THE HONORABLE JUDGE JIM HARLOW
Judge Jim Harlow walked down the sunny sidewalk in downtown Tulsa during a lunch break with District Attorney Stanley Connors. Jim and Stanley were good friends and went back several years. Their wives often exchanged recipes and the couples often had each other over for dinner. Having lunch with Stanley was a normal, daily occurrence for Jim.
What wasn't a normal occurrence, however, was Jim's exhaustion that day. His daughter's new dog had slept in their house, much to Jim's dismay, and the poor stray just wasn't used to being locked indoors. He supposed Bessie assumed that the mutt would stay glued to her side all night but, just like any other bachelor, the dog wasn't made for being tied down and he longed to be free.
Speaking of bachelors, Jim's mind wandered back to the appearance of Zac Hanson walking down his road a few days earlier and, more than he liked to admit it, the incident still bothered him. Why it bothered him, he hadn't a clue. He hadn't seen him since, nor had he seen either of his brothers or any other gypsies along the road, but that didn't mean it wouldn't happen eventually.
Interrupting his thoughts, Stanley remarked to him, "So Margaret saw Cathy and your girl in the department store yesterday. She says that girl of yours is growing up to be quite the looker."
Jim smiled into the air as they walked. "Yes, yes, she is growing up beautifully. I'm proud of my girl."
"You should be. Who's the lucky boy who gets to take her to the social Saturday night?"
Jim narrowed his eyes in confusion and he finally looked at his portly counterpart. "Social?"
"Yeah. The town social. It's this Saturday night. Did you forget already?"
"Sure..." Jim replied in thought. "It must have slipped my mind..."
"Margie's been talking nonstop since yesterday about regretting not having a daughter. She said she wished that she'd had the opportunity to buy our daughter a dress for the social, if we had one. I haven't heard the end of it. Lord forbid you try to convince her we're too old to have another one."
Jim smirked, attempting to keep his head in the conversation with Stanley. "I could imagine. So, you say Cathy bought Bessie a new dress, huh?"
"You didn't know?"
Jim finally sighed and adjusted the brim of his hat. "Stan, I don't know half of what goes on under my own roof anymore. Bessie's getting older and Cathy's getting saucier and everything just seems to be changing so fast. I feel like I'm losing control."
"Get it back," Stanley said simply. "You can't allow yourself to lose control of your own household. You built that family with your own bare hands. Women these days, young and old, they--they have all these new ideas in their heads now and it's just--it's just not proper. It's like they don't know their place anymore. Almost like there's something in the air or something."
"Well, I can't lock my daughter up, Stan. She's eighteen now. And I can already see her trying to rebel. Right now my main goal is to just keep her the same, sweet Bessie she's always been until she goes off to school. The last thing I need is for her to pick up any bad habits before she leaves home."
"I'm not sure you have to worry about that with Bessie," Stanley replied. "She's a real sweet girl. Polite, well-behaved...you did good, Jim. You raised her well."
"Sometimes I think I raised her too well."
"What's that mean?"
Jim sighed again. "It means...it means I feel like I'm sending her off to school right into the lion's den. I've been strict with her, Stan, kept her under...well, under my control. She'll have virtually no life experiences to speak of once she leaves home..."
"How much life experience does it take to become a teacher? I think you're worried over nothing. I think the way you raised her and the way you taught her is exactly what's going to keep her safe in that university. At least you know she won't be getting into any trouble."
"You're right about that," Jim agreed. The two men walked in silence for a moment as Jim's wheels continued to turn. His mind went right back to Zac. He just couldn't shake the thought. "Stan, what do you know about those Hanson boys? Specifically the youngest one?"
"Zac?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I don't know much more than you do. You're the one that's got the history with him, not me."
"You were his prosecution."
"The kid was guilty, what can I say?"
"So you don't know anything about him?"
Stanley shrugged his shoulders as they stopped at the corner to cross the street. "Not much, I guess. I know he keeps to himself most of the time, along with his brothers. You hardly ever see him around. And when you do, he seems to be pretty together. Seems like a good guy, I guess. I watched him help an old woman cross the street once, you know, that kinda thing."
"Yeah..." Jim agreed. "That's what I get out of him, too..."
"Oh! And I know this means nothing to you, but he has a dog, too. Probably why nobody messes with him. I know that's useless information, but I told you I don't know much about him--"
The hair on the back of Jim's neck stood on end and he looked at his friend, cutting off his speech. "Dog? What do you mean, he has a dog?"
Stanley shrugged. "I don't know the specifics. He's been seen around with a dog following him a few times. Just assume it's his."
Jim didn't want to know the answer to his next question, but he asked it anyway. "What does it look like?"
"A damn beast," Stanley chuckled. "It's a big fella. Brown, short hair...seems like a happy dog, though, tail's always in the air..."
