The Summer Playground

The clock above the door in Andy's Eatery read two o'clock, and the number of waiting customers began to dwindle. The kitchen door opened, and a petite, dark-haired waitress in a crisp, white uniform, black apron, and white sneakers emerged, holding two dinner plates in one hand, and three cups of coffee in the other. As she turned the corner, the three little cream jars she had so carefully placed on the saucers crashed to the floor. Undaunted, Allison continued to the table at the end.

"I'll be back in a second. Is your hamburger okay?"

"It's fine, thank you, just fine," answered the man at the table as he took a bite of his just served sandwich. He watched her with more than casual interest as he chewed his food, noticing the efficient way she checked every table on her way back to the counter, obviously making mental notes of her customers' luncheon progress. Her efficiency that afternoon, despite the creamer mishap, was not lost on him as he finished his burger. She had a ready smile for the customers and managed to cater to their needs without fawning; just the kind of person he'd like to have working for him, he thought.

Returning to the counter, Allison saw Ellen coming toward her. The kindly, gray-haired waitress had taken Allison under her wing when she had first started working there a few weeks before, teaching her the mysteries of waiting tables and working for the tyrannical Andy.

"Here's your cream, Allison. Boy Ol' Andy didn't miss the mess you made near the kitchen door. Better take care of it quick. He's steaming!"

A glance toward the cash register told her that Ellen wasn't kidding. Andy was watching her intently, his salt-and-pepper hair nearly on end, his tiny mustache twitching-a sure sign that he was angry. Allison pretended not to notice him. With a forced smile, she served the cream and hurried to the kitchen to get a broom, dustpan, and mop to take care of the remains of her fiasco.

"Here you go, Al." Don, the cook, was waiting for her with the broom and mop. "Chin up, Munchkin," he told her with a wink. She turned, but stopped short. Confronting her, feet apart, hands on hips, and fire in his beady eyes was Andy. Allison Rogers swallowed hard and braced herself for what she knew was coming.

"Miss Rogers! Will you EVER learn to do anything right? Go on, go clean that mess up! I've never seen such a STUPID waitress! Go on, go on-get to it!" He put on his coat and left through the back door, still muttering oaths under his breath as he walked down the alley to the street.

Tears stung Allison's eyes, and her lower lip quivered momentarily. Don put a comforting arm around her shoulders and opened the dining room door for her. After sweeping away the glass and mopping up the cream, Allison slid onto a stool at the counter. She was just over five feet tall, a well-proportioned 110 pounds on a small frame. Most male advances, however, were stopped by the small gold fraternity pin she wore on the pocket of her uniform. The pin belonged to Bill Bradley, the most important man in her life. He was in her class at Kensington College. Though not too exciting, he was brilliant, studious, and dependable. Whenever Allison saw him hunched over an Advanced Calculus in his horn-rimmed glasses, she knew that someday he would be really successful.

She missed Bill now. She wouldn't see him again until September. Here it was only the last week of June and they were nearly 3 months and 800 miles apart. Of course, she had been out on a few dates-a girl couldn't stay home all the time!-but she hadn't really enjoyed them.

Then there was work. Oh how she hated Andy, and she hated the diner; she hated worst of all the looks she got from men old enough to be her father.

"Cigarette?" The voice came from the distinguished man who had been sitting in the last booth; one hamburger, well-done, hold the onion, and a cup of coffee.

"Thanks, but I don't smoke," she said as she brushed off the top of a salt shaker.

"You'd like to get out of here, wouldn't you? How would you like to work for me?" He was thinking what an asset the petite brunette would be to his business.

Allison's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What did you have in mind?"

"Hold it, Miss Rogers. I'm the owner of the Summer Playground. We could use a girl with your skills. I mean it."

Allison's jaw dropped in awe. The Summer Playground was a snack bar, soda fountain, gift shop, miniature golf course, and picnic area all rolled into one. All the local teens and college crowd hung out there, and it was certain to be more fun than Andy's. The Eatery was the midday haunt of the Springfield over-forty-and-prosperous businessmen. They tipped well, but offered little in the way of interest or excitement to a coed on summer vacation.

"You must be Brett-Brett Haynes!" exclaimed Allison excitedly. "Oh, I'd love to work at the Playground, Mr. Haynes! When could I start?"

"Come in tomorrow. Wear a white blouse and a black skirt, and we may put you to work right away." The man stood, gave her a pat on the shoulder, and walked toward the door. "Around 10 would be fine," he added as he left.

Allison Roberts sat there stunned. She couldn't believe her luck. So many girls wanted to work at the Playground and she had been able to give Brett Haynes a demonstration of her talent right here at Andy's. Stifling a giggle at the memory of the crashing creamers, the young waitress looked around the dining room. Ivory-colored walls were the backdrop for a scattering of hanging plants, and green and ivory chintz curtains. The moss green marble floor combined with the rest of the décor to create an unobtrusive background for the business meetings and occasional office tete-a-tetes which took place in the luncheonette.

