Mr. Pelkey asked Phoebe if she cared to say a word. Phoebe, in a quivering voice, said, “I hope that you have enjoyed our songs as I enjoyed singing them for you. I’m just a country girl from a small choir in the small country church.”
She was about to break down. Mr. Pelkey took her hand and waited until the standing applause petered out. Then they joined Mrs. Campbell. Phoebe got behind Mrs. Campbell where no one could see her. She had her handkerchief rubbing her eyes. Mrs. Campbell point an arm around her.
“Honey, darling, what is the matter?”
Phoebe said, “I will be fine in a minute or two. It’s just that the emotion got to me.”
Phoebe straightened up and asked if she had heard from Mrs. Forester.
“Yes, Phoebe, I have assured her that all was going on well here and that you were enjoying yourself. Isn’t that the truth, Phoebe?”
“Right, right, Mrs. Campbell,” Phoebe said. “ We had better make our way to Trevor and Joanne’s table.”
“Well, Phoebe, we have to face it. We will have to cross the stage and descend to the main floor.”
When they got to the main floor, Phoebe could see this husky fellow who must’ve weighed over two hundred pounds and was well over six feet. He had yellow stripes up the sides of his dark pants and a tight fitting vest. He must’ve been there to keep order. He was standing in front of what looked like a very respectable man. All Phoebe could hear was, “I just wanted to shake the girls hand.”
The big fellow said in a very polite manner, “George, it’s a against club rules.”
“I tell you, all I want to do is shake the girl’s hand.”
Phoebe said to Mrs. Campbell, “Hold it for a jiffy.” Phoebe went and tapped the big boy on the shoulder.
George took a firm grip of Phoebe’s hand and said, “Phoebe, I’m awfully glad to meet you.”
The big man looked on quite innocently. George was in no way drunk. He had had just enough to give him some nerve.
Phoebe said, “George, could I take you to your table?”
“I would be pleased if you would.”
George held Phoebe’s hand. They went down the aisle maybe past seven rows of seats.
Phoebe said, “Well, George, I’m pleased to have met you.”
Phoebe was about to leave when this lady said, “Don’t be in a hurry, Phoebe.”
She looked like an executive type person with that Oxford accent. Her snow white hair was tinted with a little blueing. She looked through piercing steel blue eyes.
“Phoebe, some three years ago George lost his dearly loved niece, Phoebe, in a plane accident. When he saw you and heard that your name was Phoebe, he immediately said, ‘There is my Phoebe. She has grown about four inches since the accident,’ so who were we to stop him from speaking to you.”
The party of four all had some sort of cocktail in front of them. The other two shook hands with Phoebe and said very little.
Phoebe said, “George I’m awfully, awfully sorry to hear of that tragedy.” Holding his hand, Phoebe said, “Well, George, I’ll have to be going.”
George squeezed her hand a little.
“Well, honey, you made my day.”
Phoebe gave George a little peck on the cheek and said, “Bye, George.” And was off with that gravel road stride of hers. She shook hands with the big man who seem to be a gentle and courteous person. She and Mrs. Campbell made their way to Trevor and Joanne’s table.
“You where magnificent, Phoebe. You must have a drink of sorts. What can we order for you, Phoebe?”
Phoebe asked, “What is Joanne drinking?”
“That is a very mild wine, Phoebe. Do you want to try it?”
“Gees, Trevor, I don’t know. Maybe I better stick to ginger ale. Thank you just the same, Trevor.”
“Trevor said, “Phoebe, Joanne and I will soon be going up on the platform. We are going to announce our engagement and I’m going to present Joanne with her engagement ring. Do you care to come with us? You are welcome to come. In fact, Phoebe, I think that you should come as you are our guest. My parents and Joanne’s parents, also my grandfather are coming so you won’t be alone. Besides, I’m sure that they’re all expecting to meet you.”
