THE MIDNIGHT DANCE
By Mae Ondracek 5/17/02
Mary and Bob had been friends since kindergarten and it seemed right that they started going steady as soon as their parents would allow them too.
Mary, a petite 5’3” tall, had long auburn, naturally wavy hair. It framed her small pretty face and seemed to bring out the sparkle in her deep-brown eyes.
Mary had blossomed into a real beauty during her junior year in high school and Chuck Banner had tried unsuccessfully to get a date with her. For the past three years he had pestered her at least twice a week for a date. Mary was always polite when turning him down, telling him she couldn’t become interested in anyone else but Bob, they were a team. Sometimes Chuck would yell, “We’ll see about that!” as he stalked off.
Bob had encouraged Mary to date other boys, but she refused, saying they were bores, especially that Chuck Banner guy. Mary explained to Bob that she was afraid of Chuck, both for her sake and Bobs’.
Bob laughed and said, “He don’t dare hurt my little beauty. I’ll let him cut in at dances but that is all. He is just a big bully.”
Mary hated to even dance with Chuck and told him not to hold her so tight because it hurt her. Chuck would laugh, saying, “If Bob can do it, so can I,” as he pulled her tighter to him. Bob soon cut in and rescued Mary, as Chuck, with narrowed eyes, stood on the sidelines, glaring at them.
School was progressing rapidly and before they knew it, it was time for the Senior Prom. Mary had purchased a new dress and really felt like the princess that Bob always called her. When the band started playing “Forever Yours,” Bob leaned closer to Mary and proposed. She proudly accepted and everyone gathered around to exclaim over the beauty of the ring and to congratulate Bob and Mary. Showing off her diamond made her the happiest girl in school. All the girls were happy for her, if not a little jealous because she had something they longed for. Even some of the guys stopped Bob and Mary in the hall, at school, to exclaim how nice the ring was and to congratulate Mary and Bob. Only Chuck was still being difficult and a few times, said in a loud snarl, “You’ll be sorry!”
Mary now let the threats fly over her head. After Bob got his promotion and she graduated from beautician school, they would be married and buy that cute little cottage at the edge of town. Mr. & Mrs. Brown said they wouldn’t sell the house to anyone else, which made both Bob and Mary happy. It was a perfect home to raise children in and many times Bob and Mary planned how they would fix up the house and what furniture they would buy to spruce it up.
Time passed swiftly and soon graduation was over and summer was fast turning into fall. Walking hand-in-hand, Bob and Mary exclaimed over all the beautiful colors that were starting to show in the leaves. This was their favorite time of year and they would of liked to have their wedding now, but Mary wanted to finish school first. So they made plans for a January wedding instead.
In three weeks Mary would graduate as a full time hairdresser and work at Marie’s Place. Bob had already advanced to Assistant Manager at The Hardware Store and things seemed to be going their way.
The yearly Fall Festival Dance was fast approaching and Bob and Mary made plans to attend, although Mary, being the new girl, had to work late that evening and said she would meet Bob at the dance by ten o’clock.
As the big night approached, Bob tried to persuade Mary to let him wait for her and they could go together. She had insisted he should go to the dance and save a table for them, otherwise they would have to sit way in the back of the auditorium. Bob had to agree with her about that, because this was the last big fling before Christmas and everyone would be out in full force. Bob asked, “What time did you say you’d get to the dance?”
Mary thought a moment, then said, “I have it all figured out and if nothing goes wrong, I’ll meet you there at ten. Please, just get a good table for us.” She said, “I love you,” as she patted his cheek.
Bob gathered Mary into his arms and gave her a big hug and a lingering kiss, then whispered, “I wish we could go together, so I’d feel better about this. But I’ll be there waiting for you.”
He looked deep into her eyes as he added, “I can’t begin to tell you how much I love you.”
Before leaving for the dance, Bob stopped at Marie’s Place to see if Mary had any cancellations, then he could wait for her. After a quick kiss, she shooed him out the door, saying she’d see him at ten.
Ten o’clock came, 10:15 passed, and still no Mary. Bob was beginning to worry, as Mary was never late. He called Marie’s Place, no answer. He dialed Mary’s apartment, no answer. Maybe she had car trouble, he reasoned, and stayed off the phone in case she was trying to call him. At 10:30, Bob and a couple of his friends drove around town looking for Mary. They didn’t find her or her car, so they went back to the dance to wait.
At 11:45, Bob heard gasps from near the doorway and looked up to see a very disheveled Mary with dirt all over her, limping towards him. Her beautiful hair had been cut off even with her ears. Her formal was in shreds, barely attached to the waistband. Bob rushed to her and she fell into his arms. With gasping breaths, Mary asked some of Bobs’ friends to come near to hear her story.
Mary related how Chuck Banner was waiting outside her apartment as she was leaving for the dance. She tried to avoid him, but he shoved her into her car and growled, “Move over!”
He drove like a wild man out to Grovers’ Landing where he raped her, then cut off her hair, saying, “I’ll always have a part of you but Bob won’t.”
Chuck jumped into Mary’s car, backed over her pelvis, and then sped away, laughing like a mad man. Mary said she had prayed and willed herself to get to Bob before it was to late.
Mary whispered, “One last dance, Bob, before I go. Please ask them to play our favorite song, “Forever Yours.”
They hardly moved to the music, when Mary said, “It is time for me to go. I’ll always love you, Bob,” and she faded away, leaving Bob’s arms empty, holding nothing but air. Bob looked at his watch; it was 12:05 A.M. Everyone stared in amazement. Where had Mary gone?
Bob asked four of his friends to drive out to Grover’s Landing with him while another friend called the police, telling them what had happened.
When they arrived at Grover’s Landing, Bob and his friends stared in amazement when they seen Mary. How could she have been at the dance, when her mangled body lay here?
Bob knelt beside Mary’s body, weeping as he cradled her in his arms. He vowed, “I’ll always love only you, Mary.”