26/5 Dedra Cummings

Chapter 5
Dedra Cumings
When a stranger comes to town

I met Dedra at one of my friend's house parties. Jake's parents were comfortable with the recreation room in the basement of their ranch home full of hot, sweaty teenagers dancing to rock n roll music. They were okay with it as long as they were home. All of the young people at the party had to know Jake's Mom or Dad might just drop in at any time just to make sure no one was adding anything alcoholic to the soda they provided. And you could count on a parental raid if there were two slow dances played in succession. The concern was about us kids having too much close and prolonged body contact. 

When I got to the party, most of the usual suspects were already there. But I wasn't the only one who met the opposite sex on the bus going to school. Also there was the Diner on Blake where people met. Yes, there was always a friend of a friend or a visiting relative at these house parties. As it turned out, the lonely girl in the corner was Jake's cousin, Dedra Cumings.

I sat down next to her. The dance floor was a mass of my friends doing the "Twist."

"Hi, my name is Richard."

It was as if I woke her from a nap.

"Oh. Hi, I'm Dedra." She almost yawned.

"Dedra, would you like to dance."

She gave me a sleepy kind of grin.

"Not now. Maybe later."

"Okay, so why don't I know you?"

She took the coke I had in my hand and took a healthy slug of it.

"I'm sorry, could I get you something?"

She sighed.

"Yeah, that would be nice." 

Again she gave me the grin with a little more energy.

I got up. "What would you like?"

"Coke is fine, thank you."

I came back with a bottle and a plastic cup.

"Thank you, You're a gentleman and a …"

"I'll take the gentlemen, but I won't risk my reputation as an academic. Okay?"

She laughed.

"I'm sorry, but I can't help but notice you seem to be drowsy."

"It's jet lag. I just arrived from California this afternoon."

"I didn't know you could get jet lag flying in from California."

"I don't know about other people, but I can."

"So sorry for you. How long are you going to be here?"

"I fly home a week from today." 

We quietly sipped our cokes and watched the crowd switch to another form of dancing. At the same time, Elvis complained about the existence of the Heartbreak Hotel.

"Have you visited here before?"

"Once, but I was about five years old. I didn't see much, and I don't really remember a lot."

I let that revelation simmer for a moment. Dedra wasn't your brown-skinned blonde California stereotype. Her hair was a burnished brown. It waved but didn't curl. It was difficult to see because Dedra was seated but she appeared to be medium build. She didn't seem overly athletic, but I would later discover she was reasonably agile. Her eyes, once she was fully awakened, were gray to green. Her oval face was adorned with a slightly turned-up nose. Summery her up? Not spectacular but undoubtedly attractive.

"What do you think about me showing you around?"

She looked at me as if I just crawled out from under a rock.

"Why would you want to do that? You hardly know me."

"Jake is a good friend of mine. I'm sure he and his folks will show you around but... Let's just say my tour will be more fun."

She appeared to be thinking.

"Okay, Mister. I'll tell them you offered to show me around and I accepted. When are you going to pick me up?"

"Tomorrow at ten o'clock. That will give you time to catch up on your sleep."

"What should I wear?"

"A comfortable pair of walking shoes, dress for the weather and remember that big old lake east of us can turn our weather cooler quickly. I'll have you home by six so you can change into something appropriate for doing a little nightclubbing. Sound like fun?"

Dedra gave me a shy look that I would see a lot over the next few days.

"Why, Ricard! I don't know. Nightclubbing? Jake Promised me the Zoo."

"Jake's parents talked him into that choice." 

She chuckled. 

"You do know them well."

"Yes, they are nice, but a little bit…?"

"Stuffy?"

"That works."

"Is Jake invited to join us?"

'No, and trust me, it won't hurt his feelings. Jake is a great guy socially but he really enjoys his time in the gym. He would gladly swap a day of showing you around for a couple of hours in the gym."

"Seriously?"

"He aspires to be a professional athlete. And he might even do it."

"And you. What do you aspire to?"

"In the near future? I want to be the most stimulating city tour guide you've ever or will ever encounter. Long term, maybe engineering. We'll see."

Dedra was dressed and ready to go. The sleepy girl of last night was gone, and in her place was an attractive and pretty sophisticated young lady. Dedraa decided that some plaid slacks, a white collared blouse, a powder blue cotton sweater, and white tennis shoes were appropriate for the day's activities and the weather. She hadn't overdone her makeup, but then she didn't need it. With her slightly tanned complexion, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and her head covered with a baseball cap, Dedra's preparation was perfect. 

I imagined hearing the "Beach Boys'' in the background as Dedra entered the living room at Jake's house. I had been waiting for just a couple of minutes with Jakes's mother, Alice. Alice was trying to get me to tell her about my plans for her niece. She seemed most concerned about my suggestion that later in the evening, we were going nightclubbing.

I made her feel better when I mentioned that there was a new teen bar opening where kids could go and hangout. Now to be fair, I never said Dedra and I were going to go to that teen club. I merely threw the news of it's opening into the conversation. Alice evidently thought differently.

