The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-12-01
THAT ZERO LUNCHEON
BY CORNELIUS voIeHr.

4
pened," This came from Ruth' as
wildly excited. her brown eyes as
round as saucers, she bounded into the
room.
What child Where? When?. ex-
claimed her mother, while her little
brother stood by, breathless.
an SCHOOL, Dorothy told n mel
And it's not truel didn't do ~
DO what. dear? What did Dorothy
tell?"
"she said / whispered. And ! didn't
Honestly, truly, mother, | didn't.
eNo. she didn't" chimed in little
brother who knew nothing whatever
about it.
How did she happen to say you
did," asked her mother
'I wouldn't let her play in the doll
house yesterday She wanted to be
the teacher and did, too. And then l
told her IT was my yard and my doll
house and she'd better go home. She
said she'd get even, and when MISS
Marion came back into the room this
morning and asked who whispered
while she was out Dorothy said did.
And didn't. either And all the girlsll
proye it. too Emily and Elsie and all
| Of EN-"
"Well, / wouldn't get so excited
Ruth. dear. You can tell Miss Marion
that you didn't whisper, can't you2"
But maybe she won't believe me,
And I'll have to stay after school. And
,h. m-m-mother mother!" Great sobs
shook her frame. "I'll get zero In
department, and If you get three zeros
YOU can't ever, ever go into another
grade" Here she broke down com
pletely. Little brother began to cry
with her
.Come. come, children, let's have
our lunch urged the mother in sooth-
ing tones, putting her arms about
Ruth and wiping away the tears.
Maybe while we're eating we can
think of something to do about II.
Il don't want any lunch,' Ruth man
aged to say in choking voice.
ME neither" accompanied little
brother. who then scampered to the
luncheon table as fast as his legs
would carry him. followed reluctantly
by Ruth.
The big sister and the father came
In and took their places at the table
Between sobs Ruth again related her
troubles.
"I'll 20 and sec Miss Marion" an
nounced the big sister
"Or I'll write her a note" added the
mother
wei, let's eat" suggested the
father
well, let's eat" echoed the little
brother.
For a few moments the mother was
kept busy serving Ruth was begin
ming to forget her troubles in the sol
ace Of introducing steak and potatoes
into her hungry, growing little body,
when the brother, with his mouth
stuffed full. innocently remarked:
DADDY, don't you think these round
potatoes that Eva makes look like
zeroes?"
Instantly Ruth stopped eating. Tears
began coursing down her cheeks. Tne
little brother continued: Tears look
like zeroes, too"
eve cont talk about zeroes," COM
manded the mother Come, Ruth,
dear, finish your lunch"
Wiping the tears on her bib, Ruth
began again to eat. AS she was about
to put some Of her favorite vegetable
into her mouth she walled: Mother,
dear. don't you think peas look Like
zeroes and spoons do little bit, too?
oh, everything's just full of zeroes!'
The father burst out laughing.
Well, Ruth he said, "if we could
have 'em all in a row with ones in
front Of them and dollar signs wouldn't
we have lots of fun? Come on, now
Let's forget all disagreeable things,
because they're bad for our digestion
Mothers going to help you"
SAY, dad,' exclaimed the little
brother, 'do you see those round
things on the tablecloth-"
Hush, brother" commanded his
mother
But he wouldn't be hushed. "These
round things on the tablecloth-"
Ruths eyes began to fill.
-they-look just like little
! pumpkins!"
BY the time the meal was over the
mother had decided what to do. She
would 60 to the school and give tina
teacher piece Of her mind for ex
citing little child over such trifie
, II necessary, she would go to see thu
: school principal also. The fathel
blandly suggested that she might cal
in the police force or take the case t'
! the supreme court.
! She found the teacher a pleasant
! bright looking young woman, who wal
: much surprised to see her.
: You came about Ruth?' she asked
I'm glad to see you. She's the bes
behaved child have in the room.
s'But she came home crying at moor
today. She said she was going to b
+ punished because Dorothy said sh'
s whispered"
r "Why. / didn't pay any attention t