Smyrna times., 1926-09-15
On Her Matinee
Job
By JOHN EVANS

- first time In her life, the necessity
for helping to earn the family income.
Gradually the fathers salary was be-
coming insufficient for the needs of
the household and children and June
began to look about for something
to do
It was seldom that June was dis
couraged but today she felt blue and
the outlook was anything but cheer
ful Nothing her mother could say
gave her a lighter view Of the fu-
ture, and she picked up her hat and
said she would go out and try to walk
off her doldrums.
She strobe toward the village, a
thriving little center with up-to-date
shops and a modern moving-picture
theater.
June had never cared for picture
shows and seldom went inside the the
ater, but today something took her to
the box office almost before she real
lied what she was doing.
Next to her sat a young mother
who was trying to keep an active
child quiet. She had given the tot
her handbag and the upstick and
metal vanity case had both dropped
to the floor and rolled down the
aisle. June had recovered them for
the impatient mother.
In a distant part of the house an
other small child kept up continuous
shouting. A wee baby cried Justify.
June could hear and see nothing but
these outraged children, cooped up
within a stuffy, dark theater Then,
like flash, an idea came to her. Her
Encouragement was replaced by wave
after wave of enthusiasm for the In
spiration that had come to her.
She could hardly wait to get home
to tell her mother.
"Mother-I have great ideal" she
cried as she descended upon her tired
parent In the kitchen getting supper
I'm going to start a new profession
Of my own-movie mothering!"
Movie" gasped Mrs Aiken.
"Oh-no-no-no, dearl Not in the
movies. I'm going to be a mother to
kiddies whose own mothers are so
picture-mad that they can't stay
home from matinees to care for
them. 1 shall charge only twenty-five
cents for child for the whole time
from three to f1ve-or whenever the
show is out-and I shall advertise
myself thoroughly so as to be able to
get as many as eight or ten kiddies
each afternoon"
Her mother, always mentally keen
If bodily tired, responded at once to
her daughters mood and began to
plan with her for the new venture
In a short time they had made def
mite arrangements to use their own
living room and porches, turning the
former into a sort of nursery play
room. They telephoned to several
friends who might send them some
little tots to begin on, and It was
only q short time until June found
herself custodian Of kiddies all the
way from two months old, asleep in
their prams, to boys and girls Of FIVE.
Mother. what do you think I've
made this week?" asked June at the
end of the third week of business.
II couldn't guess, but you've been
busy girl and your youngsters seem
to thrive on your care" said the moth
er fondly.
i've made exactly $17.25-with no
expense" she said. happily. isn't it
wonderful? And to think the idea
came out of clear sky
The mothers always brought the
childrens milk II they were to have
any, or biscuits or fruit, so that June
found herself without even the ex-
pense of buying a few things to eat.
During the fourth week she had
call from a young man who at first
glance she knew could hardly be the
father of children.
Miss AikenY' he asked
June nodded. "June Aiken-Mati-
nee Mother" she replied, laughing.
Bob Stoner told her quickly what
he wanted. bis mother was dead and
he and his sister, eighteen. had helped
to bring up the two babies the poor
mother had left His sister wanted to
get out now and earn her own living
and there would be no one to take
care Of the babies. Ills sister wanted
to do only some part-time work she
had been offered and Bob had heard
Of June Aiken. Could she care for
the little brother and sister during
the afternoons?
June was delighted. The children
were to be brought to her by their
sister early each afternoon on her way
to her own work and Bob was to call
for them in the evening.
1T means seven dollars regularly,
mother" said June.
What she did not say. however. was
that she would be glad to look for
ward each evening to the coming OF
big Bob Stoner. They had not smiled
into each others eyes for nothing that
1rst day.
But June did not let her growing
fondness for Bob interfere with the
profitable and enjoyable little profess
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