The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-06-16
Supper at
Lucy's
y BETTY NEWTON
G. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service

kitchen.
Lucy was basting the meat loaf and
cheerfully shouting directions to her
children above the noise from the ra-
did,
SAM" called Lucy, run down eel
lar and get Jar of those big-plckled
peaches in the right-hand corner OF
the shelf and bring up a couple OF
logs for the fireplace. think It's get
ting colder and an open fire would
be cheerful. Mary, get me the gravy
boat and then 60 wash sisters face
and hands and when you come back
look over the table to see that I've
got everything on, and"
The telephone. Lucy, with the four
children following her, hurried into
ehe living room. II hope 1t isn't dad
dy saying he won't be home" she
voiced their thoughts as she took OF
the receiver. But, "Oh, hello, Lucille"
she said reassuringly. How are you
today?" She flushed with annoyance
at her trite remark but she could nev-
er think just what to say to her rather
superior sister-in-law Then, why, Of
course, Lucille. We'd just love to
have you"
Clamor greeted her as she hung up
the receiver Keep quiet" she said.
Aunt Lucille's coming for supper.
know-it's awful, isn't it? But We'll
all have to spruce up little. Sam.
tie Toms necktie for him-get him a
fresh one. And everybody hurry"
And back she went to the kitchen,
strengthening a chair here and rug
there In the cheerful living room that,
she knew Lucille thought lacked both
style and neatness. Well, she thought,
perhaps they did. But they were COM
Portable and the family all loved them.
But she hated having Lucille come
there. She was always critical. Lucy
didn't think she made Jack Bangs hap
py-Sterling, as she called him. He
was, like his brother Tom, simple
man whose tastes ran to comfort and
plenty rather than to style and for
mality. He adored his one child the
ten-year old Thomas, whom Lucy's
children held In high contempt be-
cause Of the always white state Of his
fingernails, the always shining spot
lessness Of his shoes and various 9th
er, to them, unnecessary habits of tidi-
ness and dignity. Lucilles visits
weren't popular with Lucy.
The children were In the living
room, In fairly orderly array. with
Lucy, ten minutes later when Lucille
arrived, and they greeted her politely
enough. Then Lucy took her TO the
kitchen.
Here Lucille" she said, PUT on
this apron and chop this parsley for
me-"
Lucille's usually critical eye was
slightly misty as she took the apron,
the bowl, the chopper, Lucy" she
said, II hope you don't mind my In
viting myself tonight-but l was so
lonely. Sterling telephoned he couldn't
get home. And Thomas-he telephoned
too and said he was with his father.
day. He's ten, and-Lucy, maybe ]
don't know how to manage him."
What was the trouble?" asked
Lucy, whipping cream.
this noon. He's such a good boy, you
know-he never does. / scolded him,
and-Lucy, he said he wished he lived
here, where mud tracks weren't such
a gosh-awful SIM"
Lucy's heart jumped-wlth happi-
ness. 1t was right, she thought quick
ly and rather selfishly, to make the
house the sort of place theirs was.
But she was full of sympathy with
Lucille as she turned and saw tears
brimming her eyes. 49," went on
Lucille, later felt sorry for Thomas,
and took him down to his fathers Of
flee for treat-and they're not COM
ing home for supper. I'm lonesome"
Well" Lucy said carefully. Pm
glad you came over. And it oughtn't
TO be hard TO get Thomas happy
again"
A breath of cold air. shouts-and
Tom was home. He came into the
kitchen, stopped still at the door.
Hello, Lucy" he said. "And Lu-
ellie. Nice to see YOU" He shook
hands nervously, motioning to Lucy
that he was In trouble. Then he made
the best Of it. "Awfully nice of you,
Lucille. met Jack-Sterling-and
your young Thomas on my way home
and asked them to come along" He
foundered He couldn't explain that
Sterling had telephoned him for ad-
vice, that the two brothers had had
conference about mud marks on clean
foors-and other things-that Tom
had asked the two to come home for
supper, depending on Lucy's advice
to set things straight. II telephoned
you, Lucy, few minutes ago, but /
got busy slgnal-and / knew you
wouldn't mind Awfully nice. to have
Lucille, too" And Tom made his es-
cape.
There wasn't much need for Lucy's
advice Things Strengthened them
selves out, once the awkwardness Of
the meeting was over. 1t seemed to
be a new Lucille-or q Lucille who
saw certain matters of household or
derliness with new eye. And young
Thomas soon lost the sense of con-
straint that had been with him when
he arrived. His four noisy, natural
cousins made that an easy matter
The happy meeting, Lucille called It
later on in her rather romantic way.