Read Online Addie and the King of Hearts by Gail Rock - Free Book Online Page B

matter,” I said. “I didn’t even want to come to the dumb dance anyway.”
    â€œWell, I wish I hadn’t either,” he said. “I really feel stupid in this get-up.”
    â€œYes,” I said, looking at him. “It’s pretty childish.”
    Before he could reply the music stopped, and I quickly dropped his hand.
    â€œThanks,” he said, starting to walk me off the floor.
    â€œSure,” I said as I left him standing there and started toward Mr. Davenport.
    Now I was going to find out what it was he wanted to tell me. That, after all, was my only reason for coming to the dance.
    He smiled as I walked up to him.
    â€œHello, Addie,” he said. “You look wonderful.”
    â€œSo do you,” I blurted out. He was wearing a handsome blue suit and a wonderful tie with navy and red stripes. I was staring at it and wondering if I could remember just the color of blue to try in a painting of him when I realized he was introducing me to someone standing next to him. I looked up.
    â€œâ€¦ Kathleen Tate,” he was saying. “My fiancée.”
    I heard the word, but it didn’t register at first. I could see it in front of me. I knew it was a French word with two e’s at the end, an accent over the next to last one. I always won the spelling bee in our class.
    I was reaching out my hand to shake hands with her and saying, “Hello, nice to meet you,” but it seemed to be coming from somewhere else.
    â€œKathleen and I are going to be married this June when school’s out,” he said. “But don’t tell anyone yet; it’s still our secret. She’s teaching in Omaha. I wanted you two to meet. I knew you’d like each other.”
    Kathleen gave me a dazzling smile. She was beautiful.
    â€œI’m delighted to meet you, Addie,” she said. “Douglas has told me so much about you and your interest in art. I think you’re his favorite student!”
    â€œThank you,” I mumbled.
    â€œI hope you were coming over to ask me to dance, Addie,” said Mr. Davenport, smiling.
    â€œOh, yeah,” I said.
    He took my hand and we moved to the dance floor. I looked back at Kathleen. I knew I must be invisible next to someone as beautiful as she was, and I felt like a fool for trying so hard to look glamorous.
    â€œI’ve taken a job teaching in Kansas City for next year,” he was saying. “We finally found a place where we can both teach in the same school.”
    â€œOh, great,” I said numbly.
    When the music stopped, Mr. Davenport thanked me and started to walk me to the side of the dance floor, but I left him standing there and headed back for the corner by the record player where Carla Mae and some of the other girls were standing.
    Someone put on another record, and everyone moved to the floor to dance.
    â€œYou were dancing with Alan Ladd!” Carla Mae giggled.
    I was silent.
    â€œDid you see his girlfriend?” she said.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œIs she gorgeous? Oh, I’d give my arm to look like that.”
    â€œWell if you gave your arm, you wouldn’t look like that, would you?” I asked irritably.
    â€œWhat’s the matter with you?” she asked.
    â€œNothing!” I said angrily.
    Jimmy asked Carla Mae to dance, and they went out on the floor. I stood there by myself watching them. Billy and Tanya were dancing together again and so were Carolyn and Dick and my father and Irene. Mr. Davenport was dancing very close with Kathleen.
    I realized I was the only person there who wasn’t with someone. I was the only one alone. I suddenly felt everyone was watching me. I felt paralyzed. If I only had gloves or a handkerchief to fiddle with, something to look busy with. I bent over to fix the seam of one of my stockings and I heard someone whistle. Three of the boys in our class were sitting on the edge of the bleacher seats, watching me. They whistled again,