Dedra and I walked out of her aunt's home. She looked up and down the street.

"Where is your car?"

"We don't need a car. I have access to a magic carpet."

"Really! I'm going to warn you, I might get airsick."

"Not to worry." As I said that the bus pulled up to the corner we were approaching.

"Ah, and so it arrives. Our magic carpet."

The bus pulled to a stop, and the door flew open. She grinned.

"Indeed. Seriously, how much do I need for the fare."

"No need to worry. I bought you a day pass."

First, we went to a baseball game. My hometown has a triple-A minor league Chicago Cubs team. They were playing a doubleheader that afternoon.

Not only did Dedra enjoy the game, but it also turns out she was pretty knowledgeable.

"You really know your baseball."

"I play softball for my high school team."

"Ah, a jock no less."

"Sorry, I'm a scholar-athlete. Women don't need a…"

"My mistake. Of course."

She enjoyed my discomfort.

Sitting in the stands watching the game with her was a different experience for me. Dedra must have had a lot of experience with young men. She wasn't shy and undecided. Having a conversation with her was smooth and pleasant even when serious discussion sprang up.

"So why are you visiting your Aunt and Uncle?" I said

She paused only a second, then pulled her gaze off the field and looked at me.

"My parents are finalizing a divorce this week. The judge ruled that I'm old enough to choose which parent I want to live with. I thought that I might make a better decision if I wasn't in Los Angeles. You know, kind of getting away from the battle."

I waited so I could absorb what she shared with me. I didn't know anyone who was in a family that had gone through a divorce. For me, it was one of those moments that told me I wasn't at the kid's table anymore. This was adult stuff, and Dedra was a door that opened up the room for me.

"Christ, I'm sorry. I mean I can't even imagine what you're going through."

"I can tell you I didn't ask for it."

"What happened? Why do your folks feel they have to split up?"

"Hmmm. How do I answer that?" Tears began forming at the corners of her eyes. She wiped at her eyes with her sweater's cuff. 

"Sorry," I said.

"You don't have to apologize." She turned to me. 

"Look, you're a nice guy. I liked you from the moment I met you, but in a week I'll be gone. You will forget my name and what I look like. Or, maybe my story is one you remember because you will tell the story so many times you can't forget it. Either way, we have no future."

I scrambled for positivity.

"Wait, you don't know that. What if I get accepted at UCLA or Southern California? What if…?"

"Pigs fly. You're what... a sophomore.?"

"Freshman, actually."

"Hah. I should have read that childish romanticism in those dreamy eyes." She laughed, reached out for my hand and held the back of my hand to her breast. She leaned in close to me and whispered. "Are you a virgin, Richard?"

I looked back at her. We were so close I could only see her eyes. I nodded, yes.

"Maybe we should do something about that." Then she put my hand back into my lap and turned to watch the game.

We had hot dogs, peanuts, and once we left the game, I took her to the diner for a milkshake. At this point, usually, I could go to the diner and the theater across the street without thinking of Lisa Duffy. But on this occasion, I wouldn't have minded if Lisa had shown up and seen me with this California dream.

I had taken a job busing tables in a supper club. After the dinner crowd thinned out and the kitchen closed, the owner, Sammy Damato, brought in musicians to entertain. It transformed the place to look like the jazz joints you see in the movies. I talked to the owner about bringing Dedra to the club for the music.

"This girl. Is she someone you want to impress?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Come in about eight o'clock you can have dinner on me and then hang around to hear the music."

I couldn't believe my luck.

"Thank you, sir."

"One thing."

"Yes, sir."

"Don't order any booze." He laughed and patted me on the shoulder.

That evening, I picked up Dedra at seven-thirty. She was in a dark blue dress and high heels. She had her hair wrapped in what she called a French Roll. She had applied a little more makeup and put on diamond earrings and a string of pearls around her neck. 

With her heels on, she came up to my height. We walked down to the bus stop, and her heels clicked off our steps in time. When we got on the bus, she saw quickly that we weren't the only ones dressed for the evening out.

When we got to the club, I could tell the crew had been told what was going on.

"Mr. Harrison, right this way, sir." 

We were shown to a ringside table. The menus were both guest versions meaning they didn't show the prices. The service at this place was always excellent, and they didn't hold back because their busboy brought his date in. And no one let on that they knew me.

"Wow, I'm impressed. Does your Dad own this place?" she said.

"I wish. They are doing me a favor." She looked at me for more information

"On any other weekend, I'd be bussing dishes here. The boss is taking care of this."

She just smiled. 

As it turned out, the band that night played dance music. Betty, my mother's maid, and my former nanny's patience with me when she taught me how to dance paid off that evening. We didn't dance every number. However, we didn't pass up any of the slow numbers and enjoyed persistent close body contact. During one of those numbers, she laid her head on my shoulder.

"Friday night, I'm going to be home alone. My Aunt and Uncle are going out and Jake has a date. They said it was okay if you came over to keep me company."

"Sounds nice, I'll be there."

