Albany Park (22 page)

Their pace slowed as they talked and smiled. Vic felt a stirring in his crotch, making it difficult to concentrate. He knew he should leave right then, but he couldn’t.

“I heard she’s very pretty and that since you met her you haven’t dated anyone else.”

“Well, let’s just say, I like her a lot and I’ve been pretty busy, so I haven’t had time to go out with other girls,” he answered. “And what about you, I understand he graduated from Von a few years ago and is a very
sharp guy
.”

“Yeah, you heard right. But what about you, I thought you had been going out with lots of girls until you met this one,” she teased.

“Like I said, talk to me a year from now,” he said, smiling and looking away.

She wanted to go on like this forever and he could tell by the way she was looking at him; she wanted to do more than talk. The flush of color on her face and the intimate way they had softly bumped a few times as they walked made him want to reach out and hold her hand.

Approaching the entrance to Shirley’s building, they continued chatting and he held the door for her. Once inside, she turned, her books clattering to the floor, and opened her arms to him as he held her face in his cupped hands, kissing her lightly. She held on and then put her arms around him and pulled him closer. He responded, gripping her tightly and opening his lips to her in a passionate kiss.

The familiar embrace was too much. He kissed her on the neck and then her ear and she hung on tighter, whispering, “Oh, Victor, I can’t control myself around you. I can already feel my panties
getting wet
.”

Breaking away, he picked up the books, and before he could hand them to her, she took his hand and led him up the stairs. At the door to her apartment, he stopped and kissed her again. Inside it was deathly quiet. She pulled him in and began tearing at his clothes; he helped her as they awkwardly fell to the floor. Kissing with a fierce passion, he peeled off her sweater. She sighed loudly, removing her slacks and panties in one motion as he busied himself discarding his clothing. Pulling her closer she moaned as he hovered above her, pushing his hardness into her gyrating hips in a rocking motion. Entering her slowly, with two deep thrusts, he pulled out quickly to fumble for his wallet.

“Don’t worry” she whispered, “I’ve got my diaphragm in from last night.”

He quickly entered her again as they clung tightly, making love to a gasping climax.

Lying on the floor, spent and partially clothed, he looked at her, a small crooked smile starting, and said, “You know, this wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Oh, shut up” she answered, trying to hold back her own smile. “You know I love you and can’t resist you. I’ve missed you, Victor. I don’t think I will ever be able to love anyone like I love you.”

Kissing her gently this time, he said, “Shirley, I’ve thought about you, too. It hasn’t been easy for me these last few years. Seeing you all the time and pretending you’re not there. Dammit, you confuse me. I’m afraid of you.”

“Look at us,” she giggled, looking at herself still wearing her bra and over at him in his half-buttoned shirt. As she picked up her panties and handed him his pants, they both laughed.

Tugging on their clothes, they touched, kissed and hugged each other. She noticed how his eyes focused on her and how gently he slowly caressed her arm. His voice was also more mature. At the same time, he was hypnotized by her soft lips and familiar fragrance that had always elicited such a strong attraction to her. Neither of them mentioned what had happened at the beginning of their sophomore year.

Buttoning his shirt, he began feeling uncomfortable and awkward, wanting to escape. It was hard to ignore what he had been through with her three years ago. At the same time, he couldn’t help how being with her was so natural and satisfying. He always found her attractive, but now she was a beautiful woman and he was a man who understood that they had not just made love. It was more than that.

Slowly they stood and finished dressing, Vic smiling sheepishly, cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets, then softly asking, “how’s your mother; I was always crazy about her.”

Smoothing her clothes, Shirley’s eyes sparkled and a broad smile crossed her face. “You were her favorite. Of all the boys I went out with, she always asks me about you. Once in awhile when I’m around and she bakes, she laughs and says, “Remember how Victor loved my
mondell
bread?” My sister Doris loved you too. You remember her, she went to school with your brother and used to tease me about you all the time, especially when we were still in grade school. She’s married now to Jerry Saltzman, he went to school with them. How about you, how are your sisters and brother?”

Before he could answer, Shirley’s mother came in, wearing a pair of light tan slacks with a matching cashmere sweater, her hair styled the same as Shirley’s. She looked more like her older sister than her mother.

