The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-02-10
This Complex
Existence


which to the uninitiated might have
indicated that he was one of those
gentle, retiring children known gen.
orally as not daring, to speak above
whisper.
There was no answer. So, mutter-
ing to himself, Well, l guess she
amt at home, or l guess she said she
was going downtown today" he made
very subdued, genteel exit.
But Kendall had reckoned without
his host Before he had reached the
street he was stopped by voice from
the front upstairs window. Mrs. Boyd
had not been kendalrs another twelve
years without having become more or
less acquainted with his ways.
Kendall, dear" she said, where
are you going?"
Kendall halted on the lower step
and kicked the newell post viciously.
Then he regarded the toe Of his shoe
with great disfavor.
PLAY ball." he said "Over in the
lot with the fellers.'
But, you know, dancing school be-
f..
You must come in and get ready"
She withdrew her head discreetly
in time to avoid being convicted of
hearing her son respond. Jaw, rats
on dancing SCHOOL, l amt going!"
Then Kendall sat down on the step
and bumped the railing with his bat
for several minutes. There was no
further sound from the house and he
repeated his former remarks in loud
er tone: Jaw, rats on old dancing,
school! I amt going this year,"
Say, mother!" he shouted, bellig-
erently. Il amt going to change my
clothes, anyway. These is good
enough for old dancing school"
There was no response.
Jaw, rats" Kendall said once
more. 81 wish there hadn't never
been an old dancing school. Then
maybe l wouldn't have to CO.
After relieving his mind by giving
the steps several much louder knocks
house, kicking each step as he went.
He draped himself about the banisters
and swung there nOisily until the sound
of the maternal voice came to him
from the upper regions.
Come up, Kendall, and begin dress
ing"
"Aw, | don't want to go to old dane
dalrs vocabulary was somewhat limit
ed. Say, mother, don't make me go
this year. Nobody but sissy boys go
to dancing school"
There was no reply. Mrs. Boyd was
past mistress of the art Of coercion
by silence.
well, anyway, I'm just going to
wear my school clothes I'll take my
pumps, but these clothes is good
enough
Clump! CIump! Clump!
Say, mother" said voice from the
depths Of Kendalrs closet II don't
have to wash my neck, do I? Say,
gee! l gave 1t good wash this morn
ing. I amt going to wash it again
this afternoon
Silence.
We'll, anyway, amt going to wash
1t tonight before I go to bed If / have
to wash 1t this afternoon. l don t
see what difference 1t makes. I'm
clean enough to go and dance with a
lot Of girls and a lot of sissy boys"
Splash, splash, splash, from the
bathroom.
Say, mother, l amt going to dance
with no girls this afternoon. Maybe
I'll dance with the teacher but | bet
| won't dance with no girls. Girls,
they make me tired!"
Silence.
Say, mother, don't have to put on
a clean shirt, do 1? l don't see what
makes you want me to put on a SO
many clean things Gee! I bet dad'u
be mad when he sees how big the
laundry bill is
Silence
Say, mother, this stockings got
a hole in it." Can't I wear the ones
1 have on? Well, anyway, I bet If l
do have to dance with the girls I'll
pinch their fingers so they won't want
to dance with me again. Girls make
! me awful ured!"
Say, mother, my foot hurts me aw.
full I bet nv ankles snrained Any-