Brenda had clothes at home and went over there to dress. Darlene couldn’t wear any of Dafney’s clothes so there was a silver outfit that was striking looking on Dafney. I called the dress store and spoke to the same manager that sold me Judith (one of his sales clerks), and he promised to send by cab the same silver dress, one size larger by cab to my house fast, and the price would be taken back by the cab driver. I also got matching shoes.
“We don’t know how to eat at a dinner party Jerry.” Darlene said, “what if we do something wrong?”
“Well I’ve never been to this kind of party either. I think mostly they talk, but I believe largely the women don’t say much unless asked questions. Just be yourselves.”
The cab came with the dress and shoes, and Darlene and Dafney tried to put on too much makeup. I had them wash their faces.
We had to get in a line and be announced as we came in the room for dinner. There must have been 150 men and women in the room, most of them were Congressman this, or mayor that. They were all adults except us.
They had written all our names when we came in the main door. Then at the dining room they announced over the mike, “Mr. Anderson Kellor with Miss Lotus Franklin both students at New Hope High School.” There was much clapping, because this was the son of the host.
Then they said when we came in, “Mr. Jerry Fabe with his ladies Miss Brenda Faust, Miss Dafney Dix and Miss Darlene Dix, all students at New Hope High School.”
Dafney was a kind of clown, and when we were walking to our table she did a little twist and body shake. She was 13 and all the rest of us were 15, thirteen year olds are a bit more vigerous than older teenagers. The regular clapping became a standing ovation. Even the women stood. She had a shape that was to clap over. Certain people talked and the others tried to listen. A man named Snodgrass said, “Well Anderson where did you meet your girlfriend?”
“My friend Jerry introduced her to me. In every school there is usually one really bright and successful person, and I feel that if I can just be arund such overwhelming success I will be a little like him. That glowing light at my school is Jerry Fabe.”
“My god son did you read the philosophy of Napoleon Hill of 400 years ago?”
“Sorry sir, never heard of him.” Anderson said.
“How is he such a success?” Snodgrass asked, I see all his women, of course that’s an amazing success, but is there anything else?”
“Let’s see he owns his own house outright, a farm in the county with 2000 acres and a lake outright, and he has a quanity of female slaves.
He has followers like me that really worship him and write down his words so we won’t forget. Jerry Fabe is only 15 years old and he’s a superman, no telling how much money he’s accumulated. I grew up with money, but Jerry started with nothing, his father cleared land. Now he’s invested in new equipment for his father, and owns half of that business.
I’m his disciple in life, I would do anything he told me in this time we have on Earth. I live at his house and am his follower. One day he saw Lotas Blossem, my date tonight. I think she was waiting for him to drive up, to have a chance at school with him. Girls wait at his parking space every day to maybe speak to him.”
I wanted to stop him and say, ‘Shut your stupid mouth, stop the malarky and eat your steak — maybe choke on it! Maybe also sip the vegetable soup up your nostil, but I let his passive-aggression, as it is called in phychology class play out.
“What do you have to say about your disciples evaluation of you Mr. Fabe?”
“What he said is true Mr. Snodgrass I do have a talent with money and females. I ordered him to marry Miss Lotus Franklin, but he is waiting on the ceremony until I tell him. I also told him to have five children using her.”
That made Lotus’ mouth drop open, and she clutched Anderson’s arm, maybe cutting off circulation. She even kissed his neck. I was thinking. ‘Dog, deficate in your front yard and you step in it.’
“All of you Fabe ladies are beautiful and probably talented. I think Dafney,” he knew which one she was, “you were the star coming in here, with your little hip shaking and tongue on upper lip. Truly you should consider movies. You got the whole crowd to stand and applaud. What do you think Miss Dafney, why you were picked as the girlfriend of the most popular boy?”
“Well I guess he likes how I look, and I know like all proper boys he wants virgins. My talent with him is like last night we went at each other for 12 hours flat, and God it was screaming wonderful!”
There was first silence and then the place sort of exploded. Most everyone except the hard of hearing stood up and clapped. You wouldn’t think so many could hear in a room that big, or that so many were listening.
To contact the author Ray Cates write: rcates2@cox.net
Fax to 1-352-629-1573
