The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1954-03-31
Q BY ROGER SPLINTER


Oka-san loosened his blet another
notch and thought for the thou
sandth time, that he should really
eat less, he was getting too round in
face as well as body Tt was diff
cult not to eat ones fill if the food
was here, well-prepared and plenti-
ful-his book store business had
grown slowly and the early days had
been lean days and he'd been lean
himself.
The opened letter was still in
front of him and he read it swiftly
again, bending his head slightly o.
yer the low, carved table He felt
his wife pause beside him and knew
she was reading it over his shoulder
even though he'd read it aloud the
first time with excitement and plea
sure. This was the first time that
he'd ever been asked to address the
Booksellers Club. the very first
time and it must be considered a
mark of confidence, of awareness
that he, Okla, was a successful Bu-
siness Man.
| He pictured himself, standing e.
rect at the head of the long table in
the modern restaurant, his best suit
carefully creased, freshly shaven..
definitely man with Presence, a
man with the patina of success He
heard his own voice pitched to a So
nervousness that would carry clearly
down the long table.
Gentleman, this is indeed sig
nal honor 1t is more of an honor
when l consider that it comes from
you, men have known a long time
men who have achieved success in
the difficult profession of book sell
many disreputable businesses that
| spring up and flourish briefly, ther
vanish overnight even as snow on 6
street caught by the bright sum-.
He liked that poetic reference tC
the bright sun 1t could be inter
preted as the searching light of Gus
toners critical appraisal or the APP
probation of ethical business men
Not too clear, that fanciful smile
but imagination stirring.
He felt the approving sustained
glances of the assembled business
men here to do him honor and his
thoughts disjoinIed with the pietho-
ia OF polished phrases ne had half
consciously stored through the years
. the glorious vista ahead
success is but the elimination OF
accrued honesties' honesty is
always the best policy. they we're
applauding him now, not the per-
fCnctcry applause of the somnolent
but the appreciative applause OF the
enthralled
His wife's voice, startling close TO
his ear, erased the pleasant scene
instantly. He was again in his own
house, his stomach uncomfortably
full, the letter before him
L wonder" she said why they
ask you so late The speech is to-
morrow She padded off to the
kitchen without waiting for an an
swer and Okla wagged his head as if
to shake off the remark but it floa-
ted around his head and echoed in
his ears, drowning the lingerings of
the sparkling generalities that had
been there.
Why, indeed The day before. The
Committee for Proceedings was eff
ficient Why, indeed He tried to
conjure the long room, again with
himself standing at the speakers
place but his brain wouldn't focus.
Then, he had it. OF course, he'd
call Sato-san, the chairman. Sato-
san would be frank, he felt sure
ITS not that i don't. want 10
speak I'm honored, really" O.
ka-san said to the round black
mou hpiece of the telephone. ITS
just that I'm: ah. wondering why
the committee waited SO long to
ah-tell me I'd been chosen He
tried not to sound aggrieved, not to
intimate by any overtones that he
was desperately hoping to hear that
it was an administrative oversight,
this last minute request, that they
had wanted him all along, for
long time. that he'd been delibera-
tely selected
Sato-sans voice buried back, SUI
ave and cheerful: Somebody slip
ped, I suppose, Oka-san You should
have been told a long time ago I'm
apologizing for the unknown guilty
one. Please try to make the engage
ment we really want to hear
YOU