That Friday night, I showed up at 7:00 o'clock. Dedra was in the kitchen, prepping a green salad. I sat at the breakfast bar and watched her work.

"I've made a decision," she said.

"Decision?"

"Yes, I'm going to live with my Father." 

She turned halfway from the counter and looked at me for my reaction. I wasn't sure what to say.

"It's none of my business, but I'm curious. Why?"

"Because I blame my mother for breaking the family up. Right now, I can't help but be angry when I'm with her. I don't want to wake up and go to sleep angry. So I should create some distance until I don't feel that way."

She cooked a simple meal. We had the green salad with oil and vinegar dressing, pasta marinara with garlic bread, and Italian sausage. After dinner, I helped clear the table and grabbed the dishtowel. She told me I didn't have to do any of it. I reminded her I was a professional.

I was standing next to her when she took the towel from my hand to dry her hands. She backed up to me, took my arms, and wrapped them around her. She laid her head back on my chest. I leaned down and kissed her neck. She took my right hand and placed it over her breast. I closed my fingers gently. I realized she wasn't wearing a bra. I could feel her shiver. After unbuttoning her blouse, she put my hand on her bare breast. After a few moments, she turned and embraced me. I put my fingers under her chin and tipped her head up for a kiss.

"God, for a virgin, you are a great kisser," she said. I thought, 'Thank you, Lisa Duffy.'

She tipped her head back, and we kissed some more. She unbuttoned her blouse completely and helped me to understand where to put my hands and what they should do to bring her pleasure. I was lost in this world she brought me into. I was lost and unsure of what I should do, and yet I had no desire to leave it. Even with my eyes closed, I sensed a flash of light and automatically opened them.

"Dedra, someone just pulled into the driveway."

Walking toward the front windows. Dedra gathered her open blouse and began rebuttoning it.

"It's my Aunt and Uncle." 

I turned on the television set and plopped on the couch. Dedra quickly joined me. We sat a discrete distance from each other, and we tried to seem genuinely surprised when they came through the front door.

The movie they went to see after dinner was sold out. They joined us in the living room. We watched a black and white film starring people who were now twenty years older about a war that America had won. Given that the Korean conflict was in the rearview mirror and Vietnam wasn't on the radar screen, the film was kind of like, what we would call today, a docudrama.

Dedra and I had another half hour alone when Alice and Jim went to bed, and Jake hadn't come home from his date. Still, without saying anything, it was apparent we couldn't go back and resume what we had started.

As she ushered me to the front door, she tried to say goodbye, but it was hard for both of us. We had crossed a line. There should have been a path we could use to take the next logical steps. And yet, tomorrow, she would get on a plane and put thousands of miles between us.

I begged her to let me go to the airport with her in the morning. She was adamant that wasn't going to happen 

"Why? It's not going to make either of us feel any better. It's not going to change anything. Kiss me and say goodbye."

I kissed her for what seemed like minutes. No matter how long it actually was, it wasn't long enough. I went through the door.

"Richard," she said.

"Yes." I turned back to see her backlit form in the doorway. The last image I would have of her.

"You didn't say goodbye." 

I hung my head. 

"I'm sorry. I can't."

She stood without saying anything for a moment

"Well, at least that romanticism in your dreamy eyes isn't childish anymore."

I was a wreck for weeks. Short-tempered and moody I wasn't fooling anyone. Jake told me that Dedra had been quiet and unconversational all the way to the airport. She thanked everyone in the family for their hospitality, but she didn't sound like she meant it. Jake leveled with me, after a week of my moping

"We all commented on Dedra's mood when she finally got on the plane. On the way home from the airport, my mother told us about Dedra's parents getting a divorce and that Dedra had decided to live with her Dad. My mom was unhappy with both the divorce and Dedra's decision, but she tried not to express that to Dedra. Mom meant it as an explanation of Dedra's unhappiness as she left. But I knew better. Jake confided in me

"When Dedra and I were out of earshot of my parents, she told me how she was surprised and confused about her feelings for you. You know she's a senior in high school, don't you?"

I shook my head, no.

"She told me that her confusion was based on why she fell for you so quickly. She couldn't tell if she saw you like the solid ground in life that was flooded with uncertainty, or was it love at first sight?"

"Did she ever tell you what she believed?"

He hesitated.

"She sent me a letter. There's a note in it she asked me to give you."

He pulled out of his pocket and gave me. It was in a small envelope like an RSVP reply to a wedding invitation."

I put it in my back pocket and didn't read it until I got home from bussing dishes at the supper club. In the feeble glow of the single bedside lamp, I opened the note.

"Richard, When you left that last evening we had together, I was at a loss to explain what meeting you had done to me. So much was happening. My parent's divorce. I'm starting college this fall. And then there's this surprise. This guy, Richard. We are so young. Who knows what would have happened if we could have continued to be together. We won't ever know. 

But I want you to know these things. You were my quiet in the storm. You were a friend when I needed one. You are more of a man than you think. I tell you all of this so you will know that even if I wasn't carrying all the baggage I had, I would have fallen in love with you anyway."