The front door of the restaurant slammed, and Allison turned on her stool. "Miss Roberts, would it be too much work for you to get off that stool and look alive?" The gray hair was still standing and the mustache was still twitching.

"Andy, I quit." Allison slid off the stool, handed him her apron, and marched to the door.

"But, Miss Roberts, you can't do that! I mean, you just can't, that is..."

"Well, I'm doing it, Andy. I'll be in on Friday to pick up my check." The late afternoon sun was warm and Allison breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped out on to the sidewalk. She had wanted to do that since the end of her first day. At last she had!

The next morning Allison took a cab to the Summer Playground, only a mile from the downtown shopping district. It retained the elegance of a grand old family estate with sprawling lawns surrounded by neatly clipped hedges. A stately old mansion sporting a grand veranda bordered by rosebushes stood watch over all. As the cab pulled into the drive, Allison saw the side of the building facing the yard and lawns was composed almost entirely of windows, shaded by a massive blue awning. Because the house had blue shutters and a blue roof, the awning seemed to blend into the surroundings quite naturally. On the lawn several feet from the awning were blue patio tables, some shaded by white umbrellas, others shaded by the tall elm trees which seemed to have grown at random. Behind the mansion sat the mini-golf course and a barn-like structure bearing a sign with the words "Gift Shoppe."

Allison stepped from the cab uncertainly and glanced about her as she paid the driver. A bronzed, muscular young man rounded the corner of the building, swinging a broom and whistling cheerfully. He stopped when he spotted her.

"It's gonna' be a great day," he grinned as he absorbed every detail about her in one appraising glance. "My name is Ed Saunders. What's yours?"

"Allison Roberts." She approved of him as much as he did of her. "Could you tell me where to find Mr. Haynes?"

His clear, blue eyes lit up. "Mr. Haynes? Does that mean you're going to work here? Oh, please say you are!"

"Yes, I am. Now where is Mr. Haynes?"

"Right this way, light-of-my-life. It's fate, I know it is. We were meant for each other, Allie."

There was a definite twinkle in his eyes as he said, "Tell me, honey, what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" He opened the door to what appeared to be the soda fountain area and stepped back to let her pass in front of him. "Oh, Brett, someone's here to see you. My compliments on your obvious good taste!"

Brett Haynes crossed towards them from behind the counter. Extending a hand to Allison, he said with a chuckle, "You'd think he'd let a girl get used to the place before he started making a run on her!"

"I resent that remark, Brett Haynes! You and everyone who works here know that I'm honest, sincere, and true-blue in my intentions."

"Is that why half the girls who work here run the other way when they see you coming and the others are taking Judo lessons?" asked an attractive blonde who was making an elaborate sundae on the other side of the counter.

"I don't have to take this from you guys," said Ed. "I don't have to stand here and listen to you ruin my good name." With that he gave Tammy one parting wink and went out the door, whistling again.

"Don't pay too much attention to Saunders, Miss Roberts," Brett cautioned as he led her into his office. He picked a manila folder from his very cluttered desk and motioned Allison to a chair. "After you complete these forms, you'll be ready to start work."

Allison quickly completed and signed the papers he had given her-an application and the usual withholding authorizations. She was really going to be working at the Summer Playground!

Satisfied that all the paper work was in order, Brett led her back to the soda fountain area. "Doreen, would you teach Miss Roberts all she needs to know about serving ice cream?"

Doreen was the blonde who had spoken up earlier regarding Ed Saunders. Allison watched her scoop a cool lime sherbet cone, hand the napkin-wrapped cone to a customer, take some change, and ring the sale into the cash register. When Mr. Haynes had left the room, Doreen looked at Allison with a warm, friendly smile.

"He's right about Ed, Miss Roberts. He'll offer you a ride home from work right away. He puts the rush on every female new hire. I don't recommend dating him unless you happen to be well-versed in the art of self-defense."

"He sounds like quite a challenge. Please call me Allison."

"Well, Allison, all the ice cream flavors are over there; you'll find the cabinets are marked. . ."

It was several ice cream cones and sundaes later when Eddie Saunders came back to the soda fountain. Doreen was on her lunch break, and Allison was working alone. He stood in the doorway a minute, noticing the curly black lashes framing her emerald eyes.

"Hey, Beautiful, how about a small orange sherbet? That sun is pretty hot outside."

She hesitated a moment, trying to remember where the orange sherbet would be. He pointed to the cabinet on her left with a smile. She hurriedly scooped a generous amount of sherbet onto a sugar cone and handed it to him.