Jim let Stanley ramble as his mind wandered off, putting together the pieces he wished he wasn't piecing together. It was all starting to make sense. Every bit of it, every bit of the last few days. Zac's appearance close to his house...Bessie's outburst at dinner about being unfair about the gypsies...a new dress and a dog. "Strays need homes, too," she'd said to him.
Jim swallowed hard at the realization. Bessie was seeing Zac Hanson. And Zac Hanson was escorting his daughter to Saturday night's social.
The judge really was losing control of his own household.
Zac was nearly eight years older than Bessie. That was only one of the reasons he wasn't good for her besides the obvious. Zac could be as good and as nice as he wanted all day long, but the truth was, he was as poor as it came. He lived in a travel trailer with no future to speak of. There was nothing he could offer his daughter. Nothing at all.
'Dammit, Bessie,' Jim cursed to himself. She'd never liked a boy before that Jim knew of. And he first one she picks is a destitute gypsy. A 'stray.' And if she fell in love with him, it was over. There would be nothing Jim could do to stop her.
He had to take care of this early.
"Stan, that boy of yours, Billy. Is he home for the summer?"
"Sure is," Stanley announced proudly. "He'll be the star of University of Oklahoma's football team for sure next year."
Jim nodded, pleased with what he expected to hear. "Grades still good?"
"Absolutely. He's still planning to transfer to Yale to continue with the family business. He wants to be an attorney just like his old man."
The judge smiled. "Good, good. Good to hear. Say, does he have a date to the social?"
"Sure does. Well, he almost does. He wants to ask Sue Wilkerson."
"Not sure who she is..."
"She's the treasurer's daughter. Real sweet girl."
"I'm sure. Say, why doesn't he take Bessie? He's a good boy, he'd be good for her."
"I thought she already had a date?"
"I think Billy would be a good date for her. Don't you think?"
"Well...yeah, I'm sure he would be...but like I said, he already wants to ask Sue Wilkerson--"
"But he hasn't asked her, yet."
"No..."
"So Billy and Bessie can go together."
After the two men had finally crossed the street, Stanley stopped and looked up at Jim. "The reason you're pushing for this so hard wouldn't have anything to do with that Zac fella you were asking about earlier, would it?"
Jim stared at Stanley for a moment before he replied, "I don't see any reason why Billy shouldn't take my daughter to the social."
Stanley eyed his friend suspiciously before a smirk crossed his face. "Zac Hanson is sweet on your girl, isn't he? And she's sweet on him. Is that what's going on here?"
"He's no good for her," Jim spat. "He has nothing going for him, what could he possibly offer my daughter?"
"Jeez, Jimbo, we're not talking about marriage or anything, we're talking about a little summer fling. I wouldn't get wrapped so tight about it."
"No. Not my Bessie. My daughter is destined for great things and that's the path she's going to continue to take. And your son is perfect for her. He's handsome, he's smart, he's athletic and talented...he's the perfect package. And Bessie's just right for him."
"I can't force my boy to ask a girl out. And to be honest, this whole thing just rubs me the wrong way--"
"You know what rubs me the wrong way, Stanley? My eighteen-year-old daughter running around and doing god knows what with a twenty-six-year-old man behind my back! That rubs me the wrong way. A twenty-six-year-old man who lives with gypsies and has the run of the town. There's no structure, there's no future, there's no--no. I will not allow her to get caught up in that. No, no, I think it would be best if she went to the social with your son. Maybe they'll like each other. Maybe...hell, maybe he'll help her forget about this little crush she has."
Stanley stared up at Jim for a moment in thought before he sighed in defeat. "Fine. Fine, you win, okay. I get it. Billy will take Bessie to the social Saturday night, you have my word."
Jim smiled and patted Stanley on the shoulder. "Thanks, Stan, I appreciate that. You've always been a good friend, you know that?"
"Yeah, yeah."
_______________________________________________________________________________
Judge Harlow drove home that afternoon at a snail's pace to see what he could see. If Bessie was really spending time with Zac Hanson, he just knew they couldn't be too far away.
However, the drive home proved to be silent and uneventful. He didn't even see an animal that day.
Dinner was quiet. Millie had stayed home this time. There was tension in the room and Jim hated it. He hated looking at his wife and his daughter, knowing they were keeping secrets from him. It angered him but, in a way, it made him feel self-conscious. He always believed he was a fair, trustworthy man. He was good to his family, provided them with everything they needed or wanted. Once upon a time, Bessie had worshipped the ground he walked on. But now? They didn't feel like they could come to him over a matter as simple as boy? Was he really that bad?
After dinner, Catherine took to her knitting and Bessie adjourned to her room. The judge had wanted to settle with his pipe and the newspaper but, instead, he decided to have a discussion with his daughter.
Knocking lightly on her bedroom door, she invited him in and he sat on the edge of her bed as she sat curled up with her sketch pad, Scout on the bed at her feet. He scratched Scout behind the ear and then he looked at Bessie. "So how was your day, sweetheart? I feel like we don't ever get to talk anymore."
