After I gave my little speech the party started in earnest. And let me tell you something, the scene unfolding before me looked like it had been lifted straight from the pages of The Great Gatsby. All the young men dressed smartly in their rented tuxedos danced upon the polished wooden floor of the country club with the belle's of Benton in their formal, sparkling gowns.

The first one to take to the dance floor was Cerridwen, being bold she reached down and dragged Daisy onto the floor. Jamie followed with Ben a few moments later Lily and Robin were dancing the night away. Poor Daisy was traded from Cerridwen to Katherine back to Cerridwen. Maybe Daisy was the lucky guy though, I mean he had two cute girls trading off each dance with him.

Up next Heather and Kayla holding hands strolled onto the floor. It brought a small smile to my face, watching my two mom's dance so gracefully across the polished floor. I was so enchanted by the unfolding scene that I scarcely noticed Matthew sneaking up behind me. That is until he tapped me upon the shoulder.

I nearly jumped out of my high heel shoes when I felt the tapping upon my shoulder. My heart also seemed to leap from my chest into my throat. I really don't know why, but a few moments later, I found myself spinning around and there in front of me stood Matthew. And for the second time that night I felt my breath being taken away.

Matthew had gone all the way, a tailored tuxedo that flattered his masculine form and highlighted his lean arms and legs. His longish hair, he had had started growing it out last spring, so it had been growing through the summer and autumn had been slicked back with pomade and tied into a ponytail that had a black ribbon tied around it. I don't know why but that ponytail and with the ribbon made him seem more dashing to me.

I mean it gave him a very regal appearance. And that made me shiver, it excited me. It made me feel things. I felt a passion that I've only felt twice in my young life. Then he smiled at me, and I could see his row of pearly white teeth and his boyish face that made all the blood rush to my face. And then he spoke.

“May I please have this dance.” He offered his glove hand to me. Glove hand, it was then I'd noticed he was wearing white gloves like any true southern gentleman should be wearing. And just like that, this party for me went from being a knock off of The Great Gatsby to a full on production of Gone with the Wind. It was Southern teenage decadence at its finest. Something that are friends up North tried to mimic but failed.

“Oh with pleasure, Mr. Matthew.” I said placing my gloved hand in my hand. Now, I don't have a fable Southern Accent. I have as some say an Mississippian Accent. That is to say I take my time and sound out each word. Its gentle, refined accent often conjures up images of mint juleps, magnolia trees in full bloom, fine antebellum homes, and divine services at the local Episcopal church.

“Oh Ms. Madeline, you look so fine this evening.” Called out Jamie as she was spun around by her boyfriend as I was guided out onto the floor.

“Oh Ms. Jamie it is a pleasure to see you. I hope you are enjoying yourself.” I called out as Matthew took me into his arms and started to spin me around. My slender arms went around his shoulders, his strong hands went around my waist.

And then we danced. And time seemed to slow down and then stop all together. The sound of our laughter echoed off the bare brick walls of the country club. A few of my friends started to wander toward the punch bowl, no doubt they had worked up quite a thirst being spun around or spinning their dates around. It took only a few shallow swallows before one of the boys, who in a loud tone of voice proclaimed.

“Lord.” He said. It was Daisy who in a moment had forgotten himself so 'Lord' sounded more like 'Lawd' an hallmark of any true southern gentleman. “Somebody used the good whiskey when they spiked this punch.” He said his eyes rolling back in his head as he finished off his drink. Once he had finished his drink he smashed the paper cup and tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Now I feel like I have to explain something. The bourgeoisie class of Benton, and Dixie at large. Have always shunned the temperance movement. Those of the bourgeoisie class always either belonged to the Episcopal Church, The Roman Catholic Church or Presbyterian Church. By and large, if you like it or not. Those three churches never really brought the hammer down the partaking of spirits. It was from those three church's the founding fathers of Benton had belonged too and so as one generation passed on and another took its place so too had they remained lashed to those creeds. The wave of settlers that had followed them had belonged to either the Southern Baptist Church or the Methodist Church. Whom along with the word also proclaimed temperance.

None of my friends hailed from any family that trumped temperance values. Moderation was the key to us. We did not look down on Sabbath Breaking and taking the once in a blue moon drink as a vice that needed to be stamped out. But a show of freedom of choice. After all, the old Blue Law's had gone the way of the Coco Bird.

And so to Daisy's little outburst we paid no mind. Instead we all laughed to ourselves as Daisy helped himself again. Cerridwen soon followed suit and Heather just tossed a glaring look toward Kayla who hid her giggling smirk behind her raised hand.

And so the party really got started. More dancing, more laughing. Photos were taken, some romantic, some silly. The old grandfather clock on the wall kept the time as faithfully as it could. Marking the passing of each hour. Then it happened. The clock struck twelve. Has it really been six hours since the party had started? Had six hours really passed? As I stood toward the back of the room, I could see everybody was losing steam. Daisy had found himself a chair and had passed smooth out, Cerridwen who had also found herself a chair was laying down across it, with her head resting on his lap.

Jamie and Ben had retired to one of the private rooms. Everybody knew what they were doing, but nobody bothered to go find them. Lily and Robin were slumped down in two chairs, backs beside each, both seemed to be fast asleep. Kayla and Heather followed Ben and Jamie lead and had also reached a private room.

And Lana and Katherine were sitting in a corner chatting about the events of the night.

“This was one heck of a party.” Matthew said as he looked around the room. “I think everybody enjoyed themselves.” He said smiling as he looked me dead in the eyes. “I know I did.” He added.

“It was fun.” My mind was still swirling from the four cups of spiked punch I'd drank over the six hours. Or was it seven. Or was ten. I lost count after the third one.

“What's going to become of us Madeline?” Matthew said as he pulled up a chair. “You know graduation is not that far away. Next year will be our Junior year. Sometimes I wonder what will come of us. I plan on taking some shop classes next year. I'm not really good at the normal classes. And I have a few uncles who work with Mississippi Chemical down in Yazoo City. They're always hiring. I figured two years vocational training at the local vocational school year and year or two further training down at Goodman. And I'll be set for life.” He said looking over at me and then looking into space.

“I..” I blushed. “I was thinking about getting a four year degree or something. Besides that I don't really have any plans. I know I don't want to spend the rest of my life being a waitress at a maid cafe. And farm work is hard work. Long hours in the field and so much to balance.” I leaned over and placed my head on his strong shoulder.

“I want to become a writer, but most writers end up in debt up to their eyeballs. I thought about being a nurse like Dawn, but the stories she tells me when I'm around her often have me second guessing myself. So, I don't know. Maybe I'll figure it out in the next two years.”

“I sometimes wonder too..” Matthew said. “If we'll stay together or if we'll drift apart once we finish school.” He seemed scared.

“I don't know. Jamie I know wants to marry Ben as soon as she can. Those two might end up getting married a year or two out of school. She is just that kind of girl, she needs to have a husband by her side. Me, I don't know.” I paused. “I guess we just need to live our lives one day at a time. Taking the good times and the bad times together. And pushing toward the end together. I mean we might break up, we might get married someday. But right now, I just want to enjoy being young.”

And that is how the evening ended.

The End.