"Can I give you a lift home when we get off work? Dawn Lake should be beautiful this afternoon. We could go for a swim, and . . ."

"Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly," Tammy interrupted with a laugh.

"Aww. . . You don't believe what they said about me do you?" He looked at her with questioning eyes.

"Why not? They know you better than I do!"

Now he seemed genuinely hurt. "Okay, I promise to take you straight home. Fair enough?"

Allison was uncertain at first, but his eyes seemed so sincere, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Fair enough."

"Doll, you've made my day!" There was such a gleam in his eyes, Tammy almost changed her mind. But Mr. Haynes came in and there wasn't time.

"Miss Roberts, one of the regular girls can't come in tonight. Would you be willing to work until ten? I know that will mean a long day, but you can gain a little more experience, and it won't be too busy tonight."

Okay, Mr. Haynes," she responded. He gave her a grateful nod and returned to his office. Then Allison turned to Eddie. "Too bad you won't be able to drive me home."

"Oh, but you promised! Don't worry I'll be here at ten sharp." He made an elegant bow and backed out the door. Allison shook her head in disbelief. In spite of herself, she glanced at the clock and made a mental note of how many hours remained before ten.

Working all afternoon with Doreen, Allison learned that Ed, like herself, was just working during summer vacation. He was a student at State University and was considered quite a "Player" on campus and at work. He had dated each of the other five girls at the Playground at one time or other in the past month, and when he was convinced that a girl was crazy about him, he would leave her for another. He was a hunk, and any of the girls would have loved to have won his heart.

The floodlights went out on the lawn, and the customers knew closing time was ten minutes away. Very conscious of the time, Allison looked out the window to see if Ed's blue buggy was anywhere in sight. Maybe he had forgotten. She wasn't sure if she'd be glad or sad if he had.

At ten exactly Ed Saunders drove into the Summer Playground parking lot. His car was an old baby blue Toyota Corolla which evidenced lots of care and time, but not much cash outlay. As Allison walked toward his car, he immediately stepped out and held the door open for her. His shirt matched his azure eyes and accentuated his wonderful tan. Allison slid in past the steering wheel to a spot halfway between the driver's seat and the passenger door. The smell of his cologne drifted past her nose and sent a pleasant little shiver up her spine. She could well understand why so many girls had been smitten, and she was glad she was already going with Bill so there was no danger of her falling victim to his charm.

Ed talked constantly on the way to her house, stopping only occasionally to ask directions. He spoke of his plans to teach history when he graduated from college, of his older sister who was expecting her first baby, of his new enthusiasm for water-skiing, and of his problems trying to earn his way through school. He asked her questions about her school, her family, her previous job, and whether she liked her new one. Allison was completely enthralled. He was not at all what she had expected. They sat and talked in her driveway for nearly an hour, chatting until her mother turned on the porch lights.

"Well, Eddie, I'm afraid that's the warning signal. See you tomorrow."

"Hey, wait a minute. Don't I get a goodnight kiss?" he teased.

"Well, maybe a little one," Allison answered. She leaned toward him and planted a tiny peck on his cheek and laughed at the disappointed look on his face as she got out of the car.

The next morning at work, Ed was waiting for her by the door. "You won round one. I challenge you to round two: a movie and a pizza after work."

Allison was surprised to hear her own voice saying, "Challenge accepted. See you at seven."

After work that afternoon, Allison hurried home to shower and shampoo her hair. She found herself humming as she brushed her black locks down onto her shoulders. She hadn't worn it that way since she left school and Bill-Bill! She hadn't written to him today, or yesterday! No time now, it was nearly seven o'clock.

Again, Ed was punctual. They went to a comedy at the drive-in theater and, for the first time that summer, Allison found that she could still enjoy herself. The left the drive-in and stopped at a little place near the University which sold the best pepperoni pizza she had ever tasted. On the way home, Ed put his arm around her casually and, without giving it a thought, Allison rested her head on his shoulder. She sighed as he pulled into her driveway.

"Allison, maybe it's none of my business, but whose frat pin are you wearing?"

Sitting up with a start, Allison realized she had nearly forgotten that pin. How was that possible? It meant so much to her!

"His name is Bill Bradley. He's a sophomore at Kensington."

"Are you in love with him?"

"I'm very fond of Bill. He's a brilliant student and very dependable."

"I said, are you in love with him?"

"We plan to be married after we graduate."

Ed grabbed her shoulders and kissed her roughly. "Are you in love with him?" Allison raised her fingers to her bruised lip. He hadn't meant to hurt her and kissed her again. This time it was a soft, lingering kiss. In spite of herself, she felt her lips responding to his, ever so slightly. He noticed it, too. "Please think about it, Allie. Goodnight."