"It was good," she replied, putting her sketch pad and pencil down. "How was yours?"
"Oh, it was the same old thing. Criminals come in, they face the consequences. Never a dull moment, I suppose." He pointed at her sketch pad. "What are you working on, there?"
"Nothing much," she replied. "Just sketching Scout while he's still. I've never seen a dog so hyper in my life!"
The judge chuckled and scratched the dog's ear again. "Yes, well, he's a happy dog, it seems. Say, where did you say you found him again?"
Bessie's eyes darted up into her father's. "Outside. He came up to me outside."
"That easy, huh? Just walked up to you?"
"Well...sort of. He was standing there and I called him over."
"Standing where?"
"Outside." Then she giggled. "I gave him a cookie and he hasn't left my side since."
"You had cookies outside?"
"Sure. Having a snack outside isn't uncommon. Daddy, are you feeling okay?"
Jim smiled weakly. "I'm feeling just fine, thank you for asking. Was there, uh, anyone else around when you found Scout, or were you alone?"
"There was nobody," she said, shaking her head. "Joey was out with his parents and Millie wasn't around. It was just me. If you don't mind me asking, why are you interrogating me?"
He chuckled loudly. "I'm not interrogating, dear. I'm just trying to...figure out the source of the dog."
"Why?"
"Because he's a good dog. And surely a good dog like this has to belong to someone. I wouldn't want to take him away from a family who loves him, you know?"
Bessie's face hardened all of a sudden. "He doesn't have another family. He's my dog now and he's happy here."
"Okay," Jim nodded, opting to keep the peace while it was there. "Okay, then. He can stay here, I was just making sure. So, listen, Bessie...how would you like to go to the town social Saturday night?"
At this, Bessie's eyes lit up and she sat up straighter on her bed. "Oh, Daddy, that would be wonderful! Mama already bought me a dress so I can go--"
"Well, surely, you weren't planning to go alone..."
"Well--well, no, of course not--"
"Good," the judge beamed. "Because I found you a date."
His daughter looked as if she'd been deflated. He hated to see her so dejected but he convinced himself that one of these days she would look back on it and realize that this was for her own good. "You...you found me a date?"
"Yes. Stanley Connors's son, Billy. Plays football for University of Tulsa. He's not much older than you. Twenty-one, I think."
"Billy Connors," she gaped at him. "You want me to go with Billy Connors?"
"It's not a matter of whether I want you to go with him or not. I got wind that he wanted to ask you. Had his daddy ask me first. Thought that was real noble of him." This was a lie and he knew it. He hated lying to his daughter, but he knew she'd never be none the wiser. And again, it was for her own good.
"Well--well, what if I say no?"
Jim was taken aback for a moment. "No? Why would you say no? He's the perfect boy, he's handsome and he's talented, and he'll be going to law school--"
"Billy Connors is a pig, Daddy. Everybody knows it. Remember when he came to dinner with his parents a few months ago when he came home from school for the weekend? He tried to mess with my feet under the table and he kept making faces at me--"
"Well, he's a tall boy, Bessie, those things are gonna happen under a table, you just have to tuck your feet underneath your chair--"
"I appreciate you allowing me to go to the social, Daddy, but I won't go with him. When he asks me, I'm gonna tell him no. I don't like him."
"Give him a chance, Bess, he's been gone for awhile. He's a young man, they like to joke around. Don't take it personal. I really think you'll like him."
"I know for a fact that I won't."
"Why?" He tested her.
"Because I just told you why, Daddy! He has a reputation--"
"You can't go by hearsay, Bessie. And I'm sorry, but going with Billy Connors is the only way I'm allowing you to go to this social."
"Then I don't want to go," she said, defiantly. "Won't hurt my feelings to miss it."
"You're already committed to going with Billy and it's rude to break a commitment. Saturday night you're going to the social with Billy Connors and that's final. It'll be your first date, you should be happy."
Bessie gaped at her father, the blood draining from her face. "Committed? You just told me he was going to ask me--"
"And I told you his father asked me first and I already said yes. And that's final. You'll have fun, I promise."
With that, he patted his daughter's knee and left her bedroom.
___________________________________________________________________________________
When her husband came out of their daughter's bedroom, Catherine stood before him, her arms crossed over her chest. He stopped short when he saw her and the expression on her face. "Of all the despicable things for you to do, Jim. Of all the despicable things..."
"How would I know it's despicable when my wife and my daughter are keeping secrets from me?" He hissed.
Leading her husband down the hallway to their bedroom, he followed her inside and she closed the door behind them. "Nobody wanted to keep anything from you. But you're being completely irrational. Like I told you, she's growing up, Jim. She's going to like boys. And the only reason she hasn't yet is because you've done such a good job making sure it doesn't happen!"
"Oh, please, Cathy, I didn't keep her from anything. If anything, I taught her exactly which boys were the right ones and yet she still--she--Cathy, I know. Okay? I know. I know she's seeing that Zac Hanson guy and I don't like it!"
