The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-12-03
Chapter 35
Oracle Proves A Barb

Oracle Proves A Barb
before Nina, in all her prepa-
- rations, had been the vision OF
Gracie's delicious meal served
so easily.
Her own salads and sandwiches
had seemed, as she prepared them,
perfect examples of the culinary
art. But now, as she came out with
the dishes, her confidence van-
ished. People had to get up and
move back their chairs, as she
crossed over to the buffet
which suddenly seemed too large
for the amount of food.
There were not enough little
tables to put things on. David had
to eat off the mantel. Jack Knight
looked uncomfortable with two
plates on his knees, and his glass
on the floor beside him.
Nina had planned on some hot
soup to start off the cold meal; but
In her embarrassment over the
general disturbance, she forgot it
until they were well into the lob
ster salad. Oracle went out with
her. into the messy kitchen, and
helped her carry in the cups /.
the very last thing Nina wanted.
The mangled salad and half
eaten sandwiches looked particu-
larry unappetizing, when they re-
turned TO them. Nina could think
of less and less to say.
Her color grew more like the
belly of perch, by the minute.
The meal, that had taken so
many hours to prepare, was over
In what seemed like as many min
utes. Although the living-room
looked like a hotel pantry after
q convention banquet, she began
70 worry that they had not had
enough to eat.
David was having such a good
time with Oracle, that she began
TO hate him. Every word of praise
about her food sounded, to her dis
traught ears, like a grown-up's
kindly efforts to humor a child.
There was no screen to put up,
70 hide the unsightly mess, as
there had been at Gracie's apart
ment; and everybody pitched In
and helped to clear up the place.
David had demonstrated at first,
and insisted on doing the work
thanksgiving to please Nina;
but his progress was so slow, that
Oracle just got up quietly, and
proceeded to help him. Hateful
girl. In moment, it was general.
They all bumped into each other,
going In and out of the kitchen,
and Francine got spilled on.
When Nina came back from put
ting French chalk on her guests
dress, Oracle had the whole place
cleared away. The bridge tables
down. The cloth folded.
Great work, Gracie," David
was congratulating her, and Nina
retired to the bathroom for quiet
cry.
The next thing was that they
ran out of ice. David had to 60 to
the corner to get some. Oracle
to keep him company-went too.
Then cigarettes. Nina had for
gotten to get an extra carton. Jack
knight went this time.
And, then, after they had put up
the bridge tables again, they dis
covered that there weren't enough
poker chips in the one box Nina
had bought at the cigar store.
Oracle suggested using matches.
Excuse me just a second, will
you. while ! go and look for
some
More getting up, and moving Of
chairs.
David was so polite, so eager to
be a help that he was constantly
saying LET me, sweetheart" and
"Ill 20, oaby," -. thereby calling
attention to her lahors. He never
let her squeeze by him, but
jumped up to let her pass, and
then Jack and Bill would have to
jump up too ). offer their asSis-
tance -.
Just To Wiring Her Neck
IT seemed to poor Nina, who had
4 tried so hard 70 make her party
a success, that the entire evening
was spent moving furniture. mill
ing about going for soup, or
ice. or cigarettes that had been
forgotten And Oracle. all the
time, helping her out. smoothing
over her mistakes And not
only that, very definitely playing
up 10 David. Damn her, so cool and
healthy looking. So efficient.
Damn her she could have
tossed of this silly party. on
crutches, with one arm in a sling.
and they all knew il. Nina had a
fierce desire TO pick her up in her
little Si2.T5 model. and plunk her
down at the Central Park Casino
with a sophisticated crowd. and
confront her with q menu in
French Though that was silly.
too. Oracle would have got away