The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-08-09
BY GEORGE MORRISON


Sally sat curled up in the big
chair on the sun porch, with the
book she had brought down to read
lying neglected in her lap. She was
too sad to read.
Sally drew down the corners of
her mouth wistfully, feeling very
pale and lovely and heartbroken.
It was, very comfortable feeling.
She wished someone were around
to notice; no point in looking pale
and all that If you didn't have an
audience. Well, mother ad father
would be home pretty soon and she
might as we'll practice up.
She had Just about decided to
waste away before their very eyes
mothers and fathers very eyes
- into a mere shadow of her
present self.
Shed be wan ara pensive, she
determined, but withal firm. She
wanly drew a sticky caramel from
the bag In her pocket and pensive-
ly popped 1t into her mouth; then
chewed 1t firmly. It was the wrong
moment, psychologically, to eat a
caramel. The screen door swung
open and there was mother.
Apparently they'd driven the
car around to the back instead
of pulling up in front first, accord
ing to their invariable custom. An
other instance, Sally thought, of
the thoughtlessness and generally
callous conduct Of parents. She
hastily swallowed the caramel,
almost choking in the process.
Mrs. Richards looked at her 49,
year-o!d daughter and sighed.
Are you still incoming over that
silly boy?" she asked.
Sally had recovered from the
caramel sufficiently to answer: "He
isn't silly; and I'm not incoming"
She drew the corners Of her mouth
down wistfully, according to plan,
and added: mo one understands
me-that's the troubled" 3.
Mrs. Richards INDUCED in an
other sigh and continued her re-
proach. "But, Sally, don't you see
how silly you're being? At your age
to be SO serious over a boy! You're
making yourself look very foolish;
everyone is laughing at YOU"
Let them laugh" said Sally
with all the dignity she could mus
ter. Jim and I are"-she'd saved
UP this phrase for a long time
Spirits set apart"
Mrs. Richards controlled an i'm
pulse to laugh and said sternly:
you're pair of young fools! Two
silly kids! Sally, forbid you to
see that boy again."
Sally could think Of no adequate
ly crushing reply; so she did her
best to look wistful. She even tried
to turn pale-a difficult thing for
a healthy little girl with rosy
cheeks to do. Anyway, she felt
pale. Mother apparently did not
notice. She went right on talking.
''Why can't you be little more
interested in your studies? Father
has been hoping that you'd be on
the honor roll soon. Think how 1t
would please him. And you
wouldn't have that little Janet Turk
calling you a dummy. Janet is
always on the honor roll"
Sally's eyes flashed. Janet Turk
giant word that she wanted, but
couldn't quite remember, and she
finished with, "a goof, that's what
she isl"
"sally, what crude express
siont"
well, she is. I'm not a dunn
my! Love is more important than
doing an old algebra problem. No
one would ever fall in love with
Janet Turk, you bet. or four-eyes!%
Sally rose from her chair and
sailed majestically through the
door, up the stairs and into her
room. Mrs. Richards sighed a
third time = long and defeated
sigh.
That evening Mr.. Richards, set
tied in a comfortable chair, list
ened patiently to Mrs. Richards
TRADE against young girls and boys
going steady together. At the con-
clusion of the discussion he smiled
lovingly at his wife. why, Mar
tha," he chuckled, "that's moth
ing to get excited about. TIN turn
out all right in the end. Just you
wait, she will be all right. Don't
worry"
In the meantime up in her room
Sally was thinking. If she commit
ted suicide then her parents would
be sorry. All, a better plan. She