the dinner table Bab leaned over close to Jimmy and said, I think it is so thoughtful of you, Jimmy, to ask Jane Dale. She doesn ' t go many places since Art is at the ' U. ' But why did you do it? I didn ' t, he replied. That is I hope I didn ' t. I asked Jane again today — ' cause — she, she would be sure I hadn ' t forgot. Pretty good, Jim. You certainly do step out good when you do. Not many fellows ask two girls to one dance, laughed Walter. I didn ' t. You keep out of this, ' Nosey. ' I ' ll tend to you even if you are my big brother, shouted Jimmy, as he rushed to the tele- phone directory. He looked up Towner ' s number and it was 2964J and he also found Dale ' s to be 2946-J. He remembered writing the number on the book while he was waiting for his number. He looked at the book and there was ' 2946J ' staring him in the face, in his own writing.

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and sat down on the floor in a very ungraceful manner. This caused a great laugh for the other dancers. He beat me to it, said Jim. I suppose I ' m next. I don ' t think so, Jane replied. You ' re not so bad as you think. Then as their conversation became more free, Jim began to enjoy himself once more. During the several dances that followed, Jim continually stared at Jane. In doing so, he became the pest of the floor. If there was anyone he did not bump into, it was because they got off the floor when he came near. Between dances Don came over to him, and drawing him aside, said, Say, am I making a fool out of myself? You look at me all the time. I don ' t either, he denied. Well, then it ' s Jane. The next dance is yours. Look at her all you want to then, but don ' t look at her and me all evening, said Don. Don ' s retort had some effect on Jimmy; he watched his dancing more than before. That night Jim returned home, admitting he had a very enjoyable evening. The question at issue for Jimmy was, How am I going to explain this? The next afternoon he told Don of his difficulty and asked for advice. That ' s easy, replied Don. I made a date for vou for Sundav night. You ' ve got vour nerve. If you don ' t want to I will. Sunday night found Jimmy at Towner ' s residence. He was sitting on the davenport with Jane trj-ing to explain this affair. I ' m glad you did as you did, Jim, she said, after she was able partly to understand what he meant, from his awkward explanation. You ' re the best little sport ever, Jane, he replied. Then four-year-old Bobby Towner came into the room and started the victrola. Being a well educated child, he left. What ' s that? asked Jim. ' Say it With Music ' , she replied. I will ; maybe it will be easier. Jimmy said whatever he wanted to say to music. If you can ' t believe Irving Berlin, ask Jim. '