She got out of the car as though in a dream. She couldn't understand what was happening. Why hadn't she told him that she loved Bill right away? Was it because she was no longer certain? Why hadn't she reacted angrily when he kissed her so roughly? Why hadn't she told him to mind his own business? All the way from his car to her room these questions were going around and around in her mind.

At work the next morning, Ed seemed a stranger. It wasn't until late afternoon that he came over to the soda fountain.

"Allison, I'm sorry about last night. I was out of line and I know it. If you'll give me another chance, I'll mind my own business. Okay?"

Allison hardly knew what to say. Surely it was unusual for Eddie Saunders to apologize for anything to anyone. Was it sincere, or was this all a part of his routine? She could not be sure, yet she was intrigued enough to say, "Okay."

He drove her home from work, and this time he was very formal. He spoke very little, and he didn't even turn off the car motor. Allison was almost disappointed when he simply said, "See you tomorrow."

This behavior continued for two weeks. Allison was going around in circles. He made no advances, asked her out on no dates. He gave her a ride home every day, and though he was pleasant enough, he said and did no more than was courteous.

At last one Friday night he took her out for pizza. They talked a little and the strange distance that had loomed between them began to disappear.

"Allison, I was wondering. How would you like to go fishing with me tomorrow? We're both scheduled for the day off, and I think it might be fun."

Allison's heart leapt at the invitation. She had nearly given up hope. "I'd love it, Ed!"

"Then be ready about 6:30"

"In the morning?"

"Of course!"

Allison wasn't about to argue. She had been waiting for this. She hadn't even been writing to Bill; and he was beginning to write anxious letters to her.

Allison was up in plenty of time to be ready for 6:30 a.m. She had carefully brushed her hair and chosen to wear a green shirt and a pair of black Levis. Ed gave a low whistle when he saw her, and she was surprised at how glad she was that he approved her appearance.

Out on the lake, the sun made her hair shine, but the wind blew it about freely until she was certain it must very closely resemble the mop she had often used on the floor at Andy's Eatery. That seemed such a long time ago. She settled back against the bow of the boat and watched the tanned figure in front of her. She was awed at the sight of his powerful shoulders as he handled the oars and kept the boat skimming easily across the lake. She chuckled inwardly at the thought of Bill Bradley sitting there without his shirt, rowing a boat, taking her fishing. Yet this was more like her than attending a lecture on Marxist Theory.

"What's funny?" asked Eddie.

"Just thinking of someone I used to know."

They fished all that morning, hardly saying a word, in the tradition of true fishermen, who keep still in order not to frighten away the fish. When they had caught their limit, Ed rowed them back to shore. He pulled the boat up out of the water and onto the sand. Then he extended a hand to help Allison out. She took the offered and climbed onto the bow of the boat. When she slipped on a wet spot, he caught her in his arms before she had time to fall. For a split second their eyes met, and then he set her gently on her feet. He stood there, his hands at her waist.

Allie, I . . ." Before he could finish, his mouth found hers and his arms encircled her completely. This time she responded eagerly. Her arms went around his neck, and her lips offered no resistance. "I love you, Allison Roberts. I think I've known it would happen since you stepped out of the cab that first day at the Summer Playground. I didn't want to believe it; I couldn't let myself. I . . ."

Suddenly Bill Bradley's face appeared before her; kind studious, dependable Bill. She couldn't hurt him. "Stop it, Ed. I can't . . ."

He didn't let her finish. "No, no, of course you can't! You can't drop a guy on the Dean's List at Kensington College for a nobody at State University. You set out to trap a guy, and when you've got him, you say, 'the party's over.' Come on, I'll take you home, and you and your damned Kensington man can go to hell! Why I ever got mixed up with some other guy's girl is beyond me anyhow!

Ed took Allison home that day, and for the remainder of August, the two of them might as well have been working some place other than the Playground. They avoided each other, and rumors went around that this the time 'the Player' had met more than he could handle. He no long flirted and teased. He seemed to hate the whole world. Allison had changed, too. Their co-workers speculated about what could have happened.

On one of the last nights of the summer season at the Playground, Allison had difficulty opening her locker. Out of nowhere, Eddie appeared and offered assistance.

"Well, Miss Roberts, I guess you'll be going back to Kensington and your man."

"No, Ed. I'm going back to Kensington, but I'm not going back to Bill."

"You aren't?"

"No. I've met someone else."

"Oh. Well, that figures," said Ed as he turned to go.

"Eddie, I love you."

He stopped and turned to face her. "Repeat that, please?"

"I love mmm. . ." Before she could finish, his lips were in the way. When she drove to work the next day, Allison stopped at the post office to mail a letter she had been hoping to mail for nearly a month. It began,

"Dear Bill,

This is not an easy letter for me to write. I spent my vacation working at a place called the Summer Playground, and . . ."