Show tm FICTION coaver GOOD LOSER by C S MONTAYNE L LUCY AMES could always tell when her husband drove in by the childrens children uproarious welcome they were crowding down to the garage now bill junior calvin cynthia paula and roger aged 8 lucy heard their shrill excited cries and after a minute bills hearty roaring laugh she skilled a little faintly as she went to the window and drew the curtain aside why she wondered did children always adore their fathers perhaps it was because fathers were not home all day telling them to do this not to do that or because they were something of a novelty who came home from week trips with intriguing gifts her smile faded as the she let the curtain drop this father lucy reflected with a sigh was a strange n mixture of bluff good nature generosity and egotism bill was a king in his own home a fat rollicking monarch whose reign had never been disputed and there lucy decided was the trouble the children humored him they purposely indulged his desire to win at whatever games they played because cau se they seemed to instinctively know how much it meant to him they fed his vanity took a delight in keeping his laughter quick and ready lucys bucys face shadowed she wondered why such a trivial matter as bills winning childrens games should annoy her but it did it had from the first arst that day last summer when she had seen calvin deliberately libera tely throw a handicap tennis match so his father could win dinner ready they streamed in bill in the van the children following he caught lucy by the elbows and raised her for a kiss at the table there was a great clatter of crockery voices bill telling about his trip the children like trained stooges giving him leading questions bill junior looked down the table at his father how about the family ping pong tournament finals dad play them off tonight lucy saw her husbands nod sure any time but wed better make it tomorrow ive got a report to write after dinner he added amuse amused think you can beat me ive been practicing all week at the Y 11 young bill told him in the dark long after the others were asleep lucy thought about the family tournament for a long time bill junior had wanted a bicycle to cover the rounds he made after school in search of magazine subscriptions script ions lons dreamily lucy decided that if he won the lf if he beat his father she would get it for him again she wondered at herself at her annoyance such a small harmless conceit this desire to win on big bills part why should she want to have him defeated it was silly and yet they assembled in the playroom the next night calvin made a log fire and cynthia arranged the chairs paula was umpire and cross legged graced the top of the radio table her expression was serious as 23 if with the heavy responsibility lity of 0 her role lucy her arm about roger who had been allowed to stay up an extra hour tor for the momentous struggle sat on the corner comer divan watching it was brilliant table tennis hard fought clean clever twice bill junior seemed to have his father beaten twice his aggressive defensive appeared to bewilder BUL bill lucy noticed that her husbands smile had faded fade dhow how grim his face was and then at each psychological moment he be rallied and evened the score why lucy asked herself did juniors flashy pressing play weaken why he drive his advantage home when he had the game and set practically won THE HE heavy significant silence broken only by the click ol of the bouncing celluloid hall ball and the gal lery berys strained anxious breathing ended ended in a scream ol of sudden joy game and betl bill threw down the rubber faced paddle and let out a shout ol of laughter the children swarmed enthusiastically over him this lucy knew was her husbands usual moment her smile was small and cryptic when she began rounding up her brood sending them oft off to bed bill shook hands with his oldest son and switched the lights off guess the champ cant be beaten young bill said huskily later lucy went from room to room making sure windows were not open too wide that blankets were over small hunched shoulders doors properly closed the dark lay thick in the room bill junior shared with calvin she heard beard someone move ove when she went in on quiet feet that you mother she sat down on the edge of the bed her bows sows son hand slipped into hers A good game bill she squeezed his fingers before she released them well veil played im sorry you win 1 ile he drew a deep long breath som I 1 pops tough got to be awful good to take him 1 I suppose so her voice was I 1 low 0 w flat goodnight dear alter after she quietly closed the door and her footsteps dwindled down the hall bill junior raised himself on one arm awake stinky the springs in calvins bed twanged as he turned over yeah why r qa 4 P im V V IVA 14 lucy wondered why young bill failed to press his advantage and then glanced at her husbands grimly set face bill junior chuckled got some news for you its a secret tor for the time being but ill let you in on it it if you keep your mouth shut 1 I wont say a word calvin promised what Is it last night dad told me hes getting me a brand new bike the first of the month young bills whisper was excitedly vibrant 1 I ought to double up on the subscriptions soon as I 1 get it pretty swell eh |