The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-16

light was beginning to slant now.
He fastened his pace a little.
He felt strangely happy. He
felt that he was closer friend OF
brakes than he had ever been
before. 1t would be exciting to
see him often. And Randy, too.
He had never imagined she would
be so amusing. He thought of
Renee with sudden stab of con-
triton. He hadn't thought of her
all day, and she was certainly his
best friend.
The whole of Kings Row lay on
a gentle slope that lifted grad
ually from the creek on the south
to the struggle of Negro quarters
that edged the northern boundary
Of the town with a dsreputable
fringe of shacks and haphazard
lanes. On the northwest the land
dropped suddenly down a steep
incline There, at the foot of the
hill was a streach of level ground
perhaps quarter of a mile square
which was the site of unknown,
Long ago few foreigners bought
tiny lots there and built neat lit
Tie brick and-stone houses. 1t
was village i'll miniature.
Benny Singer aud his mother
lived in the smallest Of the Jmk-
town cottages - two rooms, one of
them hardly mere than a lean-to.
Benny was a big, gangling boy
Of 16, goodnatured and, in his
awkward fashion, kind. Benny
was a halfwit, but his mother was
thankful that he was obedient and
affectionate,
Mrs. Singer took off her quilted
gingham sunbonnet and famed
her flushed face. She hoped Benny
would get along all right this year
in school. He was having to stay
in the same grade again. This
was the fourth year he had failed
to be promoted. If he were only
a little bit quicker with figures he
might get job clerking in gro
Gerry store or something like that.
In time = when she was old - he
could support her. There might
come a day when she would no
longer take in washing. Washing
was downright hard work.
Benny walked with a slight roll
as though his head were too heavy
for his body. He was not exactly
comfortable in his mind He was
trying to remember something. 1t
was very hard to do. Whenever he
tried to think about something or
to remember, the whole thing SEEM
ed to SILVER and dissolve.
Of all the boys in school he be-
lieved he liked Drake McHugh
best. Drake was very friendly.
All at once he slowed his walk.
He remembered now what it was
he was trying to think about. He
stopped and looked back toward
home. Almost he wished he didn't
have to 60 to school. He hadn't
been promoted last year and he'd
have to stay in the same class
with the very young kids. Most |
of the boys would go on to an
other room this year and he'd |
have to stay with Miss Venable |
again.
When he came in sight of the
playground he forgot all about it.
Lots and lots of the kids were
there already, He hurried. He
paused on top Of the stile and
looked at the boys running about.
They caught sight of him. Full
mer Green shouted, 'Lookyl
There's Benny. Cmon. OF crazy
Benz" He winked, screWing his
mouth to one side so that his teeth
showed all the way back. "C'mon."
A crowd gathered around the
stile. Their grins We're derisive,
but Benny did not know that
Their eyes were eager for some
chance to make fun of him-Wait-
ing for him to say something silly,
but he did not know it. They
pushed closer - it was the pack
gathering - sensing victim, but
he knew nothing OF packs or their
ways. Benny was glad to be back
at school where there were SO
many friendly faces.
He steppd down from the stile.
Hello, everybody" he said hap
PLY.