The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-14

mao insisted LnaC JOnn build 1t all
himself-with Capt. Henrys help.
At first John had been sure he
couldn't do it, but now it was done,
he felt more confident.
In his boat, the boy could escape
from his loving family. He liked to
glide through the blue quiet where
his two sisters couldn't boss him
or make him feel small with older
sister scorn. On the water, his ia
theirs booming voice couldn't STAR
tie him with orders to help wash the
car or return serves for his fathers
tennis practice. With the rudder in
his hand, he didn't have to listen to
long, heart-to-heart talks from
Mama, urging him to have more
pluck.
OF course, Mama was "oke." The
sailboat was her idea. He heard
her tell his father that II John had
something all his own, it would give
him more spirit His father was
splendid, too, but he had a way of
always being right. In his sailboat,
the boy could make mistakes with
out hearing about them afterWard.
This morning was waShout. OF
course, he shouldn't have made
such mess in the parlor, taking
apart the radio. At first, he had
only meant to investigate a tube
or two. He had been whistling in
a happy world of wires and bolts
and screws when his sister Jenny's
shrill voice startled him.
Wait till father catches you'll"
she rejoiced.
LIS whistling stopped. He hur-
J. = riedly tried to assemble the set
again. OF course, as Mama said,
he shouldn't have left the radio
with half its insides out. He agreed
with Mama that a surgeon oper-
ating on a patient would never do
such a thing. He tried to replace
the parts until his father called him
away to help change tire by hold
ing the nuts and wrench. Mama
looked hurt to think he'd want to
shove the blame on Daddy when
Daddy was so good and kind to him.
Of course, it wasn't his fathers
fault that the Garden Clubs presi-
dent chose that moment to call and
be entertained in parlor strewn
with radio. John knew he shouldn't
hang his head and sniffle WHEN his
father came roaring in. Mama
always told him 1t only made Daddy
roar louder because he loved John
so much.
Such a baby!" his sister, Al
vina, jeered.
You'd think he was three in
stead of r." Jenny put in.
If he could have slapped each of
them hard, he would have felt
better. But Mama said manly
boy never hit a woman or girl. He
glared murderously at his sister
and then tore out on the porch,
sobbing. He could hear his father
blaming Mama for making such a
mollycoddle of her son and
Mamas apologize voice pacifying
him.
A S he fought sobs on the steps,
IN he caught glimpse of his boat
in the harbor below. The tears dried
on his cheeks. 1t would be fun to
go for a sail. With shippers eye,
he considered the horizon. There
was a fine stiff breeze blowing >. t.
but that cloud didn't look so good
for boats. Captain Henry said that
kind of a cloud meant double
header. Sailing in his boat just then
would have made him happier than
winning the Junior Tennis Tourna-
ment. but he wasn't going to risk a
wreck. At least he could be sure his
boat was tied safely.
A few minutes later he was
whistl:ag happily in his anchored
boat. inventing sailors knot that
would defy hurricane. 1t was a
kind OF game, racing to see whether
he or the storm would get possession
of his boat.
"John!" His father, of course.
The boy crouched down in the
bottom of his skiff. Perhaps if he
kept quiet, they would pass by with
out seeing him. Footsteps crunched
nearer.
why John, why didn't you an
swer Daddy?" Mama reproached
him.
TINE faces of Mama and his
Il father were looking down at him
like a double headed god, catching
him in sin. He hung his head. The
new sailors knot didn't make him
happy any more. Probably it
wouldn't have been any good any,
how.
Get the sail, john" his father
commanded. Mama and I are 60
ing for a ride"
But there's a storm coming"
the boy objected.
Nonsense, it will pass over" his
father dismissed the cloud with a
glance. Give us a good breeze"
But Captain Henry said ="
the boy protested.
mo whining! Do as I tell you'll"
Unhappily, the boy scrambled out
to obey. His feet might have been
anchored, he dragged them so
slowly to the locker room. There
was storm coming. He knew
it, II the boat vas hit But
1t was no use, no earthly use argu-
ing. Reluctantly he hauled the sail
out and flung it before his father.
why joint 1t isn't like you to
be so contrary" Mama made her
eyes wide and sorrowful.
Key. give us hand with that
SAIL" hts father called.
ATEVER had the hoy NIT lin fhe