The Hayloft. A 1950s Mystery

her face and arms from the scratches of the nettles, with makeup, something I had been much less successful at. Girls are so much better at those things than boys. But perhaps the scratches had enhanced my reputation at Carter during the past week. I certainly didn’t have a low profile anymore.
    Tom was handsome in a dark suit, white shirt, and red tie. He hadn’t suffered any damage that was noticeable and in fact, had probably come out of the fire in better shape than anybody else, with the possible exception of Archie. My mother had suffered rope burns on her hands and sprained her ankle. Aunt Dorothy had hurt her knee and was hobbling around with a cane. Both my father and Uncle Jeff had been treated for smoke inhalation and been given oxygen by the volunteer firemen, who couldn’t do anything to save the barn.
    The barn was a total loss. It had burned down to the concrete foundation. My father and Aunt Dorothy didn’t seem to be as concerned about that as they could be. Perhaps because they were insured, but more likely because we had all gotten out safely.
    “Good band,” Tom said, enthusiastically. “Kate, would you like something to drink?”
    She answered in the affirmative, and Tom set off to the refreshment table. The music started again. This time the band played “The Tennessee Waltz.”
    “Gary, you haven’t danced with Kate yet,” Sylvia said. “Now is your chance.”
    I wasn’t sure about leaving Sylvia alone, but her look told me this was my duty. Although my waltzing was not major league, and it was made worse by my sore hip, I escorted Kate out onto the floor and did my best. At least the intricacies of the waltz would keep us at a respectable distance from each other. As I looked at her, I realized for the first time that both she and Sylvia had green eyes. They were the only green-eyed girls I had ever known.
    After a short silence, I said, “When is Ed getting out of the hospital?” We hadn’t talked about Ed in the car, trying to focus on happier things.
    “He’ll be out next week,” Kate said. “His skull fracture is mending well and so is his leg. And then…what’s going to happen to him, Gary?”
    I saw two tears rolling down her cheeks. I wished I hadn’t said anything about Ed. But I wasn’t going to lie to her.
    “Well, he has some serious charges against him. Murder and attempted murder.” Not to mention false imprisonment and destruction of property. “But the murder charge won’t be first degree. And he’s a minor, so he’s treated differently than an adult. If he…has learned his lesson, I suspect that he will be able to live a normal life someday. But he won’t be returning to Carter.”
    Ed had confessed to pushing Ralph off the balcony, because Ralph was teasing him about the necklace. They had met after the assembly for some reason that wasn’t clear. The subject of the map had come up. Ralph had the map but wouldn’t show it to Ed. They argued about it, and Ralph did his handstand trick. It was his undoing. Ed went down to the main floor of the auditorium and took the map off his body.
    “I know. They’re going to send him to reform school or someplace like that. But first they’re going to give him a psychiatric evaluation. Do you think they might send him to the loony bin?”
    I couldn’t answer that. I held Kate a little closer.
    “I’ve seen him in the hospital,” Kate continued, “and he seems very repentant. I think he’s learned his lesson.”
    “I’m sure he has.” I hoped this was true.
    “Where do you think he went wrong? Do you think he was corrupted by reading those magazines?”
    “Magazines?”
    “You know, the nudist magazines.”
    “Uh, no, I think they’re basically harmless.”
    I didn’t mention that I had been struggling not to be corrupted by the magazine I had purloined from Ed. I was glad when the dance ended. Kate excused herself to go to the “powder” room and fix her makeup. She declined an invitation from Sylvia to go with her.
    “She’ll be all right,” I said to Tom, trying to reassure him. “She’s worried about Ed.”
    “I see that our hero is back with his beloved.”
    I recognized the voice immediately, but I looked up to make sure. It was Natalie all right, looking more beautiful than usual, if that were possible. I still preferred Sylvia. I was surprised that Natalie had the gall to approach Sylvia.
    “And I’m glad to see that you and Joe are getting along so well,” Sylvia said