Read Online On Wings of the Morning by Dan Verner - Free Book Online Page B

the living room and indicated he should take a seat. Otto sat expectantly on the edge of the couch, waiting for Betty to come into the room.
    After a few minutes, she came down the stairs, wearing a green dress that matched the color of her car. Otto felt as if he couldn’t breathe as he stood up. Betty twirled around. “Do you like my dress, Otto? I decided not to wear the yellow one. I had it specially made to match the color of my car.”
    Otto gulped once. Betty was transformed. She had her hair piled on her head in the latest style worn by movie stars and she smiled radiantly. “You look swell, Betty. Everyone will be looking at you at the dance.”
    Betty laughed and took his hand. “We’re going to take some pictures first. I hope you don’t mind.” She led him into another large room which had floor-to-ceiling windows. Betty’s mother and father were waiting there. Her father shook Otto’s hand. He was holding a large complicated-looking camera like the ones the press used. “Good evening, Otto. It’s time for pictures!”
    Betty’s mother smiled at him and Otto bowed to her slightly. “Good evening Mrs. Ross, Mr. Ross.” Her mother looked like an older version of Betty, which only made sense, Otto thought.
    They stood in front of a fireplace on a back wall. “Move in closer,” Mr. Ross directed. “I don’t think you’ll bite each other.” They moved in closer; Otto put his arm around Betty’s shoulder and Betty put her arm around his waist. He felt faint.
    The flash on the camera went off what seemed like dozens of times. Otto had blue patches in his vision from the bright light. Finally Mr. Ross waved at them. “I got some good shots. Now you two kids run along and have a good time.”
    Betty went over and kissed her father and mother on the cheek. She came back to Otto and said, “Let’s go, shall we?” and offered him her arm.
    Otto took it and they went out the main hall. The maid he had seen earlier stood along with a man who was evidently a butler. They wished them well as they walked by. “Good night, Sarah; good night, James; don’t wait up for us!” Betty laughed again.
    They went over to Betty’s convertible. “I’ve left the top up so it won’t mess up my hair, but I’ll stop when we get close to the school and you can put it down. That way we can make a grand entrance.”
    “That would be great, Betty,” Otto said. He opened the driver’s door and Betty slid into place. She started the car as Otto went around and climbed in the passenger seat. They pulled down the long driveway and turned onto the main road which led to the school. It wasn’t far, and as the moon hung low on the horizon, Otto looked over at Betty and thought how pretty she was. Soon school would be over and they wouldn’t see each other every day. He would have to think of a way to see her as much as he could. Maybe he could visit the bank where she would be working as much as he could.
    They drove through town and Betty started to turn in at the high school. She had told Otto she had been at the school all day, decorating the gym for the dance. The theme was “Once Upon a Dream,” and the decorations featured white clouds and ideal landscapes. Betty pulled over before she got to the parking lot. “We can put the top down here. Would you get out and do that? Just undo these two latches and pull up and back. It folds into the little compartment you see and then the cover snaps over it.”
    Otto jumped out and folded the top back and secured it. He climbed back into his seat and looked at Betty. “Ready?” she smiled at him.
    “I’m ready,” he said.
    “Let’s do it, then,” and she moved the car toward the parking lot.
    A number of couples were gathered around the entrance to the gym to watch others come in. Betty caused quite a stir when she swept up to the curb in the green Packard with her gold hair shining. Otto felt proud to be sitting beside her.
    She stopped the car and Otto jumped out