Appointment in Samarra - John O'Hara [38]
Oh, plenty of time. It isn’t far. I don t really know how far it is exactly. Let s not go back right away. You’re going away so soon, and for such a long time.
But I have so many things to do, she said. You ve no idea.
Oh, yes, I have. Turkish towels, six. Heavy woolen underwear, six. Handkerchiefs, twelve. Two sweaters. The school will supply sheets and bed linen, but we recommend, and so on. All marked with indelible ink or Cash s woven labels.
But I have. I have to
Parents are specially urged to exercise restraint in providing boys with pocket money. A dollar and a half a week will be sufficient for most needs.
Oh, Joe.
The use of motorcycles is absolutely prohibited.
What about cigarettes?
Members of the Upper Middler and higher forms are permitted to use tobacco on written permission of one or both parents.
I could tell you some you don t know, she said. Such as?
Oh girls schools.
Oh, that s easy. In cases where a girl is likely to be absent from class and other activities at frequent intervals during the school year, a letter from the family physician, addressed to the school nurse
That s enough, she said. She was embarrassed and angry with herself. Here she was, talking about the most intimate part of a woman s life, with a man whom she did not really know. It was the second time tonight that she had done a first thing with him: he was the first to see her with nothing on (she had well-founded misgivings about the protection the step-ins had given her), and he was the first to talk to her about That. She hated all the euphemisms for it, and when she thought of it she thought of it in the Bryn Mawr term: Off the sports list.
His arm was around her again and his head was close to hers. He thought she was angry with him, and for the moment she did not care; but then she rested her face on his shoulder, and she put up her mouth for the kiss and then she let herself coast with him. He took down her dress and kissed her breasts and she patted and rubbed his head. She waited without tension for what he would do next. She thought she knew what that would be, and she did not prepare to fight against it. But she was wrong. He suddenly slipped her shoulder straps up her arms and back where they belonged. Her breath was coming as though she had stopped running a few minutes ago, slowly and deeply. You virgin? he said. Yes, she said. Are you sure? Please tell me the truth.
Mm-hmm. I am.
Do you love me? he said. Yes, I think I do, Joe.
How old are you? he said. Twenty-five. Twenty-six soon. No. I am twenty-six.
Oh. Then you want to be a virgin when you get married. That s why you are now.
I guess so, she said. I don t know. She ran her teeth over her lower lip. It s never been like this before. She put her arm around his neck. He kissed her. Will you be engaged to me? he said. Is there anyone else?
No, there s no one else important right now.
Well?
Yes, she said. You don t want to announce it now, or anything like that, do you?
No. I suppose we d better be sensible and let you have your trip and two months away from me and see if you still love me.
Do you love me? she said. You haven t actually said so.
I love you, he said. And you’re the first girl I ve told that to in nineteen twenty-five eight years. Do you believe me?
It s possible, she said. Eight years. You mean since 1917. The war?
Yes.
What happened? she said. She was married, he said. Do you still see her?
Not for two years. She s in the Philippines. Her husband s in the Army and now they have three children. It s all over.
Would you marry me if I weren t a virgin?
I don t know. I honestly don t know: That wasn’t the reason I asked you if you were. I wanted to know because do you want me to tell you the truth?
Of course.
Well, I was going to ask you to spend the night with me if you weren t.
In which case you probably wouldn’t have asked me to marry you.
Maybe. I don t know. But I do want you to marry me. You will, won’t you? Don t get a yen for some Frenchman.
I won t. I almost wish I weren t going, but I guess it s a good thing I am. Her voice was low and dramatic. What makes you say it like that?