"She's eighteen years old. It's not really for you to like anymore--"
"And, you! You are my wife! My partner, my lover, my mate--you knew! You kept this from me--"
"It's not my place to meddle in our adult daughter's personal business."
"Adult or not, she is still living under MY roof and while she's under my roof, she will abide by my rules! And that's final!"
"That right there, Jim. Keep it up. It's that right there that's going to run her out of this house. She likes this boy, Jim. He was going to take her to the dance and she was excited about it. I, personally, don't see anything wrong with it."
"That is no boy, Cathy, that is a man. At least there's only a three-year difference with Billy Connors and he has a future ahead of him. That's the kind of boy our daughter needs, not the kind who has nothing going for him."
"You act like she's going to run off and marry him or something! This is the first boy she's ever liked. It won't end with him, there will be others. She's about to leave him to go off to school anyway. And right now she's happy. Don't you want her last couple of months here at home to be happy? If you keep up this attitude, Jim, she's gonna run right off with that boy and then what? It would have been your fault, not his."
"Are you saying I should let this happen? Are you saying I should let this man, this--this gypsy, who has lived a life of sin and debauchery--and who has been to jail three times, let's not forget--to be alone with our sweet, innocent daughter and have a negative influence on her? Absolutely not. I will not let that happen."
"Do you remember what happened when my father had some of the same feelings about you, Jim? Do you? I married you. That's what happened. And what happens then, Jim? What happens if she actually does fall in love with Zac? What happens if she marries him? Are you going to disown her? Are you going to be a sourpuss for the rest of your life over it just like my father was? All you should want for your daughter is her happiness. And if a poor gypsy makes her happy, well...who are we to stand in her way?"
"Cathy, are you--are you hearing yourself? You're willing to let our daughter grow up poor and homeless for love?"
"I didn't marry you for money, Jim, it'd do you good to think about that. I had much richer men than you knocking down my door, that's what. While you sat in college with your studies, men who were already attorneys and business owners were already trying to court me. But I fell in love with you. I loved you when you were nobody and I love you still. How dare you be such a bigot?" She then walked around him and jerked their bedroom door open. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and console our daughter, who is likely devastated and in tears because of your unreasonable behavior."
*****************
Catherine Harlow marched down the hallway and stopped at Bessie's door, opening it gently. Her heart broke at the sight before her. Bessie lay on the bed on her stomach, hugging her new dog's neck and bawling into his fur. Crossing the room and sitting on the edge of the bed, Catherine stroked her daughter's hair and said to her softly, "Bessie."
Bessie looked up and sniffed, wiping her tears with her arm. "It's not fair, Mama. It's not fair. He told me it was rude to break a commitment, but I already made one to Zac, so either way I'm still being rude."
Catherine looked at her and took a deep breath, carefully planning her next words. Taking Bessie by the hand, she looked at her and said, "Sweetheart, I didn't come in here to tell you that you should disobey your father."
"Mama--"
"I know," she replied. "I know. But you've been seeing a lot of Zac the past couple of days and I think--well, maybe it will be good for you to go to the dance with Billy Connors. Maybe you'll like him."
"Mama, I won't. I won't like him. Zac asked me to the social and I said yes and I don't want to go with anyone else but him. Ever!"
"Oh, Bessie," Catherine shook her head. "Sweetheart, you're going to have to give other boys a chance eventually. And, look, Billy will be at the university with you in the fall. Wouldn't it be nice to go to school and already know someone?"
"I'll know Millie and Judith."
"Well...maybe it would be good to have someone like Billy in your court when you go."
"Someone like Billy?"
"Well, he's the star of the football team. He's popular, he's smart--he's a good boy."
"Mama! I'm eighteen years old! Why is everyone treating me like a child? So what if I've never expressed interest in a boy before? I've fancied plenty of them. Just because I never had a boyfriend doesn't mean--I mean, what boy wants to come face-to-face with my father? But Zac likes me. He doesn't care, he's not afraid of Daddy! I don't know why you and Daddy are all of a sudden trying to get me to see other boys when I only want to see one. It doesn't make sense! I'm not a child anymore!"
"Bessie, I realize that," Catherine said, keeping calm. "But this time I think it would be a good idea to just humor your father."
Bessie's jaw dropped. "You just bought me a dress to wear out with Zac! Now you're taking Daddy's side?"
Catherine sighed, standing up from the bed. "I'm going to leave you alone now. I think you need some time to yourself. Once you've settled, you can start packing yourself a suitcase. Your father took a couple of days off of work so that we could go with Millie and her parents to visit your grandparents."
Her daughter looked as if her entire world had been shattered and Catherine's heart broke for her. She understood what Bessie was feeling. She knew just two days would feel like two hundred years. "We're leaving just before lunch. And I don't think the dog can come with us. Also, my good picnic basket would be nice to have on this trip."
