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Chapter Four 
Where to place on map: Roseland Ball Room, Boston, NY
Time: 1940-1941
Malcolm was showing off his best moves and fell in love with lindy-hopping at the Roseland Ball Room. He decided to quit the job as a shoeshine boy because he couldn't keep up with dancing at the same time. He started attending many dances, buying clothes on credit, drinking alcohol, and taking marijuana. Ella, his step-sister, found a job for him as a fountain drink clerk, where he met a girl named Laura. She wanted to major in science, and although she was a junior in high school, Malcolm looked a lot older than her. After a while, Malcolm started taking Laura to dances, and whenever she would come to the drugstore, she wouldn't bring her books with her anymore.
Where to place on map: Roseland Ballroom, Boston, NY
Time: 1940-1941
Laura lied to grandma about meeting up with a group of students from school to discuss an activity when in reality she was going out of the house to drive with Malcolm to the dance. Malcolm had introduced Laura to Ella and the latter was very impressed. Malcolm appeared in a contest one night, dancing with a wild waitress and leaving Laura behind.
Where to place on map: Roseland Ballroom, Boston, NY, next week
Time: 1940-1941
Laura asked Malcolm to take her to the dance again (when Duke Ellington was playing), and this time to pick her up at her house. When he came in, he was very inspired. In the taxi, she started crying because she had fought with her grandma for the first time. She became brave and began to compete in the contest, but when another girl by the name of Sophia began dancing with Malcolm, Laura wanted to go home. Sophia went out a lot with Malcolm. Both Malcolm and Shorty were amazed at her approach to them. Malcolm never saw Laura again because she was in and out of jail. Breaking up with Laura upset Ella very much. She treated Malcolm as a viper when she saw him going our with Sophia. Malcolm quit the drugstore and decided to be a busboy at Parker home in Boston.