“1958” by Lem

‘Till I Kissed You by The Everly Brothers plays.

(Adult content below)

It’s 1958. I’m trying to dance in the living-room. Lacey is…alive…and so is Joe Junior.

Where is Joe? …In England. For two weeks. …Secretly to see Pat Wilson. …Lacey, born in 1930…daughter of Thomas Banks of Minnesota…an “old friend” of Joe Kennedy Senior…is in love with Joe…or was. …Until he ran off to London.

And…with Jack busy with Jackie…Lacey is my responsibility, it seems. I’m an aging bachelor. Awkward. Not at all like her usual companions. …She’s friends with Lauren Bacall. …And…they frequently appear together looking chic. …And Truman Capote adores Lacey. Tells her he wishes F. Scott Fitzgerald had lived long enough to meet her. …He once walked up to me and cried…grabbed both of my hands in his and said, “I’ve found an angel.” …And while he found the possible glamour of her impending marriage to Joe thrilling…he looked sad too. Staring off into the ether. Far too thoughtfully.

Joe loved Lacey. I know he did. …She was like his mother, people thought. And he wanted nothing more but than to be a better version of his own father. …Except she was…English. And raised in Hollywood…by a family that exposed her to Hollywood parties, celebrities and intellectuals. …It’s said that Judy Garland credited her departure from Hollywood to Lacey. Lacey told her she was dying, apparently. Far too bluntly for some. …But Joe heard about it…and when he saw her face…decided she’d be a perfect partner. Elliott Roosevelt has a crush on her…but he’s married.

And…there are others. But…Joe was…pushy. …”She’s so strong.” he said about her.

“Strong!?!!” I said, confused.

“Lem…few women have both good-looks and perfect character!” he said. “But I’m quite sure she does.” he said with a confident smile.

But he also had no intent to give-up Pat Wilson. No intent whatsoever. …Lacey Banks didn’t know about Pat.

But with his years as a US Senator ending…Joe needed to get married. His father had him running for US President in 1960.

Jack…married Jackie. Jackie Kennedy. And…ran for governor of Massachusetts. And lost. And now was busy as a journalist. And I…was…quite sure I was gay.

With everyone gone…I was desperate to seem charming. Dancing.

“My gosh you’re big.” said Lacey, drunk and sprawled elegantly limbs extended every which way…on the sofa.

“Can you dance?” I said.

She was so depressed. Quiet.

1:47

“Joe is fucking some bitch…isn’t he?” said Lacey.

2:04

I stand still. Arms dangling. The song ends.

I then turn off the music.

“I can’t stand that music.” she says, rising. She walks over to the record-player. Picks out Brahms. Hungarian Dance No. 11 in D Minor. Plays it.

“That’s life.” she says dramatically.

“He’s not in love with her!” I say.

The song ends. She restarts it.

Dramatically turns around. Stares me in the eyes.

“Lem…have you ever had a woman?” she says.

I smile. “Lacey!” I say.

“Oh. So…you have.” she says, turning back around. “Lem…I think you…should fuck me.”

Dance No. 5 plays.

“No. …You aren’t serious!” I say.

She says nothing. Back turned. The song plays. No one else is home.

“Why do you say that?” she says.

1:17

“The song?” she says.

1:38

“YES!!” I yell.

The song ends.

She takes the music off.

“Lem…you’ve never had a woman. …I can tell. …My aunt does Tarot cards for celebrities. …And she thinks I’m ‘gifted.’ …I can tell.” says Lacey. “You’re gay??” she says with an odd tone, turning to face me.

I blink. “Let’s just go to bed!” I say, almost in tears.

“Together!” she says.

“YES! I’m gay.” I say.

“Then I’ll get naked.” she says.

She undresses. And…an hour later…I’m promising her eternal love.

…Do I need to be more graphic? Do I need to be more precise?

…I don’t let her marry Joe. Or…she falls in love with me and I’m not fast enough. …Either way…Tom Banks knew Joe Kennedy Senior through Al Capone. And Old Hollywood. The two men knew each other. …And that…is why Joe Kennedy Junior…was so aggressive with Lacey from an early age. …Jack had him thinking she could have really happily married him. And she’s extremely intelligent and extremely beautiful and yes she has great character too.