SWING
Chapter Eight
Luckily, there were no raids that night. Jack
and Rose walked along the deserted streets peacefully, hand in hand.
"Look! A shooting star." Rose
gasped. "Oh, Jack, isn’t it magnificent?"
Jack nodded. "My dad used to say that
they were souls going to heaven."
"I like that. Shouldn’t we make a
wish?"
Jack nodded and closed his eyes. Rose just
looked at him, examining his features…examining him. He was the most beautiful
boy she’d ever seen, and she hated that there was no way for them to be
together. She opened her eyes to find Jack staring at her, something in his
eyes that wasn’t there the night before.
"So…what did you wish?" he asked.
"Something I can’t have." Rose
turned away, her voice sad. "Jack…I think you better take me home
now."
"Rose…"
"Or better yet, I’ll walk myself home.
It’s better that way. Mother won’t be suspicious, and she’s bound to be waiting
up. Thank you, Jack. For another wonderful evening." Rose once again
smiled before turning and walking away from him, leaving Jack looking after
her, wondering how he could help her out of her situation. It wasn’t fair that
someone as sweet and beautiful as Rose should feel so trapped. Maybe he and
Fabri could come up with a plan. Sighing, he continued on his way back to his
apartment.
Ruth was waiting when Rose finally returned.
To say she was angry wasn’t even a correct description. She was furious. She
and her friends sat and waited hours and hours for Rose to come home, but there
was no sign of her. Ruth called Helga and even walked about town, but still
there was no sign of her daughter. Rose was going to have a lot of explaining
to do once she got home.
Rose entered the house and closed the door
behind her before Ruth stepped out of the shadows, her arms crossed.
"Where have you been? Do you know how
long we’ve waited for you?" Ruth’s voice was cold and void of all emotion.
"I was…"
"And don’t say you were at Helga’s. I
have already called there. Her mother mentioned something about swing music.
Don’t tell me you attended one of those ghastly functions."
No, Mother. I didn’t attend one. I
attended two, Rose thought to
herself. Clearing her throat, she just looked at her mother before speaking.
"Well, say something for yourself, Rose!
I want to hear your excuse for not being here when I told you to be here for
lunch and why you were out all night!"
"I was out, Mother. I was out taking
back control of my life, or what little control I have left." Rose glared
at her mother. "You and Cal are taking over my life and it’s not
fair!"
Ruth laughed cruelly. "You are such a
foolish girl, Rose. You act as if you have no Jewish blood running through your
veins. That you’re as German as the rest of us! I’m doing you a favor here! If
it’s a concentration camp you want to go to, I’ll be happy to make the call
myself! Is that enough control for you?"
"You wouldn’t…"
"I would, Rose. If you don’t adhere to
my rules and regulations and allow Cal to court you…I will."
Tears appear in Rose’s eyes. She should have
known better to think she could rebel against her mother. She was foolish to
even think she could take her life back. She was trapped and Ruth knew it.
"I hate you."
"That won’t change the truth. Now go
upstairs and go to bed. Cal’s going to be here first thing tomorrow morning and
you will look your best for him."
Glaring at her mother one last time, Rose
darted upstairs, hot tears blinding her. Life as she knew it was now over.
Either way, she was doomed. She fell asleep crying, knowing that the few
moments of freedom she had felt that night in Jack’s arms were now over.