With that, Catherine winked and left her daughter's bedroom.
Judge Jim Harlow walked down the sunny sidewalk in downtown Tulsa during a lunch break with District Attorney Stanley Connors. Jim and Stanley were good friends and went back several years. Their wives often exchanged recipes and the couples often had each other over for dinner. Having lunch with Stanley was a normal, daily occurrence for Jim.
What wasn't a normal occurrence, however, was Jim's exhaustion that day. His daughter's new dog had slept in their house, much to Jim's dismay, and the poor stray just wasn't used to being locked indoors. He supposed Bessie assumed that the mutt would stay glued to her side all night but, just like any other bachelor, the dog wasn't made for being tied down and he longed to be free.
Speaking of bachelors, Jim's mind wandered back to the appearance of Zac Hanson walking down his road a few days earlier and, more than he liked to admit it, the incident still bothered him. Why it bothered him, he hadn't a clue. He hadn't seen him since, nor had he seen either of his brothers or any other gypsies along the road, but that didn't mean it wouldn't happen eventually.
Interrupting his thoughts, Stanley remarked to him, "So Margaret saw Cathy and your girl in the department store yesterday. She says that girl of yours is growing up to be quite the looker."
Jim smiled into the air as they walked. "Yes, yes, she is growing up beautifully. I'm proud of my girl."
"You should be. Who's the lucky boy who gets to take her to the social Saturday night?"
Jim narrowed his eyes in confusion and he finally looked at his portly counterpart. "Social?"
"Yeah. The town social. It's this Saturday night. Did you forget already?"
"Sure..." Jim replied in thought. "It must have slipped my mind..."
"Margie's been talking nonstop since yesterday about regretting not having a daughter. She said she wished that she'd had the opportunity to buy our daughter a dress for the social, if we had one. I haven't heard the end of it. Lord forbid you try to convince her we're too old to have another one."
Jim smirked, attempting to keep his head in the conversation with Stanley. "I could imagine. So, you say Cathy bought Bessie a new dress, huh?"
"You didn't know?"
Jim finally sighed and adjusted the brim of his hat. "Stan, I don't know half of what goes on under my own roof anymore. Bessie's getting older and Cathy's getting saucier and everything just seems to be changing so fast. I feel like I'm losing control."
"Get it back," Stanley said simply. "You can't allow yourself to lose control of your own household. You built that family with your own bare hands. Women these days, young and old, they--they have all these new ideas in their heads now and it's just--it's just not proper. It's like they don't know their place anymore. Almost like there's something in the air or something."
"Well, I can't lock my daughter up, Stan. She's eighteen now. And I can already see her trying to rebel. Right now my main goal is to just keep her the same, sweet Bessie she's always been until she goes off to school. The last thing I need is for her to pick up any bad habits before she leaves home."
"I'm not sure you have to worry about that with Bessie," Stanley replied. "She's a real sweet girl. Polite, well-behaved...you did good, Jim. You raised her well."
"Sometimes I think I raised her too well."
"What's that mean?"
Jim sighed again. "It means...it means I feel like I'm sending her off to school right into the lion's den. I've been strict with her, Stan, kept her under...well, under my control. She'll have virtually no life experiences to speak of once she leaves home..."
"How much life experience does it take to become a teacher? I think you're worried over nothing. I think the way you raised her and the way you taught her is exactly what's going to keep her safe in that university. At least you know she won't be getting into any trouble."
"You're right about that," Jim agreed. The two men walked in silence for a moment as Jim's wheels continued to turn. His mind went right back to Zac. He just couldn't shake the thought. "Stan, what do you know about those Hanson boys? Specifically the youngest one?"
"Zac?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I don't know much more than you do. You're the one that's got the history with him, not me."
"You were his prosecution."
"The kid was guilty, what can I say?"
"So you don't know anything about him?"
Stanley shrugged his shoulders as they stopped at the corner to cross the street. "Not much, I guess. I know he keeps to himself most of the time, along with his brothers. You hardly ever see him around. And when you do, he seems to be pretty together. Seems like a good guy, I guess. I watched him help an old woman cross the street once, you know, that kinda thing."
"Yeah..." Jim agreed. "That's what I get out of him, too..."
"Oh! And I know this means nothing to you, but he has a dog, too. Probably why nobody messes with him. I know that's useless information, but I told you I don't know much about him--"
The hair on the back of Jim's neck stood on end and he looked at his friend, cutting off his speech. "Dog? What do you mean, he has a dog?"
Stanley shrugged. "I don't know the specifics. He's been seen around with a dog following him a few times. Just assume it's his."
Jim didn't want to know the answer to his next question, but he asked it anyway. "What does it look like?"
"A damn beast," Stanley chuckled. "It's a big fella. Brown, short hair...seems like a happy dog, though, tail's always in the air..."
