WHAT DO THE STARS SAY?
Chapter Eight
Jack had gotten a second job. He
was working delivering food to parties. It was December 31, 1969; several New
Year’s Eve parties were going to happen that night. Jack had to work that day,
delivering food to a big, fancy party at a hotel. He didn’t understand how they
could be so happy when the war was still going on. He guessed they had to live
life.
*****
Rick planned to take Ruth and
Rose to a fancy party that night, and there he would make the announcement to
his friends about his wedding to Rose. Rose didn’t want go, but Ruth forced her
to. Something also told her to go. She didn’t know what.
When they got there, people
started to greet Rick. They were people she didn’t know. Maybe they were
people from his work, she thought, since Rick didn’t bother to tell her.
They sat at a table and a waiter
took their orders. Some musicians started to play some music. Rick took Rose’s
hand and took her to the dance floor. She didn’t like the idea, but she didn’t
want to make her mom mad.
*****
Jack was told to take some boxes to
the dining room; this meant he would have to go to the actual party. He didn’t
want to, because he felt out of place. He put his company hat backwards so he
could see over the boxes clearly. He started to walk through the crowds of
fancily dressed people. He could feel their stares. He heard the music stop.
A man started to talk.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I’m
truly sorry for interrupting, but I have a special announcement to make."
Jack quickly recognized his voice
and turned to look at him. It was Rick talking.
"First let me say, happy
1970, and I hope you all have a great time at this wonderful party. Now, back
to what I was about to tell you, I just want to say that I’m the luckiest man
alive. My wonderful fiancée and I will be married in two months!" he said,
pointing to Rose. People started to applaud.
Jack looked at the woman Rick was
pointing to. His heart sank when he saw that beautiful red hair and those
beautiful eyes. It was Rose! He had prayed for so long to see her again, and
now he was in shock. He was so shocked that he had his eyes glued to her and
his mouth wide open. He was so shocked that he forgot about the boxes and
dropped them. They were heavy, and as they dropped, they made a loud noise.
The loud noise made Rose turn and
look towards him. Now they were looking at each other. Rose’s eyes started to
fill with tears. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. They both just
stared at each other for a moment. They forgot about the people around them,
and time seemed to have stopped. Both of them started to cry.
Rose couldn’t take it anymore and
fainted. Jack tried to go to her, but he saw Ruth and Rick rushing to her. He
grabbed the boxes from the floor and took them back. Rick and Ruth had no idea
why she had fainted. All the people were looking at her. Ruth and Rick helped
her up and took her their car. Jack slowly and carefully followed them. He
hailed a taxi and followed them.
The car stopped at some expensive
apartments. Jack watched them get out. Rose was still not awake. Rick carried
her into the building. Jack now knew where she lived; he wouldn’t let this
chance slip away. He needed to let Rose know everything.
It was getting dark, and Jack
figured she wouldn’t come out, so he left, planning to come back the next day.
*****
"Rose, are you okay?"
Rick asked. They were inside the apartment. Rose was barely waking up.
"Oh…my head! Oh, my
God!" she said, crying.
"What’s wrong? What
happened? It looks like you saw a ghost. What’s wrong, Rose?"
Rose thought about telling him
about Jack, but thought that he would think she was crazy. Maybe I am,
she thought.
"Nothing. I just have not
been feeling well, and I didn’t eat breakfast. Maybe that is why I fainted. I
haven’t eaten all day."
"Well, you sure scared your
mother and me. Rose, why don’t you rest for a while, or go to sleep. It will do
you good," he said.
She agreed and lay back. Rick was
starting to leave when Rose stopped him.
"Rick, I’m sorry I ruined
the party. I’m really sorry," she said.
"Don’t worry about it,"
he said, and left.
Rose buried her face in her
pillow. Was it really him? Why was this happening to her? Why? Rose smiled at
the thought of him being alive, but she was sure it wasn’t possible. Maybe she
thought she saw him because she had been thinking of him all the time. She didn’t
know what to think.
She remembered the day Jack had
left.
I wish could have held onto
you and never let go. I wish I had recorded your voice so I could hear it over
and over again. I wish I had told you that you meant a lot to me. But I didn’t,
and now I’m lost. I’m lost without you, she thought, crying. She didn’t know why she was still alive. This
sadness was killing her; she didn’t know what the reason for her being in this
cruel world was. There was such emptiness in her.
She lay on her bed for a moment,
thinking. She came up with an idea, something that would end her sadness.
Tomorrow would be the day; she would do something to end everything--her pain,
her misery, her thoughts, and her life.