Revision #1-Snapshot of Life in the 1920's

Newkirk, Connecticut, 1923.

Residence of the McConell family.

Flash! 27-year-old Andrew McConell blinked his eyes rapidly. The minute the photographer lowered his camera, his little brother Michael was tearing out of the room. He was a young pup of 21 years, always up to something and constantly jittering like he'd drank 12 cups of coffee. Of course, his little brother was the only person Andrew knew who was insane enough to do something like consume that much caffeinated brew.

"Shouldn't you at least change first?" Andrew called after him, as he raced from the room.

"No time, give Nancy a kiss for me!" Michael replied. Andrew stiffened at this, and replaced his expression with the thin-lipped mask his father also wore when he was reminded of something displeasing. The eldest brother stood up from his chair, and cast a glance at his other brother standing to his right. Of the three of them, James was the one who looked most distinguished in a suit, fitting as the 25-year-old wanted to be a college professor. After his tenure traveling Europe to study foreign languages, that is. Yes, both of his little brothers had big dreams.

Andrew sighed. If only the same could be said of him.

"I really don't get why Father said we had to take our picture today of all days, he knew Michael had that autoshow he's been raving about seeing. Not to mention our dates with Anne and Nancy tonight."

James was perpetually criticizing their father, but only as retaliation for the constant badgering their father gave him in turn. The wealthy businessman that he was, Andrew McConell Sr. wasn't too fond of the idea that his second son would rather study than make big bucks. He often muttered about how James should get a real job rather than spend all his time as a student at college.

For all his knowledge however, James was a bit socially unaware. Andrew reflected upon this as he crossed up the stairs of their house to change into a slightly less formal suit for the picture show tonight. For example, braniac Jamie had absolutely no idea that Anne was completely uninterested in him, and only went with him on dates because she liked moving picture shows.

Combing his hair in the mirror, Andrew was privately glad of this, because Anne was the flighty sort who would drag whatever man she married around on wild goose chases. He frowned at this remembrance. No way would he let Anne do that to his little brother should she suddenly take a genuine shine to James.

Then there was the matter of Nancy...Andrew wasn't sure if he wanted to join James in obliviousness to his date's feelings. She was 27, same age as him. Lovely as they came with long blonde hair and grey-blue eyes. His heart pounded and butterflies fluttered in his stomach when he remembered her breathtaking smile. She wasn't just Andrew's date, but his fiancé. The matter was, he had no idea if she actually loved him sometimes. Nance was incredibly warm one minute, and cold the next. He just didn't understand it.

Andrew glanced at the clock. 5'o clock. The girls were being dropped off.

Just now, Nance's father was walking into the house, with Nancy and Anne at his side. Andrew walked down the stairs and offered a warm smile at his fiancé.

"Hi, Nancy." He greeted.

"Hi." She replied shortly.

Andrew's smile vanished. It was cold Nancy tonight.

James came to stand at the foot of the stairs beside him. Michael burst in through the dining room door.

"Andrew, James! You wouldn't believe the new engines I saw, they were amazing! And-Oh, hi girls." Michael grinned at the ladies. He had oil smudged on his incredibly expensive suit, Andrew noticed with pain.

Nancy smiled at the 21-year-old.

"Hi, Michael."

"You four had better get going, and have them back by 8'o clock, gentlemen." Nancy's father winked at Andrew approvingly.  

With that, Andrew put an arm around Nancy and started leading the way.

"...You think tonight's show'll be good?" He asked, trying to start a conversation.

"...Yeah. Andy?"

"Yeah?"

"...I need to talk to you later."

Andrew blinked.

"About what?"

Nancy refused to meet his eyes.

 

That refusal to meet his eyes resounded in Andrew's mind all the way to the picture show, and all throughout it. It made his palms go sweaty, and he felt frustrated with not knowing. 

Finally, he had reached the pinnacle of his endurance, and without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed Nancy's hand. James raced an eyebrow but said nothing, as Andrew led his fiance outside. Nancy did nothing to protest.

"Nance, it's later now, please. What's wrong?" His pleading almost seemed to wound Nancy as she looked down. 

"Andrew...I can't. We can't. It's just-ugh-" She raised a hand to her forehead. In the dark corner of the theater lobby she could've been a painting.

"What do you mean?" Andrew's voice was a whisper. His heart seemed to plummet through his chest down to his stomach, where it lodged and did the can-can.

"There's somebody else." She finally managed to get out. The can-can ceased. Andrew's head cleared.

"Really, now?" He asked, no emotion to his voice. "Anyone I know?" He was shocked that he wasn't furious or heartbroken, just numb.

"I don't want to tell you."

"Why not? I've been thinking you didn't love me for awhile now...You can hurt me, but I can never hurt you." Andrew noticed Nancy wilt under the revelation he'd had his suspicions for a while. But she straightened suddenly. She seemed bold for a moment. Who knew what was going through her mind in those moments?

