"No!" she said sharply. "Don't touch me!"
He stared at her dumbly, the agony pouring through him in waves. Her heavy-lidded eyes watched him.
"Do it for me," she said in a husky voice. "And I’ll do it for you.
But don't touch me!"
6.
ALL THROUGH THE MOVIE, LADDIE COULD HEAR THEM giggling and whispering.
He could imagine what they were doing in the darkened theater, even though he couldn't see.
His mind flamed with visions.
Now Tommy was offering Rina a gumdrop. He could see him casually holding the bag toward her, the back of his hand seemingly accidentally pressing against her breast.
Laddie shifted restlessly in his seat, trying to pierce the dark out of the corner of his eye, but it was a waste of time.
He couldn't see anything.
"May I have some candy?" Joan's voice came from the darkness.
"What?" he asked, startled for a moment. "Yeah. Sure."
He held the bag toward her. She turned as she helped herself from the bag and he felt the soft press of her breasts.
But it served only to remind him of Rina.
He sank back into his seat unhappily.
They stopped in front of Tommy's cottage on the way home.
"How about some pop?" Joan asked. "We've got a big bottle in the icebox."
Laddie shook his head.
"No, thanks," he said quickly.
"It's almost eight o'clock and I promised Mother we'd be home before dark."
Rina didn't say anything.
"Maybe you could come over later?" Joan asked. "After you've taken Rina home?"
Rina looked at him. He flushed.
"I don't think so," he answered.
"I’m pretty tired. I wanted to get to bed early."
Joan shot a curious look at him, then silently turned and walked into the cottage.
There was an awkward moment until Tommy spoke. "Well, good night, then," he said. "See yuh on the beach tomorrow."
They walked the rest of the way home in silence.
It was already dark when they climbed up the steps to the porch. He opened the screen door and held it for her.
She started to enter the house, then stopped when she saw he made no move to follow her.
"Aren't you coming in?"
He shook his head. "Not right now. I think I’ll stay out for a little while."
"I think I will, too," she said quickly, stepping back onto the porch.
He let the screen door swing shut. Its clatter echoed through the house.
"Is that you, children?" Geraldine Marlowe called.
"Yes, Mother," Rina answered. She glanced quickly at Laddie. "Can we stay outside for a little while, Mother? It's so hot tonight."
"All right. But only for half an hour, Rina.
I want you in bed by eight thirty."
"O.K., Mother."
Laddie crossed the porch and sat down on the large wicker chaise.
Rina followed and sat down beside him.
"Why did Joan want you to come back?" she asked suddenly.
He didn't look at her. "I dunno." "Did she want you to do it for her?" "Of course not!" he said indignantly.
"I don't like Joan," she said suddenly. "She's a- she's a hyp- a hypo- "
"A hypocrite." He supplied the word for her, surprised by the unexpected depth of her perception. "What makes you say that?"
"Tommy wanted me to touch him in the movies, but when I wouldn't, he took Joan's hand and she did."
"No!" The word escaped him involuntarily.
Rina was right. The little bitch was a hypocrite.
"And she never even looked at him once," Rina continued. "She was always looking at the screen and once she even asked you for some candy."