This will be deleted soon - The Wrong Hope *Complete and Free*

3. Another Time

Sally-Anne

Year: 1950, Summer

“So Sally-Anne, may I call you Sally-Anne?” Ricky inclined his head just slightly causing the moonlight to catch his features. Smooth faced with a strong jaw, he had all the boyish charms of youth but seemed older. Confidence poured from him and, struck by his intense handsomeness, I felt I might swoon.

Taking a cue from Nancy I gave him a big wide eyed look, hiding a girlish giggle behind my hand. “Sure Mr...?”

“Well if I’m calling you Sally-Anne it’s only proper you call me Ricky, can’t be having you ‘Mr’ing me like I’m some old man.” He said playfully, running a hand through his hair, it was just slightly too long falling over his eyes.

“Okay, Ricky it is then.” I studied him through my lashes trying my best to be seductive.

“Tell me Sally-Anne what’s a pretty girl like you doing out here all alone? Shouldn’t you be enjoying the party?” His eyes ran over me lingering on my chest and neck. My skin prickled and I blushed uncomfortably. Ricky shook his head just slightly, as if to push some thought away, causing his hair to flop back. He pushed it away again so his eyes were unobstructed, gaze snapping to my eyes. I couldn’t see what colour they were, but I longed to.

“I, err,” Flustered by his attention I stumbled on my words, “just stepped out for some air, I was hot from dancing.”

“Well I’m glad you did or I might not have met you, sweet Sally-Anne!” Ricky made me blush again. “Do you see your cousins often?”

“Always! Nancy and I are like sisters.” Oh dear I turned a deeper shade of red, flushing this time with embarrassment, goodness I sounded like such a child but he simply smiled at me and casually asked another question.

“Remind me, how old are Nancy and the twins?” He was so laid-back like we had been talking for years not minutes.

“Nancy is 14 and the twins are 13 and even more mischievous everyday, pair of rascals!” I tried putting on my best grown up voice.

“And perhaps you could help me with something else?” His eyes flashed roguishly in the moonlight.

I found myself drawn in, leaning toward him almost coming onto the tips of my toes. Anything, I thought, whatever he wants, the draw was strong, inescapable - as unavoidable as the day turning to night.

He leant a fraction closer, lending himself to my eagerness and everything in me tingled. “Remind me Miss Sally-Anne Brice, how old might you be?” His words were like silk.

“17 come winter.” I replied immediately.

“Sweet 16.” He whispered to himself, his hand reached out slowly, the very tips of his fingers tracing a curl of my black hair. “What a beautiful young woman.” Ricky looked deep into my emerald eyes as he spoke and my heart skipped a beat.

“It was lovely to meet you Sally-Anne.” The words hung in the air but Ricky was gone. I blinked and looked around open mouthed.

A heartbeat later Nancy was calling me.

“What are you doing out here? You’ve been gone ages!” She whined rolling her eyes.

“Just getting air.” I smiled and fanned myself with my hand for emphasis.

“Let’s go back in, the party is almost over and I want one more dance!” She declared practically dragging me to the door.

Still dazzled by Ricky I let her tow me a long and we danced all the dances that were left before the party ended.

Aunt Liza and my Pa stayed to usher out the last of the guests and my Ma and Uncle Paul took us kids up to the farm house. I got my pyjamas from my drawer in Nancy’s room. I stayed so often that I kept a small portion of my clothes here. Whilst I got ready for bed, washing my face, brushing my teeth and my hair before pinning it back for bed, the boys ran amuck. They barrelled up and down the stairs looping through rooms with exuberance, yelling that they weren’t tired; they were men now and would not go to bed. Uncle Paul tried to persuade them to be calm but it wasn’t till Aunt Liza came home that the boys were subdued.

“Theodore! Robert!” She called sharply “Stop this nonsense at once! To bed with you” She always used their full names regardless of circumstance and no one dared call them by the short names of Teddy or Bobby when she was in ear shot.

“But Mommm...!” They chimed in unison.

“Bed. Now” And with that they trudged off to clamber reluctantly into bed.

I strained my ears to continue listening.

“Honestly Paul you’re way too soft on those boys.” Aunt Liza reprimanded her husband.

“They’ll be training soon enough.” Uncle Paul replied “One more night won’t hurt.”

I heard my Pa ‘hurmph’ in agreement and in my mind I could see my Aunt Liza shooting him a withering look. She considered it impolite not to articulate one's self.

“Training for what?” My Ma asked.

“Oh Beth, when you have a boy John will tell you all about it” Aunt Liza replied haughtily.

Ma began sobbing softly and I turned away not wanting to listen anymore.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Ricky. As always I shared Nancy’s bed with her. We loved to lay there talking in hushed voices till we fell asleep. We would tell each other our secrets and swear pinky promises; but tonight even when Nancy and I were tucked up in bed together and she was gushing about Charlie I said nothing about Ricky. I didn’t know why.