"It's Michael." Andrew stared. Then he stared. Then he stared some more.

"No." He said.

"Yes, I love him. He doesn't know me, but I want the chance to at least pursue him. I'm sure he'll like me if he really gets to know me." Nancy declared assertively.

At this, Andrew felt his anger begin to rise for the first time. 

"No." He said again.  The young man crossed his arms over his chest.

"Nancy, you can chase any man you want, you can choose someone other than me. You know your own mind and you know what you want, I've known that since the first day we met. But not Michael." Andrew scowled.

"Why not? Are you jealous I'd choose him over you?" Nancy asked, her temper beginning to flare when Andrew told her this.

"That's not it at all!" Her fiance retorted. Her expression became the picture of surprise. The eldest McConnell brother took a deep breath. He now felt furious over her almost entitled attitude regarding his little brother. It wasn't that she wanted to pursue a man rather than be pursued, that didn't bother him. Everybody deserved a chance to find love after all. When he spoke again, Andrew's volume had dropped.

"Michael is practically a kid, he's 6 years younger than you and more wide-eyed about the world than anybody. Also, you know he doesn't think of you as anything but a big sister. You think you can just butt into his dreams and his world? He's a happy person, but I know him, and nothing would make him more miserable than having someone like him when he didn't like that girl back. You know how guilty he'd feel?" Andrew asked, and Nancy glared at him, not bothering to answer. His protectiveness wasn't waning either.

"If you decide to chase after my brother anyway, I want you to leave him alone at the first rejection. You will leave him alone, and be cheerful in his presence, you won't have him feeling awful by acting like you have the worst broken heart ever. There's plenty of people in the world that you could choose from, so I won't let you act like a gloomy little girl around him." With this final declaration, Andrew spun on his heel and returned to the theater, leaving red-faced Nancy behind fuming.

He sat down hard beside James. Anne stared at him curiously.

"Lover's quarrel?" James asked softly. 

"Engagement's off." Andrew said hotly. 

The car ride home was very tense, and Nancy's father cast an odd look at the angry expression on Nancy's face when he came to pick her up. 

Andrew sat on the stairs, head in his hands. It was only now the sadness sank in. Not soul-crushing grief, but a melancholy that chilled his bones. It was simply a sad situation.

He felt something soft brush his leg and he looked up. Anne's dress had brushed him when she sat down next to him. She was still waiting for her ride, since it was agreed Nancy's dad would drop them off but he would let Anne's father pick her up.

"I'm sorry about Nancy." She said. "Could you use a friendly ear?" For once she didn't have a daydreaming expression, and her eyes looked sharp and thoughtful. Andrew was surprised by her sincere concern. 

"Sure, thanks Anne."

"...You know, I know you're aware that I don't really like James. He's very nice, but I don't think our personalities match up. Besides, I don't think he really likes me either."  She commented lightly. Her stair-sitting companion shook his head and laughed quietly at her candid nature.

"Yeah." He said. 

"You know I won't hurt him though, right?" Anne asked carefully.

Andrew was surprised again at her sharp tone. Her glistening eyes were sincere though, as she waited for his answer.

"No, I don't think you will." Andrew decided, giving her a steady gaze. Perhaps he had misjudged Anne all this time.

"Nancy's a nice girl, with a great spirit. It's good that she's such a go-getter. But she's so passionate that she doesn't think all the time but feels." Anne continued on now, giving voice to her thoughts, almost soliloquizing. 

"Mm-hmm. That's why I don't want her going after Michael. She'd make him all twisted up inside if she showed how sad she was when he didn't like her. I know Michael, and right now women just aren't his focus. He's told me as much." Andrew sighed. Anne showed her surprise that Nancy decided she liked the youngest McConnell brother, but nodded in agreement at this assessment of her two friends.

"I probably shouldn't have got so mad." Andrew muttered. 

"Probably not." Anne agreed. 

"I'll apologize, but she knows how I feel about everything. I meant what I said. If Michael changes his mind and gives her a chance, fine, but she better not upset him if the answer is no."

Anne nodded thoughtfully.

"Is your heart broken?"

"Truthfully? No. I liked her, and I'm sad, and I want to get married, but it was mainly Father and Nancy's dad who wanted us together." The eldest of the three brothers stared over at the grandfather clock in the living room.

"Well, I guess we both just have to wait to find the right person." Anne stared up at the ceiling. Suddenly, a thought occurred to Andrew.

"You aren't interested in me, are you?" He asked worriedly. Anne burst out laughing and his concern melted. He grinned now too.

"No, no. You're very nice too Andrew, but your personality is way too much like a father's for my taste." They could hear the honk of a car as Anne's father pulled up in front of the house. Anne stood up.

"How about friends?" She asked, offering a hand to shake on it.

Andrew took it and shook. He spent so much time inside his head, was quiet so often, it was nice to find someone who was willing to listen.

"Friends." He replied.