When Charlie would see her, he would smile. It was a nice smile, she thought, and she got the notion he was kind of bashful with girls. That was refreshing, because other boys, at school or in the neighborhoods where she and her mother lived, whistled at her and said things like "Want to play Monopoly? How about taking a 'Chance' with me?"
Barbara thought Charlie Nolan was bashful, so it surprised her when one Saturday evening as they were leaving the department store after work, he asked her, "Want to see the new Garbo movie at the Olympic? It's Grand Hotel. I heard you say once that you liked Greta Garbo."
It was a tempting invitation. She had been with boys before, but always had to slap either their hands or their faces. She thought Charlie Nolan might be different. Still, she was hesitant.
But her mother was out that night, visiting a woman friend, so she wouldn't even have a chance to ask her permission. And she did want to see Grand Hotel.
"The Olympic's not near here," Barbara said. "We'd have to take a streetcar to get there."
Charlie smiled. "I've got my Dad's car. It's right in the lot behind the store. We could drive there, right now."
Barbara was impressed. She'd never had a date in a car before. And he was nice-looking and had never been fresh with her.
She said okay, and they walked to the parking lot behind the department store. Every fine-looking car they passed, Barbara thought it might be the one she was to ride in. Her heart sank when Charlie stopped in front of a rusty old Ford pick-up truck.
"Actually, it's not a car," Charlie admitted, "but it runs great."
Now Barbara smiled. No wonder your father lets you drive it. You couldn't possibly make it look any more the wreck it is.
Charlie drove them to the Olympic, a movie palace with marble pillars, red velvet drapes, a fountain in the foyer, and huge framed portraits of her favorite stars. After he treated her to a bag of popcorn and a Baby Ruth candy bar at the concession counter in the lobby, she thought he would take her up to the balcony.
To her relief, he led her to a main-floor seat. Also to her surprise, while they sat next to each other in the dark theater and watched handsome John Barrymore make love to beautiful Greta Garbo, he did not even try to put his arm around her. It almost disappointed her that her date was so bashful and such a gentleman.