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Show FICJIOlSl ' ANYTHING A FRIEHD PI BJ By MARJORIE ABBOTT V' j V- Cornet ML . , Jplk sweet melodies out of her violin. She wondered if the boy would like the incredibly rich, full tone of the instrument. She didn't see him again till the following week. As he came in he was filled with a strange restlessness restless-ness that he couldn't control. "Last week you said that you were my friend." "Why yes, Sam." "There's something Important I've got to ask you." This was the moment she had been hoping for, in all her months of knowing Sam. "I'll do anything I can for you, Sam," she said quietly. He stood there facing her, almost defiant in his earnestness. For the He saw the look of surprise on her face. His voice cracked as he went on. "Gosh, I know it probably cost you some dough. I'd even pay 75 bucks for it." She was staring at him incred-uously. incred-uously. 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 embarrassment, he thrust his hands behind him. "You think it's an O. K. fiddle too," he said. "I suppose I shouldn't be asking you for it. Even if you are my friend." She hestitated only a moment be- I SAM looked uncomfortable as he stood with his large feet planted awkwardly on Harriet Sweet's oriental rug. His violin was tucked under one arm, and with his free hand he pushed a thick lock of hair away from his dark, ugly face. "All right, Sam, let's try it again," said Harriet. She sat straight-backed on the piano bench and played the introduction to "Traumerei" on the mahogany grand. Her gray head kept time to the music with lively little nods. "Yes, ma'am," said Sam. His voice was changing. Every move he made was done in an agony of self-consciousness. He brought his violin up to his chin, and then forgot for-got himself as he brought, the rich tones to life beneath his fingers. Harriet sighed as the last note became stilled. "That was splendid, Sam," she said. "I haven't another pupil as talented as you are." A light showed briefly In his dark eyes, tnd then he blushed and moistened his lips. Harriet wondered sometimes why she wanted so much to win this boy's friendship. He was unattractive. unattrac-tive. He had a last name she couldn't begin to pronounce. It was partly the longing of a lonely, childless child-less woman, she supposed, for someone to mother. The music should have formed a bond between them. But up to now she felt she was losing the battle to pierce his shyness and win Sam's friendship. For six months he had come to her for his weekly lesson, but although al-though she had tried in every way she knew to get next to the boy, she had failed. "I have no friends," he had told her once bluntly, when she had questioned him, and she had an aching picture of him, working hard after sehool 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 was proud and Independent. Sam cleared his throat and wiped his arm across his sweating forehead. fore-head. "Mrs. Sweet, I'm going to stop taking lessons," he said. "Oh, Sam," said Harriet, "Why?" "My kid brother busted my violin. This one is borrowed from my old man's sister just for tonight. I'm going to earn another fiddle. It will take a while. They have them at Brothers music store for 15 bucks. As soon as I get it 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 pi-ano and took her own violin lovingly loving-ly from its alligator case. "There's no need of missing those lessons, Sam," she said. "You may use my violin as long as you need one." She tried not to think about the kid brother who busted violins. This one had cost her a thousand dollars. Sam's face was shining. "Gee, Mrs. Sweet Gee! I'll make it right with you," he added hastily. "I know you'll take good care of It." "Oh, yes, ma'am." She followed up her advantage. "I wish you'd always try to think of me as your friend, Sam. I like you very much." He looked down at the floor and shifted from one foot to the other. UAREIET thought of Sam often in the' following week. She thought of his large, strong hands that would bring heartbreakingly She had an aching picture of him, working hard after school to earn money to help out at home with his brothers and sisters. moment his shyness and awkwardness awkward-ness were gone. "I played your violin all week," he said feverishly. "It was smooth as as oil or something. Gee, it was swell!" His eyes were blazing, and his dark face was no longer ugly. "Look, Mrs. Sweet, I can get 50 bucks from my ancle. I'd work to pay it back to him." I . fore she walked toward him and placed her small, blue-veined hand lightly on his arm. "Yes, Sam. I am a little attached to the instrument. But 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 Es-pecially from a friend." |