Pearl put it atop the player and sang along to the spirited tune, not missing a word, snapping her fingers, the clinking of charms adding to each beat. I tapped my feet and tried to hum along to the joyful melody.
We played a few more records, and Pearl offered me another drink. It was warm and soothed the aches from somewhere deeper than bruised flesh. I accepted, laughing a little uneasily, knowing my folk wouldn’t be so amused. I dug into the record case and pulled out one that said Nat King Cole “Unforgettable” and handed it to her.
Pearl played the lonesome song. Partway through, she said, “Honey, did you ever have a boyfriend?”
“No.” I paused a second, wondering why she asked, then took a gulp. “But Carson asked for my hand in March.”
Her eyes widened. “Carson Smith? Do tell.”
“He’s a fine friend. And only that. He wanted to save me from the House of Reform.”
“I would be tempted because—” Pearl paused, looking a bit uncomfortable.
I cocked my head, waiting.
“Well, one of the boys back home was sent there after he stole some penny candy from Old Man Peyton’s store. When he finally made it out, he swore he’d never go back. Said there was a big graveyard hidden on the Reform land for those who got crushed by the rock, died of the fevers, or didn’t reform to the rules.” Her voice dipped low.
I grew silent a moment, wondering how many didn’t make it out.
Pearl rummaged through her records, like she’d said too much.
I brushed away the thought of prison and said, “Carson’s really sweet on Greta Clemmons, and I think there’ll be a marriage between them. Still, I didn’t need anyone’s permission to marry at sixteen, and the state would’ve given the union its blessing. Yet, here I am, fighting for my freedom because I won’t marry.”
“Laws about females never make a lick of sense because they’re made and run by men and meant to keep us in bondage. You know, Mother works, but when she went to open a bank account, the banker refused and said she had to get Father’s permission first.”
“I’m not in any hurry to get married.” I sipped on the drink. “And if I ever get my freedom, I’m not going to lose it so easily to just any man.” My thoughts went to Francis, and I pressed my lips together, still tasting his kiss.
“I had myself a sweetheart in high school. Dale Clark,” Pearl said in a quiet way, looking down. “We’d talked about getting married after we graduated. He was that one unforgettable. That boy could kiss you and make you forget to breathe.” She put a few records back into the case.
For a moment we listened to the saxophone rise softly between the words of the wistful song.
“What happened?” I finally asked, the bourbon giving me courage.
Pearl shrugged and filled her small glass with more, trying to decide what to tell me. Flicking her wrist, she pressed one of the heart charms between her fingers. I skimmed the room, waiting, wondering if my boldness would be mistaken for prying.
“He gave this one to me.” She raised her wrist and tapped the heart charm with her nail.
Leaning over, I studied the fat heart-shaped charm with the double hearts in the middle and a pretty bow etched above them. “Sure is pretty,” I said.
She looked into my eyes, searching, then took a breath and in the same quiet voice said, “There was a party a month before graduation in an empty barn down the road from my home. Everyone was drinking except me.” She lifted her jelly-jar glass and took another sip as if to show me.
I blinked, trying to clear my foggy mind, and set the drink down, realizing her secret was a gift and something she thought I had earned.
“It was late. Dale and I had argued about the time, argued about him getting juiced, and argued about him drinking again. He called me a wet rag.” Pearl briskly rubbed the charm. “I had a curfew, so I left him there with another couple.” She wagged her head bitterly. “There must have been a whole lot more drinking because Dale, Anna, and Eugene never made it down from the loft where they passed out when the barn caught fire. Eugene smoked. They said it was caused by his cigarette. And with all that old straw and bedding in there, well, it went up pretty quick.”