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PART I
SPEAKING IN TONGUES


24

ā€œHELLO, MRS. SCARRITT,ā€ Trey said cheerfully from the doorway the next day. It was Saturday. Marina was peeking around the corner where he couldnā€™t see her, as she was skittish about how rude sheā€™d been at the concert last night. Her rudeness weighed heavily upon her mind, but, as Mother always told her, least said, soonest mended.

ā€œHello, Mr. Dunham,ā€ Mother said stiffly. ā€œPlease, do come in. Marina will be out in a moment.ā€

ā€œThank you,ā€ he said pleasantly and stepped into the foyer, but Mother kept him there.

Marina darted to the kitchen to gather the picnic basket, then waited for at least a minute before she went to meet Trey, who was standing in the foyer talking to Mother. ā€œĀ ā€¦Ā hide-and-go-seek.ā€

Mother said nothing for several seconds, during which Trey caught Marinaā€™s eye and smiled.

ā€œHide-and-go-seek,ā€ Mother said as if sheā€™d never heard of it before.

ā€œYes. Gene and I are afraid the girls are getting tired of baseballā€”which, of course, they wouldnā€™t tell us because they are too politeā€”ā€

ā€œMarina, most definitely.ā€

ā€œEspecially Marina,ā€ Trey said with a conspiratorial nod at Mother. ā€œWhat better Saturday afternoon entertainment than a soda, picnic, and games?ā€

ā€œI think thatā€™s a fine idea,ā€ Father said from behind Marina, startling her. ā€œDonā€™t you, Mrs. Scarritt?ā€ he asked as he extended a hand to Trey.

ā€œSir,ā€ Trey said with a firm shake of the hand. ā€œThank you. Iā€™ve been very careful to select activities good Christian couples can indulge in.ā€

ā€œCouples?ā€ Mother asked sharply, while Marina tried to calm her racing heart.

ā€œA man and a woman out courting,ā€ Trey answer solicitously.

ā€œShe is not a woman. Sheā€™s sixteen. You are twenty-four.ā€

ā€œMrs. Scarritt,ā€ Father said patiently, lightly grasping Motherā€™s elbow, ā€œI think we can all agree that Marina is very mature for her ageā€”ā€

Mother made a small peep.

ā€œā€”and we have never had reason to doubt her ability to choose the right path. Dorothy will be there, Mr. Dunham?ā€

ā€œYes, sir, as well as Gene. We will be stopping by Kresgeā€™s first, as usual, then go to a park amongst other picnickers, and we will leave long before dark. Mrs. Scarritt, I understand your concerns and will honor them to the best of my ability. I cannot, however, do anything about my age. To be honest, and this is a credit to you, I forget that the calendar says sheā€™s sixteen. Her maturity is years beyond. I appreciate the reminder.ā€

ā€œLovely turn of phrase, Mr. Dunham.ā€ Fatherā€™s mouth pursed in thought and he nodded slowly. ā€œā€˜The calendar saysĀ ā€¦Ā ā€™ Yes. Please do have fun, Marina.ā€

ā€œThank you, Father,ā€ Marina said dutifully, but with a shy, grateful smile that garnered an indulgent smile from him in return.

ā€œThank you, Sir. Maā€™am. Marina, shall we?ā€ He swept her out the front door. ā€œMy, my!ā€ Trey breathed as he took her picnic basket and offered his other arm to her. ā€œI do believe your father likes me.ā€

ā€œHe does,ā€ Marina said gaily.

Trey flashed her a grin. ā€œArenā€™t you chipper today!ā€

ā€œWell,ā€ she said matter-of-factly as he handed her in the car and put the picnic basket in the back, ā€œFatherā€™s been so kind, allowing me to walk out with you.ā€

ā€œIs your father usually not kind?ā€ Trey asked as they zipped down the street.

ā€œHeā€™s always kind, but not always as approving of things I thought he might be. I maynā€™t go to Dotā€™s church, but I may walk out with you alone on Friday and Saturday evenings.ā€

ā€œCourting is normal. Dotā€™s religion is not. Iā€™m part of your church family. Dot never will be.ā€

ā€œOhhh,ā€ Marina drawled in understanding. ā€œYes, of course, youā€™re right.ā€

ā€œAnd he seems to have a lot of faith in you to know whatā€™s right and proper.ā€

That made Marina the happiest of all. ā€œI suppose he does.ā€ Then she deflated. ā€œI wish Mother did.ā€

ā€œShe likely does,ā€ Trey said lightly. ā€œI believe Dotā€™s right about your mother not wanting to let you go.ā€

Marina scowled. ā€œI donā€™t know why. She knows Iā€™ll not leave.ā€

Trey slid her a glance with a half-amused smile. ā€œAre you planning to get rid of me?ā€

ā€œYes! I mean, no!ā€ Now Marina was totally flustered. ā€œI would like to enjoy having a beau for a while. Thatā€™s the way things go. Iā€™ve told you that and I remind her often, so I donā€™t know why she continues to be irritated.ā€

ā€œMarina, a man doesnā€™t court without intention and I have been courting you for weeks now. I told you that. Your parents knowā€”which you would have no reason to, so itā€™s not a reflection of your smartsā€”that men like me always have the end in mind.ā€

Marina stared at him, but he was busy navigating from her house to downtown. ā€œAre you sayingĀ ā€¦Ā ā€

ā€œI am saying,ā€ he said firmly, ā€œI would not have gone to your father for permission to court you if I didnā€™t have something in mind for our future, you and I.ā€

Marina gasped, her heart in her throat. Her! Marina Scarritt! Marrying this manā€” Why, it was as good as a formal proposal! ā€œOh, golly gee whiz,ā€ she whispered, one hand on her hat and the other pressed flat to her chest.

