SWING
Chapter Thirteen
Jack returned home to find his mother and her
new fiancé having a glass of champagne. His mother at the moment was very livid
with her son. Jack had disappeared, missed dinner, and now returned looking
like he had just gotten in from one of those damn swing halls, something that
was going to have to stop. She couldn’t have her son participating in such
rebellion now that she was engaged to Hansel. She was going to have a long talk
with her son, starting now.
Jack just glared at them both before storming
into his room and slamming the door.
"Hansel, even though I hate to cut the
evening short, I must. I’d like to have a talk with my son, just the two of
us." Gretel squeezed his hand. "You do understand, don’t you?"
"Of course I understand. I’m not going
to hold it against you. Just be sure to tell Jack that there’s always a opening
spot for him in the Youths. We need all the young men we can get."
"You know, that sounds like a good idea.
I think the Youths would keep him out of trouble. I’ll see you tomorrow night,
my dear." Gretel led him to the door and kissed him good-bye. "Drive
safely."
After Hansel was gone, Gretel entered Jack’s
room and slammed the door behind her.
"Listen, Jack. This swing nonsense is
going to stop. I will not have my son participating in such rebellious
revelries. Hansel is a very respected member of the Third Reich, and we’re
going to make sure he remains respected. Which means all of this," she
gestured at the posters of swing artists that covered Jack’s walls, "will
have to go."
"Why? I’m not the one marrying
him." Jack glared at his mother. For the first time in his life he had
lost all respect for her. She was just another puppet for the Nazis. Just like
Tommy.
"Mind your manners, young man. Maybe
Hansel is right. Maybe the Youths would do you good."
Jack’s eyes widened. "No! No, Mom, I
won’t join! That’s where I draw the line!" He shivered as he thought about
his and Rose’s narrow escape. "Those kids are Hitler, Jr.'s!"
"Thomas Ryan has joined."
"Well, I’m not Tommy, Mom, and you know
Dad wouldn’t want this! You know it!"
Gretel sighed. She should have known he would
use his father against her sooner or later. "Jack…your father’s not here.
Hansel is. If you must know, your father left us. He disappeared without a
trace. I haven’t heard from him since you were ten years old. It’s time for us
to move on."
"Fine. You move on! You don’t have to be
Dad’s wife anymore, but I’m still his son, and I believe the way he did, and
I’m not changing for anyone! Not even you!"
Gretel closed her eyes and took a deep
breath. She hated doing this with Jack. But she had no choice. She was going to
have to make Jack behave like the proper young man she knew he was.
"Jack…either you give up swing dancing or I will have no choice but to
sign you up for the Youths. The choice is yours."
Jack’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"B-but…no…you can’t…"
"I can and I will. Now I’ll give you
tonight and tomorrow morning to think about it. Remember, the decision is all
yours. Either way, you will behave yourself." That said, Gretel left the
room.
"I hate you!" Jack threw his pillow
at the closed door and glared at his surroundings. Give up swing? Was she mad?
Swing was the only way, besides his art, that he had to express himself. But he
wouldn’t join the Youths. He wouldn’t sell out like Tommy had. Sighing, he
picked up his portfolio, knowing that from now on, his art was going to be the
only way to work out his feelings and frustrations.