Show r DRESS REHEARSAl S By R. R G. G CROCKER NANCY gripped Bobs Bob's hand tensely Currents of excitement rippled from her eyes as she whispered breathlessly Im only sixteen Bob The folks still think Im I'm a kid You cant can't convince them I Ill I'll bet you cant can't Bob more cockily than he felt grinned back They expect us to get married some day Why not now Nancy dubiously agreed Marie told me at the Drama Club last night that she and Jerry are getting getting getting get get- ting married this summer She's only a year older than I am You Yo can think of your d darned this old club at a moment like this Bob demanded aggrieved Were facing the most serious decision of our young lives the lives the real turning turning turning turn turn- ing point Nancy repressed a half hysterical giggle and reached for forthe forthe the door knob really hit hiti i the ceiling she whispered Nancys Nancy's parents looked up as asI I they entered Her mother smiled up from her sewing and her father I nodded an ear glued to the sportscast sportscast sports sports- I cast as if it were an an ordinary evening Nancy hesitated only a moment then announced brightly Congratulate us folks Bob an anI and andI d I I have decided to get married I j What Nancys Nancy's father exI ex- ex His pipe fell felI out of his s I mouth scattering ashes in his lapNow lapNow lap Now Dad Mrs Parker said sai saidI d I slowly the anesthesia of shock i i wearing off off Her hand rested persuasively persuasively per on his arm We were vere e young once remember j THAT young he said bitingly Now what's this all alI about j Bobs Bob's arm circled Nancy protectively protectively pro pro- as he said We want t to o I get married I nice said Mrs Parker Parke P quietly make a good son son- I. I law in-law Bob But youre you're both pretty prett y young What's the rush No particular reason Bob said sai d lamely coloring Its just thai tha t were we're going to get married anyway anyway any way sometime and we wed we'd rather rathe r get married while were we're youn young g 1 i end adaptable I love Nancy Mrs I Parker and Ill I'll take good care of her honest Mrs Parker smiled but with no mirth Im not against young marriages as long as they make sense she said decisively Lets do some figuring I Im sure you love each other so that's settled Mrs Parker said impersonally Wed better start with finances Marriage is a alot alot alot lot of budgeting Any apartment will be at least 15 a week food about 20 furniture to buy and odds and ends ends ends- Of course Bob she continued glancing at him keenly have to forget about that engineering course course- And children Nancys Nancy's mother asked want to raise your family while youre you're young Of course N Nancy ncy dear its it's going tobe to tobe tobe be hard on you with Bob in the Army But you'll get used to walking walking walk walk- ing the floor nights night alone and washing diapers diapers- But we didn't plan to get married before September Bob was stammering Nonsense You'll want a a. a June wedding Well We'll get et to work on announcements announcements announcements an an- in the morning Nancy You sound anxious to get rid of me me Nancy said shakily Bobs going to be an engineer remember Bob rose and pulled Nancy toward toward to to- ward the door saying gently Maybe wed we'd be better ter talk this over overa overe a bit more honey Nancy nodded relieved Like a couple of carefree teen-agers teen they escaped out thedoor the door The Parkers sighed in unison and her father said stid weakly WI We W I stopped that A tornado would b be easier to cope with Out on the sidewalk Nancy giggled gig uncontrollably Oh the dears They were so utterly cute about talking us out of it They'd disown I us both if It they knew we were just practicing Bob Beb said gloatingly Woman youve you've got a new leading man Now tell me Im I'm not good enough for your darned old Drama Club |