The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-17
Chapterrl2
Room For Rent

Room HOr Kent
JOHNNY pushed the chair out
~ to the walk. then came back
to Jan who was scraping food
remnants of plates and stacking
dishes to be washed. In the un-
kind glare of the overhead light
she looked tired, he thought.
Damn it all, why couldn't she
take the job and hire someone to
do this drudgery!
He said as much. II couldn't"
she sighed. you saw how Lance
behaved. / wish you hadn't men,
toned il in front of him. It's bad
for him to be aroused that way"
She didn't. tell him she felt like
a WORKOUT buffer from constantly
trying to keep things running
smoothly in the growing turbu-
lence Of her household. For Lance,
despite his good resolves. had not
apologized for storrning about
Derek. Instead he had chosen to
ignore the whole episode with the
consequence that it hung like an
Opaque curtain between them.
Granting that she was entitled
: to romance. to a sweetheart, he
! yet resented it should be {, man
Z OF whom none of them knew any
: thing. 5Et8F
s 'T'll dry the, dishes for YOU"
1 Johnny offered in an unexpected
access Of generosity. His actions
broke her bad mood. for he was
2 so afraid he'd get, drop of water
on his too perfect clothes that he
stood far back from the drain
board and reached for dishes with
an awkwardneSs worthy Of
movie comic.
When they finished Johnny put
his arms around her and peered
anxiously down into her weary
eyes. 81 wish ! could take you
out of all this, Jan. I'm crazy
about you, honey. l will take you
out, too, the minute / get my own
band"
''If I let you," she parried, too
tired to resent his arms about her
because they were, somehow,
comforting and friendly. He drew
her head to his shoulder and laid
his cheek against her bright.
tousled hair. you're so little and
so sweet" he said. gently stroking
her shoulder.
The kitchen door swung inward
and Derek observed the tableau.
Sorry to intrude," he barked.
shut Mould like some lotion. My
face burns like the very devil"
Jan, embarrassed. shy, drew
away from Johnny. deteSting the
blush she felt dyeing her cheeks.
Why should sheafeel guilty? Ger
tainly she meant nothing to
Derek.
'I'll get it for you" she offered,
huTrying to the little chest over
the sink and taking out bottle
of honey and almond lotion.
While Johnny watched. glow
ering. she poured some of the
liquid into her palm and distrib-
uted it carefully over Derek's
face and neck. By the time she
finished Derek was grinning.
did / enter before or after the
kiss?" he inquired impudently.
Jan glared at him. That's hate
full of you"
"Oh. don't mind me. folks. I'm
an ideal chaperone. Right now I
intend retiring and leaving you
all alone!"
Listen, you," Johnny began.
but Derek was already through
the door.
Jan giggled helplessly. Hes
enthusiastically outrageous
and so delightful"
Not to me he isn't" Johnny
growled. 81 don't see anything
funny. Ifll be the happieSt day
Of my life when he leaves this
house for good! Well, / guess !
better be getting to the club. See
you later. honey"
4 % Another Coney Island
8 IAN. alone in the big silent
- downstairs, took her account
book from the kitchen cuphoafd
and settled down at the table.
worrying a stub of pencil with
her teeth. Taxes were due in
April. Outrageous taxes. because
the house chose to sit on a choice
piece of beach front She could
not possibly pay the taxes with
what she had saved and what
little money would be coming in.
Upstairs there were FIVE bed
rooms all in use. Derek. she de-
cided. would have to give I'D his
room and either put up a tent
on the roof or take the davenport
in the living room. for she must
have another twenty dollars
month to add TO Johnny's twenty
and Norma's forty. Il was fortu-
nate that Norma liked boarding
with them, as she was so little
trouble and the extra money was
a life saver. Eighty dollars a
month plus a little now and then
from Derek and the sale OF
Lance's plane models would pull
them through.
She found hammer and a few
tacks, located the Room for
Rent sign she'd used last year
and tackled il up at the side of
the front door. Putting down the
hammer. she showed her hands
into the pockets of blue jeans
and strolled up toward the pier,
thinking she'd drop in and talk
10 Frank awhile. The night was
:lear and chill. A slice Of moon
aung like a suspended cradle