Phoebe told Trevor that she was never in situation like this before so please make it simple. Mr. Pelkey came out onto the platform and announced, “The last item of the evening is that Mr. Trevor Hazelton and Miss Joanne Arliss have a very special announcement to make.”
There was a table set up on the platform covered with a mauve tablecloth trimmed with the yellow border. Behind were chairs all facing the audience. In front of each chair was a small glass of champagne. That surely would’ve caused a problem for Phoebe as she had never before tasted champagne in her life. Mr. Pelkey and a steward were close by the table setting up the microphone.
Mr. Pelkey called, “Mr. Gerald Hazelton and Mrs. Marie Hazelton seniors, Mr. Edmund Hazelton and Mrs. Dierdre Hazleton Junior. Now Mr. Trevor Hazelton and Miss Joane Arliss. Now Mr. Steven Arliss and Miss Lori Arliss. And Miss Phoebe Croiner.”
Phoebe was introduced to them all one by one right in front of a live audience. While Trevor was talking to his grandfather, Phoebe whispered in the ear of his mother very shyly, “Please, what is in those glasses?”
“Oh, honey, it is just a little champagne. It won’t hurt you.” On second thought, Mrs. Hazelton said, “Now if you prefer, dear, I can have it changed for you.”
Phoebe said, “I wish you would. I don’t feel sure of myself.”
“No problem, dear.” This steward was close by. Mrs. Hazelton said, “Would you please change this to ginger ale for this young lady.”
Phoebe said, “Oh, I thank you so much.”
Mr. Pelkey moved to the front of the platform and held up his hand.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Trevor Hazelton and Miss Joanne Arliss.”
The audience broke out in cheers and clapping. Mr. Pelkey gave Trevor and Joanne the signal. Trevor took Joann’s hand got her to her feet. Trevor told the members that he had a very important question to pop to Joanne tonight.
“And I thought that this club was an appropriate place to pop the question, seeing that my grandfather was a founding member of this club.”
There was more clapping of hands. Trevor was still holding Joannes hand. They let go hands and more or less faced each other.
“Joanne, I have wanted to marry you from away back when we were both going to East Euclid public school. More so since the day that you tripped and fell into Mr. Benson’s prize flower bed and tore your candy rock dress and skinned your knee. We have been keeping each other company since our high school days and loving it. Now, Joanne, I have come here tonight to ask you if you would marry me and be my bride and wife from then on to eternity.”
“Trevor, I have always loved you and always will. I promise, Trevor that I will be your loving bride and wife.”
Trevor reached into his pockets and brought out a ring. He took hold of Joanne’s hand and said, ”Joanne Arliss, I place this engagement ring on your finger with all my heart and soul.” They gave each other a big hug and kiss.
The congratulations had begun. Immediately, members all sang. ‘For They are Jolly Good Fellows. Then everyone at the table all lifted their glasses and drank to the couple’s health and happiness and wished them well. The table and empty glasses were removed. By that time, there were a lot of well-wishers upon the platform. For such an important engagement, the press was there as well. In fact, there were cameras flashing all over the place. Phoebe felt like a fish out of water.
Phoebe whispered to Mrs. Arliss, “I shouldn’t be here. I am not a member of the family.”
Mrs. Arliss could see that Phoebe was uncomfortable.
“Now, dear, there is the Toronto Star and the Toronto Telegram and the Mail and Empire and also the Globe. You see, Phoebe, Trevor’s grandfather is a prominent businessman in Toronto. That is why all the papers are here. There will be only Trevor’s and Joanne’s pictures in the papers. For the rest of us family, there might be some comment, not a lot. As for you, Phoebe, they might refer to you as an honored guest and that, Phoebe, we are all very pleased and proud of you. We do hope that you will be able to attend the wedding. Phoebe, after the crowd disperses, we’re going to have a little get together to get acquainted. Grandfather and grandma are just itching to have a chat with you. They think that you are one-of-a-kind.”
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