“Do I look bad, Charlotte? I trust you to be honest. I was worried about wearing this dress, but Lisa insisted that it looked good. Do I look cheap, or foolish?” questioned Gwen quickly.
“Gwen, you may look like a million bucks, but you’re still working through those insecurities, aren’t you? You’re the classiest looking girl I’ve ever known and you look great tonight. Don’t ask me again because if this were a movie, I’d be the sarcastic, skinny friend that’s thrown into the mix for comic relief. I can’t keep reassuring you all the time. God, I wish I had your problems!”
Gwen’s friends were deep in conversation when she and Steve approached the table. Charlotte called to them, “Hey, guys! Get a load of Gwen, as if you need any encouragement. I want you all to meet Steve Hammer. He’s my date for the night, so you boys had better behave or he’ll break you in half. Don’t be sneaking any feels of my assets.”
“You’ll have to point out the aforementioned assets so we know what to avoid,” teased Charlotte’s friend Mark. “Good to meet you, Steve.”
Gwen was more than a little surprised at how well Steve interacted with her friends. She could tell that her friends were pleasantly surprised as well. Within a few minutes, he was chatting with them as if they had all grown up together.
The hall had filled quite rapidly and it appeared that the benefit would be a success. Gwen spotted her family and their friends seated at a table across the dance floor. They didn’t appear to be able to stop looking her way and Gwen made a mental note to mention that fact to them before the evening got too much older.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m Johnnie Dee and I’ll be your host and DJ this evening. As you all know, this is a benefit for Tim Archer. That means we’re going to try to raise money, which means that I’ll expect everyone here to do their part. To start with, is there anyone here that would refuse to allow me to auction off a dance with them, or their partner? If so, please step over against that wall by the picture window? No one? Great! We’ll be getting under way in a couple minutes. Later, you’ll be hearing from Tim Archer to thank you for your generosity, so give until it hurts, Ladies and Gentlemen!” pleaded the DJ.
Steve couldn’t help but appreciate how cleverly the disc jockey had placed everyone at the dance in a position to be auctioned off. A lot of people would have not raised their hands if volunteers had been sought, but by asking them to move to an area, they would have had to be proactive in not participating. People too shy to participate would be reluctant to be seen removing themselves from the fray. Steve had already learned something useful for the future.
“Okay! We’re ready to begin the dancing. Please be sure to obey the rule that absolutely no one under the age of twenty one is to have any alcohol. There are no exceptions. Break this rule and you’ll be asked to leave immediately. As I mentioned before, I’ll be auctioning off dances with various attendees over the course of the evening. All proceeds will go to the Archer benefit and it’s all in good fun. The winning bidder can select the music that I’ll play for them, if I have it, and I can’t imagine any song I don’t have,” boasted the DJ. “Let’s begin the night with bidding on this young lady, and remember, cash only. No checks or IOU’s!”
Suddenly the lights dimmed and a small spotlight shone on Gwen. She looked around in surprise and squeezed Steve’s hand. For his part, Steve smiled and whispered to her that she was expected to go up to the stage. Still blushing, Gwen rose and gracefully proceeded to stand next to the DJ.
“You can all see why we selected this lovely young lady to begin the festivities. My sources tell me that she will be attending Sparta High as a senior this year. Do I hear an opening bid for the first dance with Miss Gwen Anderson?”
Steve couldn’t tell who made the first three bids because the bidders were not in his field of vision. The first bid was $20, the next $30 and the next $40. Then Steve saw Gwen’s dad offer $50. Then things became interesting. A man in his early twenties stepped forward and calmly issued a bid of $100! A buzz went through the crowd.
“That’s Mort Governs.” whispered Charlotte, “His father owns a bunch of car dealerships and it looks like he just bought the first dance with your date.”
“We have $100,” repeated the surprised DJ. “Are you fellows going to let her go that cheaply? Do I hear $125?”
Steve rose from his chair and raised his hand. “$200 here!”
“Now we’re talking!” enthused the DJ. “Remember this is all for the benefit of the Archer Fund. Who wants to offer $250?”
Gwen was stunned at the amount of the bidding. She was pleased that Steve had made a high bid and quite flattered that Mort Governs had made such a strong bid. Her sister, Lisa, had dated him a couple times back in high school. He was now out of college and running one of his father’s dealerships at the age of twenty four. Then she saw Mort raise his hand and bid $250! Steve instantly raised his hand and bid $300!
Mort Governs looked at Steve and then shook his head and returned to his seat. Steve pulled out his wallet as he approached the small stage. Taking out three bills, he handed them to the disc jockey as he whispered something in his ear.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, what a great start to the evening! We’ve already raised $300 for Tim Archer and we’ve barely begun. Now for the dance. The winning bidder has requested an extremely appropriate song. I ask that all auctioned dances be done here on this stage so that everyone can enjoy watching. Everyone else can use the dance floor. I present Gwen Anderson and Steve Hammer in the first dance of the evening!”
Steve stepped up to Gwen and offered his hand. Gwen accepted and he led her to the center of the small raised stage as the music began. The lights around the stage dimmed and the small spotlight shone on them. Steve placed his right hand on Gwen’s back as she placed her left arm on his arm and shoulder. He took her right hand in his left and stepped with the music.
Once again, Paula felt the tears stream down her cheeks as “The Lady in Red” began to play as her daughter danced with Steve. She couldn’t have been any prouder as Gwen seemed to glide over the floor. Kate was standing on a chair with her trusty camera pointed at her sister.