Read Online A Daughter's Choice by June Francis - Free Book Online Page B

Eileen to return. It was not long before she did. Katie wanted to ask her about the green-eyed youth but there was a tight expression on the Irish girl’s face which somehow put her off.
    As the evening wore on, the room became hot and crowded. The main band had a break and a younger group came on stage and eventually she got to dance because a bouncer ordered Dougie to take off his hat. As they jived Katie was aware of the green-eyed youth who had now taken to the floor with a girl whose hairstyle was startlingly like his. She wore a get-up much like the one waiting to see the light of day in Katie’s wardrobe and, oh, how she envied that girl as the green-eyed youth jived with her as if to the manner born! She found herself blushing as his gaze suddenly caught hers, and looked away.
    It was a relief when the last waltz was called and Katie glanced at her watch, wanting to dump Dougie as fast as she could. ‘It’s time we were going, I didn’t realise it was so late. I’m going to cop it!’ she said.
    â€˜Don’t be a wet,’ said Dougie, suddenly coming alive again and pulling her into his arms. ‘We might as well stay to the end and have a smooch.’
    â€˜But people are starting to leave.’
    â€˜Let them.’ He was suddenly very forceful.
    â€˜I’ll dance with you,’ said Eileen, flashing him a smile.
    He looked at her disparagingly and without a word dragged Katie on to the dance floor. ‘You could have danced with Eileen,’ she muttered. ‘That was unkind.’
    â€˜She’s a gooseberry. Why did she have to come with us?’ he muttered, and pressing Katie against him, slobbered all over her neck.
    After that she couldn’t get out and home quick enough but to her dismay the queue at the bus stop was enormous. ‘I’m walking,’ she said. ‘You coming, Eileen?’
    â€˜I’m coming too,’ said Dougie, draping an arm round Katie’s neck so she felt weighed down, much to her annoyance.
    They headed past the registrar’s office and the Hippodrome cinema towards Low Hill, accompanied by a stony-faced Eileen.
    They were not the only ones walking. Katie could hear snatches of conversation and songs from the hit parade.
    â€˜Lollipop’ mingled with Perry Como’s ‘Magic Moments’, as well as a duet rendition of ‘Hopalong Cassidy’. She guessed someone was taking the mickey out of Dougie and hoped he would ignore it, but some hope! Although it took a ‘Where did you get that hat?’ to make him turn and tell them to shurrup.
    â€˜The cowboy’s getting tough,’ said a girl’s amused voice.
    â€˜He’s not a cowboy,’ added a male one. ‘He’s just pretending.’
    â€˜You!’ said Dougie, clenching his fists. ‘I might have known it would be.’
    â€˜Psychic, are you?’ said Green-eyes.
    â€˜Perhaps he’s an alien if he’s not a cowboy?’ said the girl, whom Katie now recognised as the one wearing the satin blouse and tight skirt, the one Green-eyes had danced with. ‘You’d better watch it, Patrick. He might zap you.’
    â€˜Emperor Ming, you think?’ Patrick smiled at Katie before his eyes came to rest on the youth at her side.
    â€˜Oh, you’re so funny!’ said Dougie, taking a step forward. Katie moved in front of him, not wanting them to fight. He tried to dodge round her but she shifted with him. ‘Get out the way, Katie,’ he yelled. ‘I’m gonna punch him on the nose.’
    The other girl’s eyes widened. ‘Touchy, isn’t he? Will he remove his hat first?’
    â€˜Shut up, Bernie! Can’t you see he’s got no sense of humour?’ said Patrick, eyes gleaming in the lamplight. He doubled his fists. ‘Katie, let me at him.’
    â€˜No! You mustn’t fight,’ she said in a persuasive voice.
    â€˜No?’ He dropped his arms