The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-06-29
chapter %
Upset And Downcast

The bells Of Quanomet's three
churches were pealing out
their summonses the next morn
ing as Asey and Pam emerged
from Aaron Frye's bedroom and
slowly descended the stairs. TIE
irstant the bells stopped. Aaron's
clocks burst into their TRADE
Peggy Boone. who had been
waiting with Mrs. Carr in the cir
cular hallway, covered her ears
with her hands.
Il hope Aaron's better" she had
70 yell to make herself heard
above the din, "and-golly, I've
got to get outi Those clocksp'
Poor girl. Mrs Carr said SYM
pathetlcally as Peggy rushed
away. "The clocks nearly drove
her crazy last night. They BOTH
cred me at first. but I'm used to
EN-. She says she woke up on the
hour every hour. and lust as she
got to sleep the half hour rolled
around. She looks exhausted"
The cumulative effect is shat
tering," Pam said. II hate clocks
myself. So does Peg. But Father
enjoys"
"How is he? What can | do,
ParH2 If only I'd known about him
last night. and could have helped
iii never forgive Tim for letting
me think all the to-do was over
those troOpersl Neverl Can't I
read him the Sunday papers. or
something? Is he well enough?"
You might take him up the
funny parts. Pam told her.
But should he laugh?" Mrs.
Carr demanded. Won't it be bad
for him to laugh"
HE won't laugh" Pam told her
with finality. Don't you worry,
he won't taught He not only can't
laugh, but he doesn't want to. He
wouldn't laugh If he were in the
best Of health. the pinkest of the
pink"
Pam followed Asey into the
study and threw herself YEARLY
on the couch.
In all honesty" she said, "can
YOU find any small vestige of Sill
yer lining, Asey?"
eWa-el. Asey said, aAaron's
jaw is broken. an that tooth can
be replaced. an his ankle1l be all
right in few days. An when you
consider what happened to Ma
Tina. it's nice to know nothin'
worse happened to him.
II didn't mean about Father
know It's a holy wonder he's
here. I'm thinking about the am
bergris. Oh, Asey, that aTnbergris!
| wasn't going to tell Father until
he felt better. but the minute his
eyes opened after Cummings pills
wore OF. he raised himself up and
peered out of the window and saw
the ruins of the barn. And then of
course had TO tell. | wish the
place had been insured. Somehow
i. would have consoled me Just to
get $50 out of the mess. I'd settle
for ten. cash Asey. why do you
look so enigmatic?"
Didn't know that was" Asey
returned. sI'm just sort of wrestl-
in an iugglin' things over in my
head. an ] amt responsible for
what it does to my facial express
SONS"
Goose Burns Goose
"vITHAT Is there to wrestle
" about?" Pam asked. The
aTnbergris Is gone. There you are.
That's that. suppose should Be
sR. brave girl and stick cut my chin
and sAy~l don't care. better luck
next time, it's courage 10 face
tfcts--aren't there lots Of worthy
sentiments for misfortune and de-
fGaf7 And all could think OF
when | found the afnbergris--was
II only the day before Yesterday
II seems like so years, Anyway,
all could think Of when / found
II was. sGeei' Now ] can prattle
about counting chickens before
they're Matched. and fools para
discs. and--oh, dammit Aseyl
Damn, damn. damn. dan1nl"
Il dunno" asey said. Il don't
think its as bad as all that"
oh, | still have my healthls
Pam retorted Savagely. II know.
Fsther viii be well in few DAYS,
and I still have my health. Good
old healthl Think Of all the poor
Snanlards and the poor Chinese
anu the unemployed and the dis
tressed areas-sure. We still have
our health. and we still have what
passes for a roof tree. Untold
thousands would consider US
heavily endowed. Ovefburdened
with fortune. Dear me, yesl'
Asey grinned at her. Stop befn'
so sorry for yourself, he said. san'
pause an reflect Why was the
barn burned down."
AFor al I knew Pam said