Appointment in Samarra - John O'Hara [37]
He had enough sense or intuition not to try to talk much until they got out of the city. The heat was awful; it got up her nose, and everyone whose eyes met hers had a silly smile on his face that seemed to apologize for the weather. And she guessed she looked that way herself. They finally came to a place on Long Island which Joe told her was called Jones s Beach. How are you fixed for underwear? he said. Oh. So that s it?
Yes, I guess it is. I won’t go in unless you do.
Her heart was thumping and there was a shaking in her legs, but All right, she said. She never had seen a grown man with all his clothes off at one time, and when he walked away from his side of the car and stepped toward the water she was relieved to see that he was wearing shorts, part of his underwear. You go on in, she said. She wanted him to be in the water when she moved from the shelter of the car in her brassiere and step-ins. He got the idea and did not look until she was swimming a few yards away from him. What this is going to do to my hair, she said. Too late to worry about it now, he said. You cold?
Not now, she said. I should have built a fire. I didn’t think of it.
God, no! And have people see it and come running down? Gosh, I m glad you didn t.
He came out first. Better not stay in too long, he said. You can use my undershirt for a towel. He went back to the car and started the motor and held his undershirt, which was damp from perspiration, near the engine. Better come out now, he said. She came out, pulling her soaking step-ins about so as to get a maximum of modesty. Her brassiere was no good at all, and she was so angry at her swinging breasts that she wanted to cry; no matter how nice he was he couldn’t fail to notice her chest.
Don t be embarrassed, he said. I ve seen a naked woman.
Oh she mumbled. You haven t seen me. Or hadn t.
Please don t. You ll take the enjoyment out of the swim. Go on back and swim a little more and then come out without being self-conscious. Or anyhow, embarrassed. Go on.
She did as he said and felt better. She felt fourteen years old. Less. She bad not overcome her embarrassment, but she no longer was afraid. She dried herself with his warm undershirt. I don t know what I m going to do about my hair.
Here. He threw her a clean handkerchief. That ll help a little. It didn t. He gave her the coat of his dinner suit and made her put it on over her evening dress, and they had cigarettes and were only vaguely aware of the discomfort. I guess we could have saved all this trouble by going somewhere to a regular beach, or pool.
I m glad now we didn t, she said. Are you? That s what I wanted you to say.
Did you? I m glad I said it then.
He put his arm around her and tried to kiss her. No, she said. All right, he said. Don t spoil it, she added. It wouldn’t spoil it. Not now. At least I don t think so. I waited till you were dressed.
Yes, and I m glad you did. I like you for that, Joe. But even now. You know.
No, frankly. I don t know what you mean.
Yes, you do. You oh, hell.
Oh, you mean because I saw you without any clothes on.
Mm-hmm, she said, although up to then she had been thinking that technically he had not seen her without any clothes on. Now she wished she had been completely nude. It was something you had to get over, and with Joe it had been a grand chance. All right, he said, and took his arm away. They talked about her trip abroad. It was her first. He said he wished he were going with her, or could go in time to take her around Paris and so on, but he couldn’t make it; he had to be a good boy at the National City, because it was time he was getting somewhere and making some money. A crooked lawyer and his mother s stupidity had reduced his father s estate. So he was working for the National City, with an office in Reading and a salary that just proved to him how worthless he was. She couldn’t muster much pity for him; she had seen the Montgomery home, Mrs. Montgomery s Rolls. Well, this is all very nice, she said, but I think maybe we d better start back to town. How far is it?