Show e- e T f fOR A l f O I v e 6 f By MARJORIE ABBOTT m eO nO I AM looked uncomfortable as he SAM stood with his large larce feet planted awkwardly on Harriet Sweets Sweet's oriental rug His lIis violin was tucked under one arm and with his free freehand freehand freehand hand he pushed a thick lock o of 01 hair away from his dark ugly face tace All AU right Sam lets let's try it again said Harriet She sat a at t straight backed on the piano bench and played the introduction to on the mahogany 1 I grand Her gray cray head kept time timeto timeto to to the music with lively little nods Yes maam ma'am said Sam His voice was changing Every move he he made was done in an agony of at self consciousness He brought his violin up to his chin and then forgot forgot for tor- got himself as he brought the rich tones to life beneath his fingers angers Harriet sighed as the last note oft became stilled That was splendid Sam she said I haven't another pupil as talented as you arc A light showed briefly in his dark eyes end then he blushed and moistened his lips Harriet wondered sometimes why she wanted so much to win this boys boy's friendship He was tive He had a last name she F couldn't begin to pronounce It was partly the longing of a lonely lonel childless childless childless child child- less woman she e supposed for f someone to mother j r ri The music should have formed a bond between them But up to now she felt relt she was losing the battle to pierce his shyness and win Sams Sam's friendship For six months he be had bad come to her ber herI herfor I i. i r for his weekly lesson but bot although al although al- al though h she had tried In every way she knew to get nest nerl to the boy she had bad failed railed I have no friends he had told her once bluntly when she had bad questioned him and she had an aching picture of him working hard alter after school to earn money to help out at home with his brothers and sisters squeezing out the extra dollar for a music lesson practicing late at night She would have loved to help him in some way but he be was proud and independent Sam cleared his throat and wiped his arm ann across his sweating fore fore- head Mrs Sweet Im I'm going to stop taking lessons he said L Oh Sam Sam said Harriet Why My kid brother busted my violin This one is borrowed from my old oldmans oldmans mans man's sister just for tonight Im I'm Im I'm going to earn another fiddle It will take a while They have them at J Brothers' Brothers music store for 15 bucks As soon as I get it Ill I'll be back It was the longest speech he had ever made Harriet reached over the bronze bust of Beethoven on top of the piano piano piano pi pi- ano and took her own violin lovingly loving loving- l ly from its alligator case t r Theres no need of missing those lessons Sam she said You may mayuse mayuse t use my violin as long as you need I one She tried not to think about I t f the kid brother who busted violins violin This one had cost her a thousand I j dollars Sams Sam's face was shining Geet Gee t. t Mrs Sweet Gee Ill I'll make it right with you he added hastily I know you'll take good care of ofIL It IL Oh yes maam y She followed up her advantage I wish you'd always try tty to think of me as your friend Sam I like 5 you very much He looked down at the floor and shifted from tram one foot to the other H HARRIET ARRIET thou thought ht of Sam often in the following week She thought of his large strong hands that would bring heartbreakingly sweet melodies out of her violin She wondered i if the boy would like the incredibly rich full tone of at the instrument She didn't see him again till the following week As he came in he was filled with a strange restlessness restless restless- ness that he couldn't control I Last week you said that you were my friend i Why yes Sam Theres something important Ive I've got to ask you This was the moment she had been hoping for in all her months of knowing Sam Ill do anything I can for you Sam she said quietly He stood there facing her almost defiant in his earnestness For the f 4 T a w I 1 L L r t i D kl t 11 She had an achin aching picture of him working hard after school to earn money to help out oot at home homo with his brothers and sisters moment his shyness and awkwardness awkward awkward- ness were goneI goneI gone I played your violin all week he said feverishly It was smooth as as-as as as oil or something Gee it was swell His eyes were blazing and his dark face was no longer ugly Look Mrs BIrs Sweet I can get 50 bucks from my uncle Id I'd work to pay it back to him lie Dc saw the look of surprise on her face Ills His voice cracked as ashe ashe he went on Gosh I know it probably cost you some dough Id I'd even pay 75 bucks for it it She was staring at h him There was no sound in the room but the slow ticking of the grandfather clock He flushed and looked down at the floor His fingers were restless on his plaid cap In a sudden agony of ot embarrassment he thrust his hands behind him You think its it's an O. O K K fiddle too he said I suppose I shouldn't be asking you for tor it Even i if you are arc my friend She only a moment be he- L c c J J. J fore she walked toward him and placed her small veined blue-veined hand lightly on his arm Yes Sam I am a little attached to the instrument But i if you think you can raise 50 dollars the violin is yours For a moment I was shocked because you see 50 dollars is quite a bit of money to take Especially EsI Especially Es Es- I from a friend |