Or maybe around .』
"That was a good time to be living, Biff agreed.
Blount shuffled his feet self-sciously. His face was rough and unhappy. He was ready to leave. Biff was alert to detain him. Tell me—why did you ever e to this town anyway? He knew immediately that the question had not been a politie and he was disappointed with himself. Yet it was queer how the man could land up in a place like this.
Its the Gods truth I dont know.』
They stood quietly for a moment, both leaning on the ter.
The game of di the er was fihe first dinner order, a Long Island duck special, had been served to the fellow who mahe A. and P. store. The radio was turned halfway between a church sermon and a swing band.
Blount leaned over suddenly and smelled Biffs face.
Perfume?』
Shaving lotion, Biff said posedly.
He could not keep Blount lohe fellow was ready to go.
He would e in with Singer later. It was always like this.
He wao draw Blount out pletely so that he could uaaiions ing him. But Blount would never really talk—only to the mute. It was a most peculiar thing.
"Thanks for the cigar, Blount said. See you later.』
So long.』
Biff watched Blount walk to the door with his rolling, sailor-like gait. Theook up the duties before him. He looked over the display in the window. The days menu had been pasted on the glass and a special dinner with all the trimmings was laid out to attract ers. It looked bad. Right nasty.
The gravy from the duck had run into the berry saud a fly, was stu the dessert.Hey, Louis! he called. Take this stuff out of the window.
And brihat red pottery bowl and some fruit.』
He arrahe fruits with an eye for color and design. At last the decoration pleased him. He visited the kit and had a talk with the cook. He lifted the lids of the pots and she food inside, but without heart for the matter. Alice always had
dohis part. He disliked it. His nose sharpened when he saw the greasy sink with its scum of food bits at the bottom. He wrote down the menus and the orders for the day. He was glad to leave the kit and take his stand by the cash register again.
Lucile and Baby came for Sunday dihe little Md was not so good now. The bandage was still on her head and the doctor said it could not e off until month. The binding of gauze in place of the yellow curls made her head look naked.
Say hello to Uncle Biff, Hon, Lucile prompted.
Baby bridled fretfully. Hello to Unca Biff Hon, she gassed.
She put up a struggle when Lucile tried to take off her Sunday coat. Now you just behave yourself, Lucile kept saying. "You got to take it off or youll cateumonia when we go out again.. Now you just behave yourself.』
Biff took the situation in charge. He soothed Baby with a ball of dy gum and eased the coat from her shoulders. Her dress had lost its set iruggle with Lucile. He straighte so that the yoke was in line across her chest He retied her sash and crushed the bow to just the right shape with his fingers. Theted Baby on her little behind. We got some strawberry ice cream today, he said.
Bartholomew, youd make a mighty good mother.』
Thanks, Biff said. Thats a pliment』
We just been to Sunday School and church. Baby, say the verse from the Bible you learned for your Uncle Biff.』
The kid hung bad pouted. Jesus wept, she said finally.
The s that she put iwo words made it sound like a terrible th