Show xue FICTION 0 N A RIDE IN THE DARK DAR K IL ey chec by LOUISE BERGSTROM jt headlights of the tha blue coupe threshed THE flashed on in the tha driveway joyce who had been watching from en an upstairs window reached hurriedly for the coat lying on her bed As she slipped into it she made a last quick survey of the room to see eee that she had not forgotten anything by the door her neatly packed suitcase stood ready and even now the room had that deserted impersonal atmosphere a room acquires when its occupant goes away her heightened emotions threw an unnatural clarity over the tan familiar scene scene little things she had not noticed for weeks sprang suddenly into focus A silly little horn hanging on the dresser was a reminder of a dance terry had taken her to while they were still in college ile he had kissed her that night for the first time the photograph stuck in the edge of the mirror terry with a horrible grimace pretending to clutch her throat as she sha knelt in supplication in the sand that had been taken the baythe day the gang drove out to three tree point for a picnic how young we were she thought wistfully how terribly carelessly and well never be young like that she shivered and drew her coat closer around her shoulders for tonight was the end of her girlhood the end of the careless silly years after tonight nothing would ever be quite the same again better perhaps oh yes far far betherl but not the same ever again she caught her breath la in a sudden panic and for one horrible despairing moment she sha thought 1 I dont want to go through with im af atral dl then with a laughing sigh at her absurdity she shook the mood from her and hurriel hurrle I 1 out of the room without looking back safely in the tha car with her suitcase tucked under her feet the she relaxed comfortably against the shoulder th of the young man behind the steering wheel look terry theres a new moon tonight Is that a good omen do you suppose 1 I hope so darling he looked tenderly down at the delicate oval of cf her face childish mop of brown curls and the tha small hands eded folded carefully in her lap oh joyce he exclaimed abruptly dont you think we should have told your mother after all are you sure that you want to do it this way hush terry she patted his knee lets not go into that again its too late anyway you know mother she thinks im still a baby I 1 she wanted us to io wait at least another year bear she might be right at thit that terry replied uncertainly maybe faybe you are too young Non she shook her curls emphatically A girl labows mows when thes ready it lucky mother decided to go to california when she did everything worked out cut beautifully now she know a thing about it until its all over darling fig her voice grew pensive why do you suppose it is that ahat middle aged people cant seem to remember what its like to be young and in love dont they remember the beauty and the re Ilent less urgency dont V they ey know that there has to come a ti time me when youve got to have it all and even everything is not enough her voice faltered and in th the e silence between them the words were wera like dark wings beating terry reached down and took her hand in a hard grip joyce dear estl he whispered they were silent then and the moon bathed landscape sped d past as his foot pressed hardon harden the gas pedal it was early spring and the cool night air blowing in through the car window had the restless exciting smell of new growth at last they were out of too the country coming into the suburbs of a town where street lights dimmed the tha moon and houses stood in dark huddled rows terry slowed the car then suddenly pulled up to the curb a and d turned to the girl beside him his H Is arms went around her and his head bead bent down to hers 1 I love you joyce he said against her soft hair are you afraid of tonight she thought fleetingly of the moment in tier her room when she said goodbye to tier her girlhood but that moment was passed swept away by the tide of new emotions As long na as you love me terry 1 the she replied simply im not afraid of tonight or afterwards it was quite true she felt strong now and confident ready for anything the future might hold he kissed her gently and the car moved forward again slowly now as though the future had become too precious for any risk A brightly lighted building loomed before them and terry stopped again at the foot of a flight of stone steps he picked up her suitcase sult casa and stepped out of the car then turned to take her arm joyce looked up eagerly at the words cut over the entrance to the building Dua ding LAKEWOOD MATERNITY HOSPITAL she smiled at her husband gravely reassuringly and together they started up the steps toward the welcoming lights 1 41 7 how young wo we she thought wistfully how terribly care carelessly lesly and well never be young like that again |