“Well, it’s nice to see you again Victor. We’ve missed you. How is your family?” she inquired, softly touching his arm.

“Good, Mrs. Siegal,” he answered with a broad smile and briefly explained that his folks were fine and that his older sister was getting married. When she asked if he wanted to stay for dinner, he begged off and said it was time for him to leave. Shirley walked him to the door and he kissed her cheek lightly and waved as he said good-by to her mother.

After he left Mrs.Siegal cocked her head to the side with a small smile, she looked at Shirley. “What a nice boy, I always liked him and he’s better looking than ever.”

Shirley sighed. “Yeah Mom, I know.”

The next day in school, when a crowd gathered in the assembly hall, their eyes met for a moment but neither of them gave any indication of the day before. He looked her way and turned away when she glanced at him without any recognition. They also saw each other briefly at the prom and graduation a week later without speaking another word or offering any other recognition.

Chapter 12
 

The Monday after the fourth of July, Ben drove Shirley, Doris and Molly to Champaign-Urbana. They planned to check out the University of Illinois campus and arrange for Shirley’s housing for the coming semester. Registration was still six weeks away, but Shirley had received her acceptance letter in June and on Doris’s advice, it was decided that it would be wise to make arrangements early.

The family had been there twice before. The first time was when Doris enrolled and two years ago at her graduation. As they approached the vaguely familiar campus, Shirley leaned forward, her face almost out the window with wide open eyes and turning to see all the sights. Next to her Doris directed her attention to sights along with comments and memories of her college days.

“This is Greek Street, it has the best sorority and frat houses,” Doris said as they entered a long avenue of peaked two-and three-story buildings. Small shrubbery and ragged lawns with big open porches fronted large old houses with flags sporting Greek letters hung over the entrances. An assortment of old bikes, arranged haphazardly in racks, stood near the steps. Young men in shirt sleeves and cotton pants, and women in summer frocks or light blouses and cotton skirts, were walking and riding bicycles in all directions. Almost all were carrying books.

“Oh, please stop, Daddy, and park by SDT; we can go in and I’ll show you my old room,” Doris said, using a little girl voice and pointing to a large grey stucco home down the street.

Ben laughed. “Okay, okay; it’s that light colored one over there, isn’t it?” he said pointing his cigar at the house. .

Nodding agreement, Doris leaned out the window almost shouting, “C’mon Shirley, you too, Mom and Dad; I want to say hello to Mrs. Mason, the house mother, and introduce Shirley,”

As they got out of the car, two girls in shorts and white tennis shoes, sitting with their feet propped up on the short dark wooden fence surrounding the porch, jumped up and rushed to greet Doris.

“Hi, Sandy, did I hear right, that you’re the president of Sigma Delta Tau this year?” Doris said, hugging the tall, dark-haired girl with braids. “I see you’re taking courses this summer.”

“Yeah, me and Jackie are taking two education courses and hope to graduate early next spring,” she replied as the other girl, a tiny redhead in shorts, rushed to kiss Doris’s cheek.

“This is my sister Shirley. She’s a freshman and is gonna’ live in the dorm this year.”

“Hi,” Shirley said, smiling and offering a small wave as she bent to adjust the cuff on her jeans.

“Oh, terrific,” Jackie smiled back. “Be sure to let us know when you get here. Once the girls know you’re Doris’ sister I’m sure they’ll want to invite you to our rush.”

Shirley’s face brightened. “Really? Oh I’d love that.”

Mrs. Siegal, fussing with wrinkles in her light-colored slacks, stood next to her husband, holding his arm and smiling as she watched the girls. Arms folded, holding his cigar, Ben beamed.

“C’mon, Mom and Dad, meet Jackie Bernstein and Sandy Kaplan; they were pledges the year I graduated. Now they’re seniors.”

Doris guided Shirley and her folks into the house where they met a few other girls but didn’t get to see Mrs. Mason, who was out. Doris left a note, mentioning Shirley would be by to introduce herself in the fall.

