Show P A the I 1 last straw by lulo lula W kelloms THEIR EARLIER married IN years flora and ralph wilson were an ideal couple both were handsome and jolly with identical tastes and friends but as they grew older flo matu matured red while ralph tried tied to say boyish and M minute risky frisky 3 why not act fl r 1 agea she yot yom age often ten asked wistfully we have su such ch a lovely comfortable home tor for middle aged aged folks our department store Is dignified enough for older management you dont have to keep up a front ralph would chuckle not jealous of your old man are you laby no I 1 dont show the years a bit do I 1 its not honest flo contended everyone recognizes middle age when he ha sees see it anyone can recognizes a toupee but she knew when to hush they quarrel over trifles of course she think this growing breach in their ages was wa a trifle but ralph did every day she felt more strongly that something must be done dona to preserve their marriage and every day she could think of no possible solution one morning she said 1 I 1 I 1 dont feel like going to the store dear im sure miss gray can manage alone there is house housecleaning cleaning and things to do here okay dear ralph agreed readily kissing her goodbye good bye fear stabbed flo why dl did d h he agree so ha silly why h he ask sk her hei what wi was wrong she had an impulse to change her mind and go but bat tears ani and self elt pity were aching la in her eyes and nd throat to conceal her feelings he said briskly wear this old hat dear I 1 want to send that one to the cleaners 11 but its so shabby and it fit well stubbornly flo held out the old straw hat until he donned it reluctantly leaving his soft gray felt on a chair she refused to watch him swagger off whistling like their son danny when he was a college freshman tears tear blurred her vision while she picked up things and cleaned and swept there something that would save their marriage something me like taking reducing exercises or turning kittenish the idea was revolting she hadl had no heart to compete with their three young daughters if if she had just begun years ago trying to remain glamorous instead of turning into a mother maybe things would have worked out better Y NOON she felt less frustrated B she even hummed bummed while she whipped up ralphs favorite cake and cooked po if she had an especially appetizing supper and the children were in jubilant mood maybe ralph would see how well off he was maybe just once he be 1 would forget his diet I 1 at the children called saying I 1 they had to stay tor for play practice arac tice flos spirits drooped would ralph call too pretending that business detained him leaving her alono in the dark silent house I 1 1 I 1 funniest thing happened ralph said when I 1 took off my hat my toupee came off too she waited with apprehension at sharp she heard the car stop then ralphs step on the porch supper ready mom he called dread gripped flo hed called her mom instead of baby or dear clearl just one days staying home made her seem old fashioned to himl i lie ile strode into the living room morn mom youre looking at a suc uc man today I 1 landed I 1 i that tat fat atkinson account mr kamley their heir new buyer said I 1 looked like a settled respect respectable ss business man ile he chuckled at flos astonished face funniest thing happened I 1 remember how tight that old straw hat was well the minute I 1 took ill it off in front of that flippa miss grayl gray and the office force they all started giggling my aly toupee came ott off too so I 1 glared like I 1 meant to look fifty instead of thirty its a wonderful feeling of relief toi fox supper mom Po and your favorite cake daal As they marched in to supper arm in arm flo just knew that thal there never had been such a lovely bald head as her husband |