Last Night at the Telegraph Club

The next day, at the store, the book isn’t there, and Kath asks what it was about. They still haven’t talked about the Telegraph Club, and Lily hoped that the book would embody some of her questions. Eventually, Lily explains the plot and asks, “Have you ever heard of such a thing?” (93). Kath hesitates, and Lily’s heart thunders in her chest. Then, Kath says, “Yes.”

They leave the drugstore, and Lily explains more about the story, asking if Kath has met women “like that.” Kath’s friend Jean, who went to the Telegraph Club, is lesbian. So is everyone there, Kath says, except perhaps for the tourists.

A man whistles at them, commenting inappropriately about how he likes Chinese women. Lily grabs Kath’s hand and they quickly move away from him. Now in Chinatown, Lily feels like she can’t return to discussing the Telegraph Club. They decide to get ginger ice cream.

Lily wonders what Kath thinks of Chinatown, feeling self-conscious. She has never been to Fong Fong’s—the ice cream shop—with someone white. As they wait for their ice cream, Lily asks if Kath is going to the fall dance. Kath isn’t sure since she doesn’t like dances, and Lily explains that she joined the dance committee only to avoid having to go with Wil. Kath agrees to go if Lily agrees to go to another club meeting. Lily talks about how she wishes there were a women’s science club since she doesn’t want to be the only girl in the science club at school. Then, she transitions to how she wants to work on rockets.

Eventually, Kath agrees to go to the dance, and Lily says she’ll go bowling with the G.A.A. They shake hands, and Lily thinks about how she wants to ask whether Kath is interested in women because Lily thinks she is.

On the day of the dance, Lily helps set up, arriving hours before the start time. She worries that Kath won’t come to the dance and what that would mean. When it starts, Lily works the refreshment table, watching Shirley convince people to dance by dancing with Will. She notices that the Chinese students are dancing with each other, the Black students with each other, etc. As the night goes on, Lily is freed from her role at the drink table. Popular music plays, and others dance. Finally, she spots Kath, who touches her arm. They leave.

They decide to walk to Aquatic Park. Kath apologizes that she was unable to arrive sooner. Lily brushes it off, saying that she’s happy Kath came. At they walk, Lily gets cold, and Kath gives Lily her jacket. It’s a foggy night, and Lily feels that they’re obscured by the fog. She decides to ask about the Telegraph Club. Kath describes seeing Tommy Andrews, and Lily wishes she could go. Kath suggests that they should. Lily resists at first, and Kath asks how old she is before offering to get her a fake ID since she’d have to be 18. She says she’ll ask Jean how to get one when she’s in town next weekend. Lily is thrilled, but they decide to go back to the dance when Lily sees Kath shiver.

Seeing Lily and Kath approach, Shirley wants Lily to return to the refreshment table, and Kath goes home. Shirley pulls Lily aside and warns her about Kath because the year before, Jean was caught in the band room with another girl.

Lily is shocked that Shirley knows who Jean is. She then remembers that Calvin once started dating an African American girl, which was scandalous. Shirley recommends staying away from Kath to avoid starting any rumors, and Lily asks her if Calvin was the one who told her about Jean. Shirley avoids answering and then suggests that Lily dance with Will in case anyone saw her with Kath.

Growing bold, Lily asserts that Shirley shouldn’t talk about her with Will and that nothing is wrong with Kath. Protesting, Shirley insists that she’s trying to help, but Lily rebukes her and decides to leave.

On Monday morning, Shirley doesn’t walk to school with Lily, and she quickly notices that Will is also ignoring her. When she arrives at school, she calls out to Kath, and they walk to class together. Kath is surprised that she isn’t walking with Shirley but seems happy to have Lily’s company.

Lily holds up her end of the deal, going bowling with the G.A.A. She has never been bowling before, and Kath teaches her how to throw the ball. Lily eventually notices a group of men looking at the girls as they toss the ball down the lane, their skirts rising ever so slightly. Kath says to ignore them, but they don’t resume bowling. Instead, Lily explains the physics behind bowling, and then the two discuss what it would be like to ride on a rocket. When Kath resumes bowling, Lily blocks the men’s view.

The following week, Kath stops at Lily’s locker first thing on Monday, saying that she has Lily’s fake ID. She gives it to her after school. The ID reads “May Lee Wong,” and Lily is slightly nervous about getting caught. She also wonders if it’s as easy to fake immigration papers, thinking of her father. Lily asks if the ID will work, and Kath says that the only way to know is to go to the Telegraph Club. They decide to go on Friday night.

At home, Lily looks again at the Tommy Anderson ad, not quite believing that she’ll soon see the act live. She falls asleep, dreaming of a rocket but unsure where it’s heading.