she say she loved him? Blake did not—and Gaylord was particularly aware of this—he did not look down, at least not until she had slapped the back of his head, and then it had been brief, very brief. Longingly he watched Blake. Watched the grace the slim strong body possessed. He was not envious and the unhappiness inside him seemed to weaken and dissolve itself. It was an emotion not understood. Listlessly, he moved under pressure and let someone pass, the emotion still within him. It was impossible for anyone to deflate this moment no matter how hard they pushed.
"Hello, Bob," he murmured, and then proceeded swiftly through the increasing tide.
He walked by the wooden benches that circled the sides of the hall. Walked past children holding on to each other. They ran in front of him, behind him, in and out of the swaying bodies. They seemed to be everywhere. No one seeing him would have known of the mixed emotions moving behind his smiling countenance. Only the deep blue eyes seemed a little sad as he made his way past them.
He saw a vacant spot at a distant corner and made for it. "At last," he sighed, and sat down on the hard surface.
It was hot in the corner but it was deserted and dark. He was glad for this darkness because from here he could watch almost unnoticed, or so he hoped.
He tried to single out his two friends but it was useless. They had vanished … They were lost in the throng of swaying figures and faces that laughed and shouted, but it didn't bother him now. He was safe and they couldn't see him.
Such wonderful music, and how he loved itl How dull and uninteresting life would be without the strains of the humming violins, the delightful tinkle of the piano, the roughness of the bass. He looked admiringly at the men in the orchestra, wishing he were one of them. Especially the slim vocalist. He looked a little sad, but his eyes were bright and happy. He stared at the singer in admiration and tried to imagine what it would be like to be in his place. He closed his eyes and his mind conjured up a picture of himself; a singer with a big band behind him. Gosh, it would be wonderful to go from city to city, traveling and singing in worlds unknown to him. A world free of emotional sufferings. Cities, states, towns and countries poured out of
