All You Need Is Love

Home from the Navy in 1947, I started school at Greenville College in my hometown of Greenville, Illinois, about 50 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri.

- Jack Joseph

I had been out of high school for four years, but my high school principal, Mr. Gardner, invited me to a Valentine’s Day dance at school. We lived in a small community, and the thought of seeing my former teachers was intriguing. So I agreed.

When Friday came, I cleaned up, gussied up and drove to the high school gym. I chatted with my former teachers and approached Mr. Gardner to thank him before leaving. Just then, the band started playing and a young woman stood up to sing. One look at her and I was mesmerized. I had never seen such a beautiful woman, so I concluded that she must be from a nearby town.

I asked Mr. Gardner who she was, and he answered, “That’s Marilyn Riley, Cut Riley’s daughter.”

I was flabbergasted to say the least. The Rileys lived just around the corner from me.

I walked across the gym floor to introduce myself and said, “Hi, I’m Jack Joseph.”

“I know who you are,” was her not-too-friendly response.

“Would you like to dance?” I asked.

“No!” she shot back.

“Why not?” “I’m working,” she replied.

“Can I call you next week for a movie date?” I asked.

“No,” was her response.

I could see no reason to argue, so I thanked her for nothing, tucked my pride in my coat pocket and left.

For the next month I phoned, trying to set up a date. She always had the same answer: No.

Then one rainy afternoon in March as I was driving home after basketball practice, I saw Marilyn, the “No” girl, walking with no umbrella, no raincoat, no hat.