ā€œYour father is happy with it, with me. Your mother is not. Yes, you are mature and yes, I do forget what the calendar says about you, but you would have no reason to understand whatā€™s going on underneath whatā€™s going on. No proper girl of any age should.ā€

Suddenly shy, Marina only said, ā€œOh,ā€ in a small voice and sat back to simply enjoy the ride.

It wasnā€™t that simple. She was too thrilled at what Trey had just said. Marina Scarritt! Married!

ā€œBut the calendar is dictating how your father and I discuss it.ā€

Marina sighed, her hopes dashed. There was plenty of time before she turned eighteen for Trey to change his mind and, truth be told, she wanted to pop up at school able to say her name was Marina Dunham.

ā€œThat dratted calendar,ā€ she muttered.

Trey chuckled. ā€œHere we are,ā€ he said smoothly as he pulled into a rare parking spot just a block beyond Kresgeā€™s. Gene and Dot were already waiting for them in their booth.

As usual, Marina had a catawba flip, Trey a lime rickey, Dot a cherry lime phosphate, and Gene a vanilla phosphate.

As usual, Gene and Dot fell into conversation about his perfect Delaware family and her queer religion, which got more queer the more she talked.

As usual, the waitress tried to flirt with both Gene and Trey.

ā€œYouā€™re new here, arenā€™t you, doll?ā€ Trey asked when she put his soda in front of him. She wasnā€™t so pretty as their usual one, but she wasnā€™t homely. She was, well, interesting looking.

ā€œFirst day,ā€ she chirped with a brilliant smile. ā€œMy dogs are already barking, but never had such fun working.ā€

Marina started to get jealous when she put her hand on Treyā€™s shoulder, but he ever-so-slightly shook her off. He tilted his chin toward her tray. ā€œThis is Marina. Sheā€™s got the flip there.ā€

ā€œOf course,ā€ she said smoothly, leaning over him to slide the drink in front of Marina. ā€œThere you go, sweetie.ā€

There was an awkward silence as she slid Dotā€™s drink to her, leaning across Gene the way she had Trey, who didnā€™t like it any more than Trey seemed to.

Marina relaxed. Of course they didnā€™t. They were courting good and proper gentlewomen because they were good and proper gentlemen. They didnā€™t hold with such brazen flirting.

But then she was gone and as usual, Marina and Trey fell into conversation about the books they were trading. He had a new one for her.

Her brow wrinkled. ā€œElmer Gantry? Iā€™ve never heard of Sinclair Lewis.ā€

ā€œYou read mysteries, doll,ā€ he said dryly.

Doll. She hated that.

ā€œWhat? What did I say?ā€ he asked softly, startling her.

It didnā€™t usually bother her that he could read her moods. In fact, it was quite convenient. Today, it bothered her.

ā€œCā€™mon. You know I donā€™t take offense at anything you tell me, even when you think Iā€™m not going to like it.ā€

That was true.

ā€œI donā€™t like when you call me ā€˜doll,ā€™ā€ she admitted reluctantly, careful not to let Dot and Gene hear, but they were involved with their own conversation.

ā€œOh,ā€ he said with surprise. ā€œIā€™m sorry. It is too familiar, Iā€™ll admitā€”ā€

ā€œItā€™s not familiar enough,ā€ she blurted.

He drew back a little. ā€œHow?ā€

ā€œYou call every girl ā€˜doll.ā€™ You say it to Dot. You say it to the waitressā€”and you donā€™t even know her. You say it to the girl at checkout. If weā€”ā€ She gulped. ā€œIf, um, what you said in the car, about a future, then I shouldnā€™t be the same as all the other girls.ā€

ā€œOh. Oh, my. I donā€™t intend that at all, dā€” Um.ā€

He was flustered and she felt herself blush. ā€œIā€™m sorry. That was completely out of line. Of course, you may call me what pet name you like.ā€

ā€œI just want to make you happy. Now we have to find one that will make you happy.ā€

She smiled shyly. ā€œThank you. I donā€™t want to seem demanding. Itā€™s not proper.ā€

ā€œI doubt you could be demanding,ā€ he said dryly, sipping on his soda. ā€œHow aboutĀ ā€¦Ā ā€ He glanced around, then gestured toward the wall where it met the table. ā€œSugar. In honor of where we met.ā€

She smiled in utter delight. ā€œThat would be lovely, thank you.ā€

ā€œYou are quite welcome, Sugar.ā€

ā€œNow, tell me about this book.ā€

ā€œDo you know what satire is?ā€

24


If you donā€™t want to wait 2 years to get to the end, you can buy itĀ here.

Speakeasy staff.