From the Improvement Era, April 1941 –

After “Goodnights” – A Short Short Story

By Sadie H. Greenhalgh

At Wilma’s Home

Tears were still falling on Wilma’s pillow, although she had been trying to go to sleep for over an hour. No matter what she tried to think about, or how hard she tried to forget, those few words kept running through her mind: “Bring a lollypop and glass of milk for Wilma.”

It had all happened after the dance, the dance that had been so perfect. It wasn’t often that Wilma had a special date, and this one had been extra special because it was with Richard Merrell, a classmate long admired but who had never before asked her for a date. A dream had come true, she thought, until they had stopped for refreshments.

Nearly the entire crowd was there, and she felt very happy and a little proud to be at the table, not only with Richard, but with Virginia Mitchell and Lloyd Jenson. Virginia and Lloyd had been going together for some time and were both considered popular at school. Wilma had never been intimately acquainted with Virginia but felt honored to be in her company because Virginia’s mother had long been an ideal of hers, and Wilma couldn’t help holding the same fine opinion of her daughter.

The waitress had come for their orders. Lloyd ordered sandwiches and beer for himself and Virginia. Wilma wondered if she had heard right. She had never really thought Lloyd would drink, and now she was sure he had said “two beers.” Could it be possible that other was for Virginia?

Richard was ordering their sandwiches and asking what she would have to drink. In her confusion all she could say was, “Nothing.”

The waitress was almost to the end of the room when Lloyd stood up and shouted: “Add a lollypop and glass of milk to Wilma’s order.”

Every one in the room turned to look as Lloyd continued, “We’ll have to have an initiation party for Wilma; she’s never tried the stuff.” “Well, give her a good start,” added a fellow across the table and handed a flask over.

Wilma felt her face and neck grow crimson — she dared not look up — she did remember Richard said something about “save your toast for some other occasion,” but that was as far as she remembered anything except the jests. She nibbled at her sandwich and didn’t even notice that Richard’s glass was untouched when they left the table.

And so the tears continued to come as she thought of her embarrassment. Certainly it would be her first, last, and only date with Richard. Then in between these thoughts was the shock of finding out that Virginia could do such a thing. What would Mrs. Mitchell think if she knew?

At Virginia s Home

Virginia knelt at her bedside. The habit of prayer had been so strongly instilled in her childhood that she had never drifted from it. This night, these were her closing words:

“Father, give me the strength and courage to do what Wilma did tonight — to do what I know is right, regardless of other people’s opinions.”

At Lloyd’s Home

“I guess I was rather caddish in bawling Wilma out, but you have to do something to amuse the crowd.” He rolled over on his other side: “I’d better think of something snappy to say to Dick in the morning, before he has time to tell me what he thinks. That look he gave me last night was almost enough.”

At Richard’s Home

Richard lay on his back staring through the darkness towards the ceiling. A look of thoughtful satisfaction was on his face. He had been thinking of the Junior Prom, the Cadet Hop, and other dances in the future. He had an idea he was going to enjoy dating a certain girl for these special occasions. It wouldn’t be hard for a fellow to do the right thing if he had a girl like that. At last he dropped off to sleep thinking to himself: “I thought all girls were alike. Thank Heaven, I have found the one that is different.”