Saturday nights
She always went dancing with her friends on Saturdays, the excitement building in the preparations beforehand, listening to the latest songs as they put on their twirly swirly dresses and high-heeled shoes and dreaming of what the night might bring.
As they danced in a group, they pretended not to care about the knowing bold-eyed girls who attracted the best-looking boys. From time to time, they glanced surreptitiously around the room to see if they had attracted any attention.
She always hoped she’d meet someone, though she hardly ever did until the last dance was announced when every drunken lout in the place felt driven to acquire a partner to lead sweatily round the room. The youths, lanky, spotty, ill-coordinated, thought it a point of honour that they should find a girl for the end of the evening. The girls, too, had no wish to be among the handful of undesirables left on the sidelines. Anyone was better than no-one, weren't they?
One Saturday night, as she pirouetted and flounced in her pretty dress, her friend shouted in her ear, ‘Have you seen that bloke over there – the one with the black shirt and white tie? He’s gorgeous – he’s giving you the eye.’
She laughed, disbelieving, but secretly flattered. She glanced at him, and he winked. She smiled tremulously as he sauntered towards her. He was tall, good-looking in a well-oiled way. She couldn’t believe he was actually interested in her. Her friend nudged her and grinned. She hoped her voice wouldn’t let her down – sometimes she squeaked like a mouse when people spoke to her.
He stopped in front of her and held out his hand. What a wonderful smile he had! She was shaking as she reached towards him and trembled as he took her hand. He dropped something cold and smooth into her palm. Her friend giggled and said, ‘I told you he was giving you the eye.’
She looked down and saw an eye looking back at her. She screamed and dropped it, and her friend shrieked with laughter. Tucking her hand into the youth’s arm, they walked off together. Over her shoulder, she said, ‘See you later, loser.’
She never went dancing again after that night and she was wary of friendship ever after.
I did not see that ending coming! You built the nostalgia and excitement of a Saturday night so well, and then bam! what a chilling, clever twist. That last line really lingers. Brilliant storytelling, equal parts vivid, fun, and unsettling.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWhy did the friend shriek with laughter at the cruel pun?
ReplyDeleteThat's how some people behave, sadly.
DeleteGood story.
ReplyDeleteFriends can be so cruel, found that out as a teenager myself.
Likewise!
DeleteNice twist at the end there, it seems her "friend" isn't a real friend after all. As for "anyone is better than no one", I am glad I never thought that way.
ReplyDeleteIt's shocking to realise how many do settle for 'just anyone.'
DeleteOoh. I was always one of the leftover undesirables and sometimes was very grateful to dance with a "better than nobody".
ReplyDeleteI was an 'also ran' too. Dance halls were never the place for me to meet anyone.
DeleteBloggers seem to have a new AI commenter, the first in this case.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad tale and rejections hurts, and can put you in a mindframe of never accepting anything that seems genuine, in case of rejection.
AI is very obvious.
DeleteTeenagers and young people can be so cruel and the wounds never quite heal.
Well I didn't see that coming. She certainly was no friend if she did something like that.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shock when a so-called friend betrays one.
ReplyDeleteThat was not the ending I expected. The friend thought the eye was funny. I might have gone home and put the Malocchio (Italian evil eye) on her. See if she thinks that's amusing!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
DeleteGirls can be really mean to other girls.
ReplyDeleteThey give cats and bitches a bad name.
DeletePoor girl ! She should have thrown it at his head ! I once spent the night in my girlfriends house and when I had to go to the bathroom, an eye was starring at me (a blue one) it was laying in a glass of water. I found that very interesting, fished it out and put it against my brown green eyes just to see if blue would suit me, but no, so I put it back in the glass and returned into my bed. I knew that it was the eye prosthesis of my friend's fathers eye, which he had lost during the war. To do this to this girl was real bad taste, although it wouldn't have shocked me. Fortunately we are not all the same !
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have touched it, but I've always been a wimp!
DeleteDidn't young people have names in those long ago days or did you withhold the names for personal reasons? Perhaps you were the lass who organised the cruel trick and Barry was the guy with the black shirt and white tie - what a stylish combination!
ReplyDeleteIt's make-believe, Neil, like most of my life, though I did know some very catty girls.
DeleteNot funny you bad friend -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteI never know what twist you will write.
ReplyDeleteNeither do I, half the time . . .
DeletePerfect for Halloween!
ReplyDeleteUgh!
DeleteEnjoyed this. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThat was very cruel ... xxx
ReplyDeleteWho needs a friend like that!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I would have reacted the same way. How nasty.
ReplyDelete