Chapter 6

Steve couldn't help but appreciate how cleverly the disc jockey had placed everyone at the dance in a position to be auctioned off. A lot of people would have not raised their hands if volunteers had been sought, but by asking them to move to an area, they would have had to be proactive in not participating. People too shy to participate would be reluctant to be seen removing themselves from the fray. Steve had already learned something useful for the future.

"Okay! We're ready to begin the dancing. Please be sure to obey the rule that absolutely no one under the age of twenty one is to have any alcohol. There are no exceptions. Break this rule and you'll be asked to leave immediately. As I mentioned before, I'll be auctioning off dances with various attendees over the course of the evening. All proceeds will go to the Archer benefit and it's all in good fun. The winning bidder can select the music that I'll play for them, if I have it, and I can't imagine any song I don't have," boasted the DJ. "Let's begin the night with bidding on this young lady, and remember, cash only. No checks or IOU's!"

Suddenly the lights dimmed and a small spotlight shone on Gwen. She looked around in surprise and squeezed Steve's hand. For his part, Steve smiled and whispered to her that she was expected to go up to the stage. Still blushing, Gwen rose and gracefully proceeded to stand next to the DJ.

"You can all see why we selected this lovely young lady to begin the festivities. My sources tell me that she will be attending Sparta High as a senior this year. Do I hear an opening bid for the first dance with Miss Gwen Anderson?"

Steve couldn't tell who made the first three bids because the bidders were not in his field of vision. The first bid was $20, the next $30 and the next $40. Then Steve saw Gwen's dad offer $50. Then things became interesting. A man in his early twenties stepped forward and calmly issued a bid of $100! A buzz went through the crowd.

"That's Mort Governs." whispered Charlotte, "His father owns a bunch of car dealerships and it looks like he just bought the first dance with your date."

"We have $100," repeated the surprised DJ. "Are you fellows going to let her go that cheaply? Do I hear $125?"

Steve rose from his chair and raised his hand. "$200 here!"

"Now we're talking!" enthused the DJ. "Remember this is all for the benefit of the Archer Fund. Who wants to offer $250?"

Gwen was stunned at the amount of the bidding. She was pleased that Steve had made a high bid and quite flattered that Mort Governs had made such a strong bid. Her sister, Lisa, had dated him a couple times back in high school. He was now out of college and running one of his father's dealerships at the age of twenty four. Then she saw Mort raise his hand and bid $250! Steve instantly raised his hand and bid $300!

Mort Governs looked at Steve and then shook his head and returned to his seat. Steve pulled out his wallet as he approached the small stage. Taking out three bills, he handed them to the disc jockey as he whispered something in his ear.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, what a great start to the evening! We've already raised $300 for Tim Archer and we've barely begun. Now for the dance. The winning bidder has requested an extremely appropriate song. I ask that all auctioned dances be done here on this stage so that everyone can enjoy watching. Everyone else can use the dance floor. I present Gwen Anderson and Steve Hammer in the first dance of the evening!"

Steve stepped up to Gwen and offered his hand. Gwen accepted and he led her to the center of the small raised stage as the music began. The lights around the stage dimmed and the small spotlight shone on them. Steve placed his right hand on Gwen's back as she placed her left arm on his arm and shoulder. He took her right hand in his left and stepped with the music.

Once again, Paula felt the tears stream down her cheeks as "The Lady in Red" began to play as her daughter danced with Steve. She couldn't have been any prouder as Gwen seemed to glide over the floor. Kate was standing on a chair with her trusty camera pointed at her sister.

"Look at them, Mom! They look like professionals! And Steve bid $300 for the dance! I hope some great looking guy bids like that for me someday. Gwen is so beautiful. Isn't this really cool, Mom?"

"It appears that you've danced before, Mr. Hammer," stated Gwen through her smile as she looked up at Steve. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you? I hope you're not expecting anything extra for the $300 you just donated to a very worthy cause."