Jim let Stanley ramble as his mind wandered off, putting together the pieces he wished he wasn't piecing together. It was all starting to make sense. Every bit of it, every bit of the last few days. Zac's appearance close to his house...Bessie's outburst at dinner about being unfair about the gypsies...a new dress and a dog. "Strays need homes, too," she'd said to him.
Jim swallowed hard at the realization. Bessie was seeing Zac Hanson. And Zac Hanson was escorting his daughter to Saturday night's social.
The judge really was losing control of his own household.
Zac was nearly eight years older than Bessie. That was only one of the reasons he wasn't good for her besides the obvious. Zac could be as good and as nice as he wanted all day long, but the truth was, he was as poor as it came. He lived in a travel trailer with no future to speak of. There was nothing he could offer his daughter. Nothing at all.
'Dammit, Bessie,' Jim cursed to himself. She'd never liked a boy before that Jim knew of. And he first one she picks is a destitute gypsy. A 'stray.' And if she fell in love with him, it was over. There would be nothing Jim could do to stop her.
He had to take care of this early.
"Stan, that boy of yours, Billy. Is he home for the summer?"
"Sure is," Stanley announced proudly. "He'll be the star of University of Oklahoma's football team for sure next year."
Jim nodded, pleased with what he expected to hear. "Grades still good?"
"Absolutely. He's still planning to transfer to Yale to continue with the family business. He wants to be an attorney just like his old man."
The judge smiled. "Good, good. Good to hear. Say, does he have a date to the social?"
"Sure does. Well, he almost does. He wants to ask Sue Wilkerson."
"Not sure who she is..."
"She's the treasurer's daughter. Real sweet girl."
"I'm sure. Say, why doesn't he take Bessie? He's a good boy, he'd be good for her."
"I thought she already had a date?"
"I think Billy would be a good date for her. Don't you think?"
"Well...yeah, I'm sure he would be...but like I said, he already wants to ask Sue Wilkerson--"
"But he hasn't asked her, yet."
"No..."
"So Billy and Bessie can go together."
After the two men had finally crossed the street, Stanley stopped and looked up at Jim. "The reason you're pushing for this so hard wouldn't have anything to do with that Zac fella you were asking about earlier, would it?"
Jim stared at Stanley for a moment before he replied, "I don't see any reason why Billy shouldn't take my daughter to the social."
Stanley eyed his friend suspiciously before a smirk crossed his face. "Zac Hanson is sweet on your girl, isn't he? And she's sweet on him. Is that what's going on here?"
"He's no good for her," Jim spat. "He has nothing going for him, what could he possibly offer my daughter?"
"Jeez, Jimbo, we're not talking about marriage or anything, we're talking about a little summer fling. I wouldn't get wrapped so tight about it."
"No. Not my Bessie. My daughter is destined for great things and that's the path she's going to continue to take. And your son is perfect for her. He's handsome, he's smart, he's athletic and talented...he's the perfect package. And Bessie's just right for him."
"I can't force my boy to ask a girl out. And to be honest, this whole thing just rubs me the wrong way--"
"You know what rubs me the wrong way, Stanley? My eighteen-year-old daughter running around and doing god knows what with a twenty-six-year-old man behind my back! That rubs me the wrong way. A twenty-six-year-old man who lives with gypsies and has the run of the town. There's no structure, there's no future, there's no--no. I will not allow her to get caught up in that. No, no, I think it would be best if she went to the social with your son. Maybe they'll like each other. Maybe...hell, maybe he'll help her forget about this little crush she has."
Stanley stared up at Jim for a moment in thought before he sighed in defeat. "Fine. Fine, you win, okay. I get it. Billy will take Bessie to the social Saturday night, you have my word."
Jim smiled and patted Stanley on the shoulder. "Thanks, Stan, I appreciate that. You've always been a good friend, you know that?"
"Yeah, yeah."
_______________________________________________________________________________
Judge Harlow drove home that afternoon at a snail's pace to see what he could see. If Bessie was really spending time with Zac Hanson, he just knew they couldn't be too far away.
However, the drive home proved to be silent and uneventful. He didn't even see an animal that day.
Dinner was quiet. Millie had stayed home this time. There was tension in the room and Jim hated it. He hated looking at his wife and his daughter, knowing they were keeping secrets from him. It angered him but, in a way, it made him feel self-conscious. He always believed he was a fair, trustworthy man. He was good to his family, provided them with everything they needed or wanted. Once upon a time, Bessie had worshipped the ground he walked on. But now? They didn't feel like they could come to him over a matter as simple as boy? Was he really that bad?
After dinner, Catherine took to her knitting and Bessie adjourned to her room. The judge had wanted to settle with his pipe and the newspaper but, instead, he decided to have a discussion with his daughter.
Knocking lightly on her bedroom door, she invited him in and he sat on the edge of her bed as she sat curled up with her sketch pad, Scout on the bed at her feet. He scratched Scout behind the ear and then he looked at Bessie. "So how was your day, sweetheart? I feel like we don't ever get to talk anymore."
