The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-06-09
Brick Buys a
Kirnono
By KATHLEEN MALLORY
q. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNIJ Service

~ two weeks ago. 1t wasn't really
kimono. That was just Bricks ap-
pellation. 1t was really a gorgeous
blue chiffon velvet peignoir. Mr.. Bon
ner had brought it. 1t was late at
night, and Brick had tiptoed to the
kitchen for drink Of water.
Drinking the water, he had over
heard Mr.. Bonner talking to Mumsy.
He liked Mr.. Bonner. He never forgot
to bring him something. 1t was al
ways there on the breakfast table next
morning. The most wonderful things.
He was listening: "Jerry. you angel
It's too sweet Of you for words,
but / can't let you. You're darling
the best friend q woman ever had.
But It's impossible. . !. I'll shut my
eyes and pretend forever after
that it's mine, when I'm wearing that
ragged, shabby old thing In there
Bricks breath expelled on long
breath that was almost a sob. He
peeked through the crack Of the swing
Ing door to the living room. His
mother stood facing him, holding the
gorgeous blue 'klmono" up to her
shoulders. Regretfully, she began
folding 1t carefully back into its It's
sue wrappings.
Don't be absurd, Sylvia" Jer-
some Bonner was speaking, gruffly.
That's my birthday gift to you. l
shall be away next month, and / want
ed you to have 1t In time. Don't spoil
my fun, please, old girl. l get such
q kick out of doing 1t for you."
please, Jerry" Bricks mother said
thickly, don't. Bring me some little
trinket that's inexpensive"
"Sylvia let me take care OF
you always! Please, dear. /
love you So"
"Now, Jerry! You know how
things are. I'm going to bring Brick
up, first My first duty is to him.
And why Jerry, I've fine
young man to take care Of me. | want
nothing In this world, beyond my home,
here, and Brick!
Brick had crept off to bed, shiver-
ing. Gosh She had said he was
enough.
Then he saw 1t again. Three days
later. 1t was in shop window, and
there was nothing else there. Only
the blue kimono Some way, somehow,
he must get that blue kimono for
mumsy.
He went in and priced it. He nearly
fell over when the lady said twenty
five dollars. She might as well have
said twenty-five hundred. Gosh. That
was the same price as the bicycle
But now the bike was forgotten
Each night, when he was through
peddling his papers, he went to stare,
fascinated, at the blue kimono. Mum
sy's birthday was next week, too.
He used to worry about 1t, as he
peddled papers. II someone else
bought it, first! Seven bucks saved.
Gosh, how could he make it? Three
more days. He couldn't make 1t.
Then several things happened Mum
sy was working in store, part time,
and he was alone one night. In the
closet, looking for book stored away
he came across the picture. 1t was his
father, he knew that Mumsy had
told him. Her eyes had looked all
scrunchy when she told him. He never
asked her any more about him. But
he knew he was alive.
Then one day Bricks father bought
a paper from him. Brick knew him
instantly. The same face only the
hair was gray now. Expensive fur
coat. Costly clothes. "A Post, sonny.
Keep the change'-two dimes.
The day before mumsy's birthday,
the man stopped again. 1t was cold.
Bricks fingers were numb with cold.
He dropped his papers, and his hat
fell off. The man bit off an exclama-
ton. my God" he said, "the same
hair event. Then hoarsely, Here,
Sonny get yourself something. A
bike shoes" Brick stared at
the fifty dollar bill, as the man jumped
into taxi and drove off, Only that
noon he had seen the mans smiling
face In the tabloids he had sold along
State street Noted actor celebrates
new hit by marrying leading lady"
He began to shiver, but not with
cold. Frantically, he searched his
paper bag and found the tabloid; the
last remaining one. There 1t was,
"State Street Theater," Brick started
toward State stret. He borrowed an en-.
velope from the cashier. On it, he
wrote his own name. 1t was also his
fathers. He knew that, now, from
the tabloids. Rick Chandler, Star OF
New Moon. Inside, he tucked the fifty
dollar bill 1t was his defeated hope
Of ever owning the blue kimono or the
new bike. But he did not falter
mumsy would want him to-
On the way he saw the sign. 1--WE
buy old bikes" Brick went In. He
came out, minus his dilapidated old
like, but richer by ten dollars. He'd
get another, some day. Now he'd get
mumsy a birthday present. A blue
kimono.
Brick raced to the shop He nearly
suffocated with Joy. Marked down to
nineteen fifty!
He stole into the house. In the hall
glittering object arrested him. II
was new bike 1t was the New Bike
But Brick didn't stop. He took the
stairs on high.
"Hey, Nom Hey Looky bought
you present." Brick, you angel r
Sylvia held up the blue peignoir
Tears sparkled In her lashes Brick
It's the most divine thing How did
you dream / wanted one?" Brick
swa ooarad Ha ctrr1tfad