Evening star., 1936-07-12
Mosozins Section


her with the other Orphs who had the
measles. He read books to the small
ones, carried water to the thirsty ones.
Each morning he made the rounds of
all the beds with the doctor.
Shortly after getting over the
measles, Willard thought he was going
to be adopted. You're to 60 to the
main hall, Willard. Some people, Mr..
and Mrs. Warner, asked especially
for you"
When he went i'll to meet them. he
stuck his hands in his pockets and
peeked out of the tail of his eye. The
woman was tall. All in black with the
Misunderstanding veil on her hat. She
talked to her husband about the time
before they had lost Timmy. Willard
realized that Timmy was their little
dead son. Willard felt sorry for the
woman in black. lie tried to say some
thing that would make her feel better.
Like, Hes gone to live with God,
Mrs. Warner" That was what they'd
said to him when his mother and father
died.
But Georgina's words hammered in
his ears. TOO bad you're so homely,"
and all he could say was. 'I-I-"
And he stood first on one foot. then
another.
MIR. Warner was kind and asked
him some questions. Willard wanted
to speak up, but. his throat was dry
and his tongue felt swollen.
Presently they said goodbye. Some
more people who didn't want him.
Willard tried to tell himself that the
Warmers didn't look in the least like
that imaginary father and mother he
knew so we'll. But Willard couldn't eat
a bite of supper that night.
The next morning Miss Elliott came
into arithmetic class. Mrs. Warner
is here again, Willard"
Then they hadn't disliked him! Will
lard rushed to the main hall. 1t was
the hurTying that made him miss the
little rug in the doorway. He tripped
and fell headlong into the room where
the Warmers were waiting for him.
And then his hands and feet were as
large and stiff as a snowmm's. He
couldn't say word The clock on the
mantle ticked and ticked. Minutes
seemed like hours.
Finally. he was outdoors in the back
courtyard. Willard tried to cool his
burning cheeks in the fountain that
bubbled there. He heard DR.. Laird's
car crunch the gravel in the drive on
the other side of the shrubs and ran
to meet her As he fioundered in the
bushes. he heard her voice.
Hello. Claire, Sam. Did you see
him?"
Mr.. Warner answered, I'VE even
came back to see him the second time.
Thought we must have missed some
thing the first time"
Mrs. Warner walled, What made
you think we'd like him, Agnes? Of
all the tongue-tied, awkward ="
Willard's not awkward" cried DR..
Laird. Hes most unusual ="
But Willard was already running
across the courtyard to the meadow
so that's why the Warmers asked for
me. Because Dr. Laird sent them.
She's sorry for me-"
At that moment he almost hated
her. But he couldn't really hate DR..
Laird no matter what she did. He
wondered where she lived. She wasn't
married, he knew, because he had once
asked her. What time would / have
for a husband, WHIP" she had ans
wered him.
He imagined her living in bare
room, a little like the infirmary, with
beds all along the walls, and being
very busy with sick kids. Suddenly,
he could almost smell the hollyhocks
along the picket fence at his own old
home. He stood very still and knew