The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-08-24

face. do IL" / expected her TO
laugh or either screw up her nose
in disgust at my attempt to be fun
ny. She did neither, but suddenly
turned to me and in all seriousness
said. Listen Joe - I've liked
YOU for so long until It isn't even
funny anymore. and I've known
you long enough to guess what you
will do and what you won't. |
guessed you didn't steal the money
and YOU didn't and l guessed you
wouldn't fight. when you needed
to and you won't. It's like this"
she paused moment in which I
grapsed the opportunity TO query:
II don't follow YOU. vickie. what
dya mean? Why won't | fight. end
for what?"
Just this. Joe. for letting a herd
o. over-grown penguins razz you
about your features. Suppose YOU
have got unusually curly hair for
a boy and blue eyes like a g!rl
You can't help Il. But they know
sou haven't got any Sheridan fig
ure and Dietrich legs. 20 uknow
u too. but why do you take IT.
Why do you take it2 Why do you
let them make you feel smaller
than a needles eye when you real
~ don't have 10? Because they
once called you Skinney. does that
mean they got perfect right to tease
you about your natural features -?
TO call YOU every stupid name un-
der the sun including Glamour
Boy and dozen others?"
She might have ratified on end
lessly IL hadn't cut in then with.
Listen, Vickie. you got me all
wrong. They don't get away with
nothing. Why | always"
"Cuss EN- up breeze" size
snapped shortly. but Joe swearing
never did and never will take the
place OF good sock in the eve.
Don't YOU see. all they need Is one
good licking. and after that they'll
be glad TO leave you alone. But
you won't fight back Joe, and |
know why"
popped up then and asked.
Why"
Because you're afraid. Joe-he-
cause all your life you've been n
playboy, afraid TO grow up and be
man. You're afraid a good sinner
will mar your pretty face forever
an deyer. Listen Joe. don't ex-
pect you TO he a whole man. hut
you're not even half OF one. the
smallest OF men will be at some
times brave enough 10 fight for
their good name. their general rep
utation. Real men fight, anyway.
for what they want. for what they
love most They don't always win.
but their reward is the satisfaction
they get OF knowing they did al
least. try. Oh. you look like q
man and talk like a man and dress
dhu Walk IKE one, but you have
the CUTS OF a weazel."
AT the same time her voice fad
cd we stopped In front OF her
house at the foot OF West Cherry
l started to speak. but somehow
words and my adams apple got
tangled up and nothing came out.
] knew vickie was sort OF embar-
raseed by the silence, too. for she
clasped my hand In hers for a
moment and quietly murmurod
I'm sorry, Joe, G'Bye."
watched her race up the side
walk until the end Of her bright
red skirt swished out OF sight, and
then ! turned away only TO he
acutely aware that the warmth OF
her hand still fingered In mine. !
can't tell exactly how ! felt be-
cause I don't know words we'll
suited enough TO describe II, bu. I
can say this I felt happier then
than I'd ever felt in my life.
That night finished my paper
route early and went 10 bed taking
headache. Ma didn't say any
thing. As soon as had locked
myself In. lowered myself on my