The Stardust Lounge_ Stories From a Boy's Adolescence - Deborah Digges [27]
Charles sports that Stetson, paint-stained jeans, a Hawaiian shirt, and an Iowa Hawkeyes tie, clothes he's not allowed to wear in Columbia, so he wears them to visit me.
I'm in jeans, boots, and a sweater. Their father is dressed impeccably.
We're odd among the bowlers in their team shirts and shoes, the waitresses in matching dresses and caps. The three of us appear to be out of uniform, or in the uniform of some tribe not native to these parts.
Before Charles and his father arrived, our waitress produced for Stephen a battered book of children's Bible stories, and between orders, she sat with Stephen explaining to him how Jesus loved him. Stephen was tolerant. He listened to her and nodded, though he tapped his little foot to the music. Perhaps to get away from her at last, he pulled me out on the dance floor.
So we're dancing. And when Charles and his father arrive, Charles and I dance, too. Soon Stan will be here to take Charles and me back to Iowa City while Stephen travels with his father to spend the weekend in Missouri.
My car will stay in Ottumwa until it's fixed.
We'll drive in opposite directions only to turn around and meet back in Bloomfield on Sunday night.
In the meantime we're dancing—Charles and I, Stephen and I, and sometimes, if we can convince Charles, all three of us take hands and create a circle, circle counter to the clockwork box step of the couples, the citizens of Ottumwa, my former husband looking at his watch, my future husband, Stan, who's just arrived.
The night's held back by our lights and the warmth of the cafe. Outside the window the extravagent yellow star atop its pink rainbow flickers and whines against the clatter of dishes and music. It washes our reflection, shows us luminously to one another.
We're dancing, our circle abutting the story in place, the couples moving against us, making room for us as we dance in and out of the margins. What do we know of our strangeness? So little yet. Exhilarated, feeling the pull of the centrifugal, we tighten our grasp.
Police Reports
Tuesday, 4:30 P.M.—Youths who had climbed the fire escape to the roofs of downtown office buildings and who were throwing objects at pedestrians were arrested and taken to the police station.
Saturday, 1:34 A.M.—Youths were reported to be skateboarding and causing a noise disturbance in the Jones Library parking lot. Subjects were gone when police arrived.
Sunday, 12:20 A.M.—A man reported to police that youths broke into a private swimming pool in Echo Hills and were skateboarding in the pool. Subjects were gone when police arrived.
Friday, 10:30 P.M.—Teens caught causing a woman to scream and setting off car alarms were sent on their way by police.
Saturday, 8:01 P.M.—Police removed fluorescent post-its with obscene messages from the walls of the Bangs Community Center.
Saturday, 9:45 P.M.—A woman reported to police that her daughter and some friends were harassed by youths making lewd comments and attempting to block the girls’ paths as they were leaving the Hampshire Mall in Hadley. Subjects were gone when police arrived.
Sunday, 10:10 P.M.—Two girls reported seeing boys holding a gun while walking on Main Street. Police did not find the boys and couldn't determine if the gun was real or not.
Friday, 10:30 P.M.—Youths reported to be looking in car windows and trying doors outside Bertucci's were gone when police arrived.
Saturday, 9:30P.M.—Youths fled police who confiscated a marijuana pipe and fireworks from the high school parking lot.
Monday, 7:18 A.M.—High school staff told police that someone had run a chair up the flagpole and painted obscenities on the wall leading into school. Police advised staff to question students.
Monday, 8:30 P.M.—A man told police that youths jumped out of the bushes at the corner of Amity and University and threw eggs at his daughter's car. Police are investigating.
Monday, 11:06 P.M.—A South Amherst woman reported that her daughter was receiving annoying phone calls. Police referred family to the phone company.
Wednesday, 4:30 P.M.