SWING
Chapter One
It was a beautiful starry night. Jack Dawson
was walking home along side his two friends Fabrizio di Rossi and Tommy Ryan,
letting the excitement of the night slide off him. It was a great night at the
dance hall. He and his friends danced the night away, letting all thoughts of
the war and Hitler float away. It was just what they needed after a run in with
Caledon Hockley, Hitler Youth in training.
Jack was still bristling with anger at the
hateful words that Cal had said, but instead of using violence, which would
have made him feel a hell of a lot better, he followed his late father’s
advice. Don’t use violence to stand up for what you believe in, instead find a
nonviolent means. So Jack had found Swing music and have been going to the
Swing halls ever since and that was where he went after the confrontation to
work off his anger and protest the Nazi regime by dancing to music that they
hated so much.
"Jack! Jack!" Fabrizio called out
to his friend as they strolled down the street along with another one of their
friends, Tommy Ryan. "Tomorrow night let’s bring dates! There’s this girl
I promised to take to the hall…name’s Helga."
"Fabri, Jack doesn’t have a girl to take
as a date," Tommy Ryan reminded his friend, straightening the derby hat he
wore over his unruly curls, a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth.
"I don’t need a girlfriend to take
dancing," Jack dismissed both suggestions. "That’s the great thing
about swing. You can dance by yourself or just find a girl that’s willing to
dance with you. How about you Tommy? Are you taking a date?"
Tommy snorted. "I may not be able to go back to the hall after tonight. I
had to sneak out tonight just to join you guys."
"Your folks still on your back about
joining the youths?" Jack frowned.
Tommy nodded. "They won’t let up. They
think that just because my cousins and uncles have a part in the regime I
should do the same."
"Don’t give in Tommy! Don’t! The Furor
is evil! The Nazi’s came and took my Aunt Isabella away and we haven’t heard
from her since! It’s not just the Jews they’re going after. It’s us Gypsies too
and who knows who else!"
"Fabri’s right Tommy."
"You guys don’t understand. My folks…they’re upping the ante…they won’t
let up," Tommy sighed, kicking a nearby can.
"Well…if the pressure gets too much and
you feel yourself caving in…just come find me. I’m always here for you
Tommy," Jack squeezed his friend’s shoulder in a show of support.
"Same goes for me too Tommy,"
Fabrizio nodded, stepping up next to Jack.
"Thanks you guys. You’re the best
friends a guy could have," Tommy hugged his friends, gratefully for their
unconditional friendship.
"Tommy! Get over here!" Tommy pulls
away from his friends and looks across the street to see his uncle glaring at
him.
"I better go. See ya around," Tommy
waved joining his uncle on the other side of the street.
Jack and Fabrizio both frowned as they
watched their friend disappear into the darkness of the night.
"I wish there was some way we can help
him," Fabrizio sighed helplessly.
"We’ll think of something Fabri. Don’t
worry," Jack reassured his friend. "Come on. Let’s get home before
the patrol picks us up." Jack led his friend away, both disappearing
around a corner, their thoughts with their troubled friend.