The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-03-16
Just We Two
BY JOSEPH CARLOS
g Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

| Fl AVING put the dinner dishes
away Margaret came into the
living room of our little apartment
and said, "You know, Ed, your
vacation begins in two weeks"
$50 it does" I replied, laying
aside the newspaper. ST haven't
thought much about it."
Il have. I've been thinking that
it would be nice if we could
spend this vacation alone together
just we two. We've been married
almost three years now, and with
you only home on week-ends,
haven't seen much of you. We
haven't even been alone on your
vacations. The first year mother
was with us; last year, your
brother"
Fright you are, honey" Ed re-
turned. well just slip away this
time. Where would you like to go?
Biloxi again?"
ooh, any place. Biloxi will do.
It's such a pleasant contrast to
these Knoxville hills
"Okay. Biloxi it'll be. And we
will just slip away"
One morning two weeks later the
rising sun found us headed south
ward, our sedan loaded with golf
clubs, fishing tackle, tennis rackets
and other vacation paraphernalia.
AS we approached Birmingham
around five o'clock Margaret sud-
denly had an idea. ooh, Ed" she
exclaimed, ''let's stop and see Mr..
and Mrs. O'Brien here in Birming-
ham!"
Eve can do anything we like, hon
ey," replied. "But just who are
Mr.. and Mrs. O'Brien?"
"They were neighbors of ours
years ago. Mrs. O'Brien used to
play with me when 1 was a little
girl. They live here in Birming-
ham now. I'd love to see her!"
well look 'em up and say hello
Then we'll go to a hotel for the
night, get an early start in the
morning and reach the coast some
time tomorrow afternoon.
After consulting the Birmingham
telephone directory and making sew
eral inquiries, we drove up in front
of Mrs. O'Brien's house.
The door was opened by a fat
woman past middle age, gray
haired and with a double chin, who
stared at US.
Hello, Mama O'Brien," gurgled
Margaret.
''Well if it amt little Margaret
! Ware!" gasped Mrs. O'Brien, op-
ening the screen and throwing her
huge arms around Margaret. Mar
| garet reciprocated, and for several
seconds they stood there kissing
and hugging and showering each
other with joyful greetings.
We went in and sat in the living
room where they talked of old times.
"How is Mr.. O'Brien?" asked Mar
! garet.
"Pop? His health amt been so
good the past few years. Had to
give up his plumbing business and
now he just putters around. He's
out now taking his afternoon walk. -
About that time the front door
opened and Pop entered. In sharp
contrast to his portly wife, Pop
was a weather-beaten little man,
bent and wrinkled. After a while
I suggested that we'd better 90, ex-
planning that we were getting an
early start in the morning.
"Why, you'll do no such thing!'
exclaimed Mrs. O'Brien while Pop
grinned toothlessly. "We've got
plenty of room; you'll stay right
here. l haven't seen this little girl
in over ten years. Besides, it'll
save you hotel bill"
We stayed.
Next morning Mrs. O'Brien pre-
pared an early breakfast for us,
after which we made ready to
leave. We went through the good
by formalities; I thanked them for
their hospitality.
Mr.. and Mrs. O'Brien stood on the
front porch as Margaret and I went
out to the car.
AS parting adieu waved hand
and called carelessly, Better go
with u.s.
Mrs. O'Brien said something to
Mr.. O'Brien. Mr.. O'Brien said
something back to Mrs. O'Brien.
"Hey, wait a minutel" called Mrs.
O'Brien. She came waddling out
to the car. 'That's an idea," she
said. "The coast climate would
be good for Pop. And I amt had
a vacation in twenty years. You
just wait till we pack-we'l go with
you'll"
Wet and Dry Gravel