Appointment in Samarra - John O'Hara [60]
No. I don t exactly see what you mean, Mr. English.
Just call me Mr. English, Al. You call me Mr. English and I ll call you Al. The hell with this formality. We ve known each other all our lives. You know, we Gibbsville people, we have to stick together in a place like this. If we don t you know what happens? Those Hazleton people gang us. What was I talking about just before you said that?
What?
Oh, yeah. About drinks. Uh, if I don t want to do anything it s buy a drink. You know why? You want to know why I feel that way?
Sure.
Well, it s like love, Al, said Julian. You know what I mean? Or don t you see what I mean? You buy a drink, and that s all it is, just a bought drink. Whereas, on the other hand, au contraire, au contraire, Al, uh, you uh, uh, somebody gives you a drink and that s like love. Why, say, who is this?
You got my chair, Mister, said Helene Holman, who had finished her song. Not at all, said Julian. Sit right down. Don t apologize. Just sit down. If this is your chair you needn t apologize. Just sit right down and Al will get another chair for us, won’t you, Al?
Al pulled a chair from another table. Shake hands with Mr. English, said Al. He s a friend of Ed s.
Are you a friend of Ed s? said Julian to Helene. Yes, I guess you d call it that, said Helene. Fine, said Julian. Ed who?
Ed Charney, said Al. Oh-h-h. Ed Charney, said Julian. Well, my God, why didn’t you say so? My God. Jesus Christ Almighty, why didn’t you say so? I didn’t think you were a friend of Ed Charney s. My God.
What Ed did you think he meant? said Helene. Oh, I don t know. Do we have to go into that? said Julian. What s your name?
Helene Holman, she said. Oh, yes, yes, said Julian. What? Will you say that again, please?
Helene, Hol-man, she repeated. Oh. Helene Holman. You’re the one that married Dutch Snyder. How is old Dutch? Does he still dance as much as ever?
I never heard of him, said Helene. Neither did I, said Julian. You’re my pal. Neither did I. And I don t want to again. My goodness that s a nice gown you have on.
I like it, she said, smiling at Al. Miss Holman is a very, very good friend of Ed Charney s, said Al. That s fine. I like that, said Julian. And I ll tell you something else. I m a very very good friend of Ed Charney s.
Oh, I know, said Al. I was just telling you, Miss Holman is, too. A very good friend. You know what I mean?
You don t have to draw a map, do you? said Helene. You mean Miss Holman is Ed s mistress? Is that what you mean? said Julian. Yes, that s what he means, said Helene. Well, I don t know what to say, said Julian, and then: Except I do like that dress. I like that dress.
I like it, said Helene. So do I, said Julian. How about you, Al? What s your opinion on Miss Holman s dress? Come on, speak up.
It s all right, said Al. It s all right.
I should say it is, said Julian. How about dancing, Miss Holman?
She s tired, said Al. Well, in that case, she better go to bed, said Julian. Hey, said Al. What do you want? said Julian. Nothing. Only remember what I told you about Miss Holman and Ed, said Al. My friend, I ve already forgotten that little bit of gossip, said Julian. I m not a bit interested in Miss Holman s affairs, am I, Miss Holman?
Not a bit.
Right, said Julian. So let s dance.
Check and double check, said Helene, and got up and went to the dance floor with Julian. Everyone in the big room watched them. She was a good dancer, and so was Julian. And they danced, which was a kind of disappointment to several persons, who expected another kind of exhibition. It also was a kind of surprise to Helene, and a kind of surprise to Al Grecco. When they sat down again Al relaxed and was able to laugh at the things Julian said. Presently they were joined by Carter Davis. After he was introduced he said: Caroline