"It was good," she replied, putting her sketch pad and pencil down. "How was yours?"
"Oh, it was the same old thing. Criminals come in, they face the consequences. Never a dull moment, I suppose." He pointed at her sketch pad. "What are you working on, there?"
"Nothing much," she replied. "Just sketching Scout while he's still. I've never seen a dog so hyper in my life!"
The judge chuckled and scratched the dog's ear again. "Yes, well, he's a happy dog, it seems. Say, where did you say you found him again?"
Bessie's eyes darted up into her father's. "Outside. He came up to me outside."
"That easy, huh? Just walked up to you?"
"Well...sort of. He was standing there and I called him over."
"Standing where?"
"Outside." Then she giggled. "I gave him a cookie and he hasn't left my side since."
"You had cookies outside?"
"Sure. Having a snack outside isn't uncommon. Daddy, are you feeling okay?"
Jim smiled weakly. "I'm feeling just fine, thank you for asking. Was there, uh, anyone else around when you found Scout, or were you alone?"
"There was nobody," she said, shaking her head. "Joey was out with his parents and Millie wasn't around. It was just me. If you don't mind me asking, why are you interrogating me?"
He chuckled loudly. "I'm not interrogating, dear. I'm just trying to...figure out the source of the dog."
"Why?"
"Because he's a good dog. And surely a good dog like this has to belong to someone. I wouldn't want to take him away from a family who loves him, you know?"
Bessie's face hardened all of a sudden. "He doesn't have another family. He's my dog now and he's happy here."
"Okay," Jim nodded, opting to keep the peace while it was there. "Okay, then. He can stay here, I was just making sure. So, listen, Bessie...how would you like to go to the town social Saturday night?"
At this, Bessie's eyes lit up and she sat up straighter on her bed. "Oh, Daddy, that would be wonderful! Mama already bought me a dress so I can go--"
"Well, surely, you weren't planning to go alone..."
"Well--well, no, of course not--"
"Good," the judge beamed. "Because I found you a date."
His daughter looked as if she'd been deflated. He hated to see her so dejected but he convinced himself that one of these days she would look back on it and realize that this was for her own good. "You...you found me a date?"
"Yes. Stanley Connors's son, Billy. Plays football for University of Tulsa. He's not much older than you. Twenty-one, I think."
"Billy Connors," she gaped at him. "You want me to go with Billy Connors?"
"It's not a matter of whether I want you to go with him or not. I got wind that he wanted to ask you. Had his daddy ask me first. Thought that was real noble of him." This was a lie and he knew it. He hated lying to his daughter, but he knew she'd never be none the wiser. And again, it was for her own good.
"Well--well, what if I say no?"
Jim was taken aback for a moment. "No? Why would you say no? He's the perfect boy, he's handsome and he's talented, and he'll be going to law school--"
"Billy Connors is a pig, Daddy. Everybody knows it. Remember when he came to dinner with his parents a few months ago when he came home from school for the weekend? He tried to mess with my feet under the table and he kept making faces at me--"
"Well, he's a tall boy, Bessie, those things are gonna happen under a table, you just have to tuck your feet underneath your chair--"
"I appreciate you allowing me to go to the social, Daddy, but I won't go with him. When he asks me, I'm gonna tell him no. I don't like him."
"Give him a chance, Bess, he's been gone for awhile. He's a young man, they like to joke around. Don't take it personal. I really think you'll like him."
"I know for a fact that I won't."
"Why?" He tested her.
"Because I just told you why, Daddy! He has a reputation--"
"You can't go by hearsay, Bessie. And I'm sorry, but going with Billy Connors is the only way I'm allowing you to go to this social."
"Then I don't want to go," she said, defiantly. "Won't hurt my feelings to miss it."
"You're already committed to going with Billy and it's rude to break a commitment. Saturday night you're going to the social with Billy Connors and that's final. It'll be your first date, you should be happy."
Bessie gaped at her father, the blood draining from her face. "Committed? You just told me he was going to ask me--"
"And I told you his father asked me first and I already said yes. And that's final. You'll have fun, I promise."
With that, he patted his daughter's knee and left her bedroom.
___________________________________________________________________________________
When her husband came out of their daughter's bedroom, Catherine stood before him, her arms crossed over her chest. He stopped short when he saw her and the expression on her face. "Of all the despicable things for you to do, Jim. Of all the despicable things..."
"How would I know it's despicable when my wife and my daughter are keeping secrets from me?" He hissed.
Leading her husband down the hallway to their bedroom, he followed her inside and she closed the door behind them. "Nobody wanted to keep anything from you. But you're being completely irrational. Like I told you, she's growing up, Jim. She's going to like boys. And the only reason she hasn't yet is because you've done such a good job making sure it doesn't happen!"
"Oh, please, Cathy, I didn't keep her from anything. If anything, I taught her exactly which boys were the right ones and yet she still--she--Cathy, I know. Okay? I know. I know she's seeing that Zac Hanson guy and I don't like it!"
