OCR Text |
Show 143 In Oak City things were different. We got there on the eve of the Fourth of July. Uncle Soren, Mama's half-brother, a Bob Burns type of character, was to be M. C., and was also on the program to sing "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles," the new song hit. He needed an accompanist, so I practiced with him and played at the celebration, which put me into instant spotlight. I learned later that any new girl in Oak City created a sensation. The boys gathered around me in the afternoon at the sports and one of them bought me an ice cream cone, which constituted a first bid. I even became a notorious woman, the subject of a whispering campaign instituted by the girl who considered herself his best girl, which brought about a schism among the young people, entered into by their parents. When it came time to go "rusticating" up in the canyon for a week, a quaint custom of the townspeople, who left only a skeleton force of cow-milkers in town, the camp was split because of me. Uncle Abe and Aunt Rachel were worried, not knowing what to believe, whether I was a "fast girl" or whether all this came about because of the jealousy of a spoiled girl. It was resolved by their overhearing me refuse to let a boy kiss me goodnight. Lemira, their daughter my age, and I giggled half the night about his attempt at this familiarity, my expert dodging ability. Now Uncle Abe joyfully broadcast the news and my reputation was saved. By this time my visit was almost over, because Mama and Papa were coming after me. I had had the time of my life, enjoyed all the |