Right (72) by Toycoon
When they got to the dance, Jack parked the old GMC in the dirt lot across the road from the hall. Jack jumped out, opened the door for Katie and helped her down out of the truck. Jack offered her his arm and Katie happily obliged. They strolled over to the hall and as they approached, Jack could hear the familiar strains of the local cowboy band, setting the atmosphere for the winter celebration.
The inside of the hall was decorated with silver tinsel garlands, enormous red bows and green paper streamers. Strands of tiny, multicolored lights hung just above the makeshift bar in the corner of the room, next to the upright piano. Jack and Katie stood in the doorway taking in the holiday decorations before going all the way inside. It was early so there were not many people at the dance yet. They walked over to a small group of young women that Katie spotted by the punch bowl, joined them then stood watching the elegant guests arrving.
"Katie! You look so adorable!" squawked one perky brunette dressed in a sparkly rose satin dress. She dipped the plastic ladle in the bowl and handed Katie a cup of the fruit punch. Turning to Jack, she smiled and bobbed her pretty head from side to side, "And who do we have here?" Jack grinned and tipped his hat. "Uh, the name's Jack Twist, ma'am," stated Jack. "Well, hello there Jack Twist. I'm Peggy Ann. I went to high school with Katie, handsome. You from around here?" Before he could answer, she turned her attention to the couple walking in the door. Her eyes darted back and forth as she studied the couple posed in the doorway of the hall. She motioned to another girl, Marjorie, standing by her side and whispered, "There's that girl I was telling you about, she's a weirdo. Do you know what I'm talkin' about? And who on earth is that she's with? Is that Alan Sims? He's another story. I heard he's a queer now. Bet she's a queer now, too." Jack turned towards the doorway to catch sight of a plain looking brunette girl in thick glasses wearing a modest, peach colored dress, arm and arm with, of all people, his childhood friend, Alan. He was dressed in a white tuxedo with a yellow rose in the lapel. Jack really did not want to talk to Alan tonight, so he lit up a cigarette and tried to blend into the background as much as he could manage. Peggy Ann continued her running social commentary, "Look, there's that colored boy, lives on the outside a' town. I hear his family moved here from Milwaukee 'cause someone was after him, ya know, wantin' ta kill 'im, for dating their white daughter. Can you imagine? All I know is that feller better not try nothin' like that around here." She whispered the next part. "You know what would happen."
"I'd go out with him in a minute, he's a doll!" Katie snickered tossing her auburn ponytail. All of the other girls did a double take, hardly believing what they were hearing. Peggy Ann looked straight at Katie. "Katie Mae! It's a good thing yer daddy ain't around to hear you say that! Heaven's sake! Bet he's turning over in his grave right now!" Peggy Ann craned her neck to see the next couple in the door. "Look Katie, there's your girlfriend, Raquel. She is so pretty, she looks like Marilyn Monroe. What an adorable dress! Ooh, I wonder who's that tall, handsome cowboy she with? Never seen him around these parts before."