"She's eighteen years old. It's not really for you to like anymore--"
"And, you! You are my wife! My partner, my lover, my mate--you knew! You kept this from me--"
"It's not my place to meddle in our adult daughter's personal business."
"Adult or not, she is still living under MY roof and while she's under my roof, she will abide by my rules! And that's final!"
"That right there, Jim. Keep it up. It's that right there that's going to run her out of this house. She likes this boy, Jim. He was going to take her to the dance and she was excited about it. I, personally, don't see anything wrong with it."
"That is no boy, Cathy, that is a man. At least there's only a three-year difference with Billy Connors and he has a future ahead of him. That's the kind of boy our daughter needs, not the kind who has nothing going for him."
"You act like she's going to run off and marry him or something! This is the first boy she's ever liked. It won't end with him, there will be others. She's about to leave him to go off to school anyway. And right now she's happy. Don't you want her last couple of months here at home to be happy? If you keep up this attitude, Jim, she's gonna run right off with that boy and then what? It would have been your fault, not his."
"Are you saying I should let this happen? Are you saying I should let this man, this--this gypsy, who has lived a life of sin and debauchery--and who has been to jail three times, let's not forget--to be alone with our sweet, innocent daughter and have a negative influence on her? Absolutely not. I will not let that happen."
"Do you remember what happened when my father had some of the same feelings about you, Jim? Do you? I married you. That's what happened. And what happens then, Jim? What happens if she actually does fall in love with Zac? What happens if she marries him? Are you going to disown her? Are you going to be a sourpuss for the rest of your life over it just like my father was? All you should want for your daughter is her happiness. And if a poor gypsy makes her happy, well...who are we to stand in her way?"
"Cathy, are you--are you hearing yourself? You're willing to let our daughter grow up poor and homeless for love?"
"I didn't marry you for money, Jim, it'd do you good to think about that. I had much richer men than you knocking down my door, that's what. While you sat in college with your studies, men who were already attorneys and business owners were already trying to court me. But I fell in love with you. I loved you when you were nobody and I love you still. How dare you be such a bigot?" She then walked around him and jerked their bedroom door open. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and console our daughter, who is likely devastated and in tears because of your unreasonable behavior."
*****************
Catherine Harlow marched down the hallway and stopped at Bessie's door, opening it gently. Her heart broke at the sight before her. Bessie lay on the bed on her stomach, hugging her new dog's neck and bawling into his fur. Crossing the room and sitting on the edge of the bed, Catherine stroked her daughter's hair and said to her softly, "Bessie."
Bessie looked up and sniffed, wiping her tears with her arm. "It's not fair, Mama. It's not fair. He told me it was rude to break a commitment, but I already made one to Zac, so either way I'm still being rude."
Catherine looked at her and took a deep breath, carefully planning her next words. Taking Bessie by the hand, she looked at her and said, "Sweetheart, I didn't come in here to tell you that you should disobey your father."
"Mama--"
"I know," she replied. "I know. But you've been seeing a lot of Zac the past couple of days and I think--well, maybe it will be good for you to go to the dance with Billy Connors. Maybe you'll like him."
"Mama, I won't. I won't like him. Zac asked me to the social and I said yes and I don't want to go with anyone else but him. Ever!"
"Oh, Bessie," Catherine shook her head. "Sweetheart, you're going to have to give other boys a chance eventually. And, look, Billy will be at the university with you in the fall. Wouldn't it be nice to go to school and already know someone?"
"I'll know Millie and Judith."
"Well...maybe it would be good to have someone like Billy in your court when you go."
"Someone like Billy?"
"Well, he's the star of the football team. He's popular, he's smart--he's a good boy."
"Mama! I'm eighteen years old! Why is everyone treating me like a child? So what if I've never expressed interest in a boy before? I've fancied plenty of them. Just because I never had a boyfriend doesn't mean--I mean, what boy wants to come face-to-face with my father? But Zac likes me. He doesn't care, he's not afraid of Daddy! I don't know why you and Daddy are all of a sudden trying to get me to see other boys when I only want to see one. It doesn't make sense! I'm not a child anymore!"
"Bessie, I realize that," Catherine said, keeping calm. "But this time I think it would be a good idea to just humor your father."
Bessie's jaw dropped. "You just bought me a dress to wear out with Zac! Now you're taking Daddy's side?"
Catherine sighed, standing up from the bed. "I'm going to leave you alone now. I think you need some time to yourself. Once you've settled, you can start packing yourself a suitcase. Your father took a couple of days off of work so that we could go with Millie and her parents to visit your grandparents."
Her daughter looked as if her entire world had been shattered and Catherine's heart broke for her. She understood what Bessie was feeling. She knew just two days would feel like two hundred years. "We're leaving just before lunch. And I don't think the dog can come with us. Also, my good picnic basket would be nice to have on this trip."
With that, Catherine winked and left her daughter's bedroom.