The Cocoanut Grove was packed that night with young couples and a few motion picture stars. Much to the boys' glee, the trombone player had whispered that he'd spotted Lana Turner sitting alone in a corner booth. Cary Grant could be seen at the bar with Norma Shearer sitting at a table with an unknown gentleman.
The boys had come dressed to the nines, in polished shoes and more than just a dab of Brylcreem in their dark hair. This could be their big break, lots of big stars got their start at Cocoanut Grove. In the crowd, Nathan and Alice Hartman smiled up at them encouragingly. Nathan nonchalantly passed by the stage to pat Joe on the leg, "Good luck, pal."
Joe smiled whilst Kevin closer to their friend, "When you going to tell her, Nate? You can't keep hiding it forever."
"I'm not hiding. I'm just looking for the perfect moment," he replied, nervously playing with the hem of his suit jacket.
"I don't think those exist," whispered Kevin, confidentially.
A man walked onto the stage then in perfectly pressed suit. He tapped the microphone lightly before he announced their act over the echoey speakers. "Now, the Cocoanut Grove is proud to present, the soon-to-be musical sensation, those swell hometown boys we all love, the Jonas Brothers!" The boys instantly straightened up, adjusted their ties and jackets, and tightened white-knuckled grips on their intruments. Carefully at first, but with growing confidence, they began their song.
Kevin kept his eyes on Nathan, as he led his young wife in one last dance. They would fight tonight, perhaps. She'd be angry that he hadn't told her, frightened for him that he was leaving, but they'd get through it. They were well-suited as a couple. Each as tough as the other. They'd get through just fine.
As unpatriotic as it was, each of the boys couldn't help but think how much they hated this lousy war.