The next stop was the Student Union. They had lunch in the large cafeteria and Doris gave them a short tour of the building. Everywhere they went, Doris greeted girls and boys whom she knew. Walking slowly and constantly turning to see students and what he thought were teachers, Ben shook his head. “I thought it was vacation time, what are all these people doing here?”

Doris chuckled, “It’s because there’s so many vets on the GI Bill and their wives or girlfriends who are in a hurry to graduate. They all want to go to school full-time. “

Ben nodded. “Humph, makes sense.”

“That’s partly how I graduated in just over three years, you know,” said Doris. “Doubling up on classes and going to summer school.”

The balance of the day, they toured the campus, Doris pointing out the Business, Liberal Arts, Law, Gymnasium and several other schools and buildings. The last stop was at a female dormitory where they made arrangements for Shirley to arrive in September.

For dinner, Doris insisted they go to Palumbo’s, her sorority’s’ favorite pizza place. “You’ll love it. Hardly a day went by without some of the girls ordering a pizza from there,” she explained.

In the morning Doris took them to the campus book store. Shirley bought an Illini pennant and an orange and blue coffee mug. Mrs. Siegal got a small ash tray with an Illini logo for her kitchen at home.

They returned to Chicago a little after eight. The phone was ringing, with Howie wanting to speak to Shirley.

The balance of the summer Shirley spent most of her time with her girlfriends at Foster Beach, or shopping with her Mother during the day. She saw Howie three or four nights a week, going to movies or dinners and dates with their friends. Howie persisted in trying to get her to change her mind about school and marrying him, but she resisted, begging him to give her a chance.

On Friday of the second week in August, she and Howie had gone to a late movie at the Uptown and parked afterward near the rocks at the entrance to the Harbor at Montrose Beach. It was a warm night with a mild breeze coming off the water. Families and couples were sitting on blankets scattered over the grassy incline leading to the water. Soft conversations mixed with occasional shouts and radio music filled the air. After a short walk to the water to watch the boats navigating the harbor, they returned to the car. He put the top up and they rolled up the windows for privacy. She took his hand and kissed it, pulling him to her. He resisted, taking his hand away and gripping the wheel.

“Howie, I love you,” she whispered. “Please trust me, my folks and I have dreamed about me going to college like they never could. I don’t want to disappoint them.”

“What about me? Don’t I count?” he said glumly.

“Champaign isn’t so far away; you can come down to visit and I’ll come home some weekends.”

“That’s bull,” he said, pulling away as he flipped his cigarette out the small triangular window vent and faced straight ahead.

“Please, Howie, don’t be mad; I love you and I want you,” she sighed, tickling his ear. Her other hand moved to his lap and
caressed him
.

She could feel him tense as a tight smile spread on his face. She continued moving her hand, applying some pressure while running the fingers of her other hand through his hair.

He maneuvered her around so he was able to reach under her skirt. Kissing her roughly, he pulled back smiling; she was not wearing underpants.

He quickly undid his zipper and slid under her.

“Oh, I love you, baby,” she growled, lowering onto him.

He moaned softly as she increased her tempo until he gasped a long soft “Aaaah!” Slowly, she ceased rocking, continuing to kiss him, gently whispering, “I love you. I love you, Howard Rabin.”

The ride home was quiet. She tried to snuggle close, but he pulled away, saying, “Not tonight; I don’t feel so good.”

Sliding to the side, she lit a cigarette. “C’mon, Howie, I can’t stand to see you this way.”

He didn’t answer, but turned the radio louder to pick up a Frankie Lane song.

After a fast kiss good night in the hallway, he quickly exited.

Over coffee the next morning Shirley told her Mother she had second thoughts about going away.

“Maybe I can go to school in the city, at Navy Pier or Roosevelt. Then I won’t have to leave Howie.”

Mrs. Siegal, pursed her lips, trying to form her words carefully. “Look, Shirley, if you’re ready, at your age, to rush into something as important as marriage, your father and I are going to be very disappointed. We’ve asked you to give school a year and now you’re ready to throw it away.”

“Oh Mom, I know, but I love him.”

“I don’t want to be around when you tell your father. He’ll have a fit.”

That afternoon, she called Howie and asked him to pick her up in the evening so they could talk. Reluctantly, he agreed and she met him downstairs at seven-thirty.