"What more could I hope for than to hold the prettiest girl in the state in my arms for a dance? This is a great bargain for me. I would've gone a lot higher if need be," revealed Steve. "Can I assume that you've had some dance lessons as well, Madam?"

"Aunt Diane actually teaches dance. I've had more than a few lessons, but I feel like a beginner with you," laughed Gwen. "A beginner at life it seems. You're making me learn fast."

"I never will forget the way you look tonight, Gwen," whispered Steve as he sang with the song and pulled Gwen slightly closer.

"Careful, Big Boy," chided Gwen. "Remember 'the talk' my father gave you. He's watching us right now. You don't want to face his wrath, do you?"

"I think I'd risk almost anything for you, Gwen, but not your reputation. Can I give you a brief kiss when the song ends?" asked Steve. "It would be very quick and no one would notice."

"Yeah, right, you silver tongued devil. If you're willing to face the ire of my father, go for it, Tough Guy. But don't say I didn't warn you," advised Gwen.

As the song ended, Steve bent over and briefly kissed Gwen on the lips and then quickly pulled back from her. To his surprise, the entire building broke into applause and cheers! There were more than a few whistles and cat calls as well. Men slapped him on the back as he led Gwen back to her seat. Steve was surprised to find both Charlotte and Bev in tears.

"That was the most beautiful, romantic thing I've ever seen!" sobbed Charlotte. "It looked like a scene out of "Pretty Woman" or something."

"Sis, can I dance with this guy?" interrupted Kate. "I was going to wait till later, but that was so hot! Can I have the next slow one with Steve, please, Sis?"

That was how the rest of the evening went for Gwen. When she wasn't dancing with Steve, she was besieged with requests from other girls, and women, asking her for permission to dance with her date. That was totally new ground for Gwen and she decided that she liked it. Almost everyone accepted that her approval was required. Steve even told the girls so bold as to ask him for a dance that he was with Gwen and her permission would be needed. Strangely, Gwen felt equally as good dancing only with guys that asked Steve first. Even her father received Steve's permission before he led Gwen onto the floor.

The auctioned dances were fun, but nothing came close to the $300 that Steve had bid for Gwen. That is until Steve had the spotlight fall on him. Gwen was amazed at the spirited bidding by several of the town's more respected ladies. The bidding started at $50 and hit $500 before Gwen could even try to determine how much cash she could spend. Dorothy Davis was the top bidder when the dust cleared at $650. She was a forty something widow whose older husband had made her his second wife. That was just a year before he died from a massive heart attack. She was wealthy, bored and determined to buy the dance with Steve.

For his part, Steve felt embarrassed standing there as the bidding escalated between several ladies he did not know. He felt like a prized bull at auction. When it was all over and Mrs. Davis came to the stage to claim her prize, she requested "MacArthur Park", which Steve thought was a strange selection. Eventually he determined the reason for its selection by Mrs. Davis.

"May I call you Steve?" asked Mrs. Davis as she stepped into his arms and pressed her impressive chest against his stomach. "You can call me Dorothy. I loved watching you with your beautiful girlfriend earlier. I put a bug in the DJ's ear that he'd really help this benefit by enlisting you in an auction. I didn't realize that those bitches would be willing to go so high, but it's for charity. I can write it all off. You dance so well, Steve. Have you had lessons?"

"Yes, Ma'am," responded Steve. "My mother made sure that I was exposed to arts and culture. She said that she didn't want me to be social moron when I went out into the world on my own."

"She was exactly right, Steve. My goodness, you're strong! I hope you have good stamina. This song lasts for seven minutes. That's why I requested it. That means it cost me less than $100 per minute," laughed Mrs. Davis. "If you should ever break up with your girlfriend, I could offer you a very good position with my company, if you understand my meaning, Steve. Somehow, you seem like the type that would be a very loyal friend, so I won't even suggest that anything ever come between you and your lady. I just want you to know you have options if your romance goes south. Oh, it seems that my song has ended already. That was a very fast seven minutes!"