Show i Ii iIi f f O r J I By MARJORIE fOR ABBOTT A FRIEND I 11 n ABBOTT ABBOTT- i I S SAM CAM AM looked uncomfortable as he stood with his large feet planted awkwardly on Harriet Sweets Sweet's oriental rug His violin was tucked under one arm arm and with his free Cree freehand hand he pushed a 3 thick lock of hair away from his dark ugly face race All right Sam lets let's try it again said Harriet She sat straight-backed straight on the piano bench and played the introduction to on the the- mahogany grand hrand rand Her gray head kept timeo time o the music with lively little nods i Yes maam ma'am said Sam His was changing Every move movee she he e made was done in an agony of self He brought his violin up to his chin and then forgot forgot forgot for 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 I talented nt d n n. n as you vou VOll are r- r A A light showed d db b briefly ie y his in in his dark eyes and then he blushed and andI I moistened his lips Harriet wondered sometimes why she wanted so much to win this boys boy's friendship He was tive He had a a last name she couldn't begin to pronounce It was partly the longing of a lonely childless childless childless child 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 Sams Sam's friendship For six months he had h come to her herfor herfor herfor for his weekly lesson but al although although although al- al though she had tried in every way she knew to get next to the boy she had failed railed 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 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 was proud and independent Sam cleared his throat and wiped his arm across his sweating fore fore- head Mrs Sweet Im 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 oldmans oldmans mans man's sister just for tonight Im I'm going to earn another fiddle It will take a while They have them at 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 pi piano piano pi- pi piano ano and took her own violin lovingly loving loving- ly from its alligator case I Theres no need of missing those lessons Sam she said You may mayuse mayuse mayuse use my violin as long as you need done tOne one She tried not to think about the kid brother who busted violins This one one ne had cost her a thousand dollars Sams Sam's face was was was' shining Gee Mrs Sweet Gee Ill I'll make it itt right with you he added hastily I know you'll take good care of it Oh yes maam 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 sh shifted ted from one foot to the other H HARRIET thought ARRIET r thought 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 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 restless- ness that he couldn't control Last week you said that you were my friend 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 lie He saw the look 1001 of surprise on her face II His Dis is voice cracked as ashe ashe ashe he went on on Gosh I know it p probably cost you some dough Id I'd even pay 75 bucks for it it She was staring at 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 embarrassment he thrust his hands behind him You think its it's an O. O K fiddle too too he said I suppose I shouldn't be asking you for it Even if you are my friend She hesitated only a moment be- be f 1 gI I I TY 11 I 4 th thi ly 1 v I r I i I r rv 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 awkward- ness were goneI goneI goneI gone I played your violin all week he said feverishly It was Vas smooth as as-as as as oil or something Gee it was swell His eyes were blazing and his dark face was Vas no longer ugly Look Mrs Sweet I can get 50 bucks from my uncle Id I'd work to pay it back to him 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 ut 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 Especially Especially Es Es- from a friend |