Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-10-03
This Complex
Existence

stairs and called "Mother!" in a voice
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
q whisper.
There was no answer. So, mutter-
Ing to himself. We'll. guess she
amt at home. or 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 a 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 soing?"
Kendall halted on the lower step
and kicked the newell post viciously.
Then he regarded the toe of his shoe
with great disfsvor.
Play ball." he said. "Over In the
lot with the fellers."
But, you know, dancing school be-
gins today" and his mother, sweetly.
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 scnooll amt going!"
Then Kendall sat down on the step
and bumped the railing with his bat
Tor 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.
schoolI l amt going this yearl"
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, ratsI" Kendall said once
more. Il wish there hadn't never
been an old dancing school Then
maybe wouldn't have to co.
After relieving his mind by giving
the steps several much louder knocks
than before. he rose and went into the
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 danc-
ing school," Kendall reiterated. Ken.
dalPs vocabulary was somewhat limit.
ed. Say, mother, don't make me &c
this year. Nobody but sissy boys 20
to dancing school"
There was no reply. Mrs. Boyd was
past mistress of the art Of coercion
by silence.
We'll, anyway. I'm Just going to
wear my school clothes. I'll take my
pumps but these clothes Is good
enough"
Clump! Clumpl CIumpi
Say, mother!" said voice from the
depths OF Kendall's closet 81 don't
nave to wash my neck, do II Say,
gee| ! gave 1t good wash this morn.
ing. l amt going to wash It again
this afternoon"
Silence.
We'll. anyway, amt going to wash
1t tonight before go to bed If I have
TO wash 1t this afternoon. I don't
see what difference it makes. I'm
clean enough to go and dance with a
lot OF girls and lot OF sissy boys"
Splash, splash, splash, from the
bathroom.
say. mother. amt going to dance
with no girls this afternoon. Maybe
I'll dance with the teacher. but I bat
won't dance with no girls. Girls,
they make me tiredi"
Silence.
Say, mother, don't have to put on
clean shirt, do I? I don't see what
makes you want me to put on a so
many clean things. Geel bet dadU
be mad when he sees how big the
laundry bill IS"
Silence.
Say, mother, this stockings got
hole in It." Can't 1 wear the ones
! have ONT Well. anyway, bet II
do have to dance with the girls I'll
pinch their fingers 30 they won't want
TO dance with me again. Girls make
me awful tiredl"
Say, mother, my foot hurts me aw-
ful, l bet my ankles sprained. Anv-
way, 1 bet 1t will be If 1 dance all
afternoon.
I'm going to wear my pumps over
TO the hall and then 1 won't have to
change them after 1 get there. II
makes me tired having to change nv
shoes a hundred times every day.
Wen, anyway, I'm not going to change
them when I come home. I'm going
to wear my pumps. Well, anyway II
don't wear them home this time I'm
going to the next time. Say, mother.
won't have to walk homo with any
girl, will II" ,
No son." replied Mrs. Boyd. CON- |
fortingly, That's one thing / don't
consider absolutely necessary FOR
your social salvation. The time will
come soon enough when you'll want
to-"
Gee! bet it won'ti" said Kendall
say mother. tie my necktis for me.
VIII YOu3 Gfr1af Aok-