Show 2 1 FICTION ITS UM THE LAW by CLARISSA AniSSA CL LORENZ eo M MY Y HEAD was in the clouds that warm day in april driving up broadway the radio in my jalopy was tuned in on tom oneill my favorite vol voice ce of the year I 1 was listening ng to the Song Son eshop shop hour when the sharp harp blast of a whistle brought me down own to this too too solid earth id iriven driven straight through a red light As a big burly traffic cop swaggered over to my battered coupe my knees shook I 1 had a deep to re for or law and order the big idea sister he ha bellowed im sorry officer I 1 said meekly 1 I was late f for r school better tt la late than sorry he bald aid in an alt altogether ogeth different voice as he caught conr ONell ls lush rendition I 1 of irresistible you he jerked hl his hea head and an d smiled at the radio you know that thaI guys not bad he hes simply super I 1 gurgled we he makes me all goose goos pimply 1 1 the blue eyes of 0 the law flickered th then n fell on the volume of popular melodies lodle on the seat beside me austel wh what at do you do tor for a living piano teacher I 1 replied at a miss follens day school I 1 gave bs him a wan smile mile he pushed back his cap and wiped the moist blond ringlets plastered to his brow ever do any radio work that made me wince 1 I just wish I 1 had a dollar for every audition r ive ve had pull ull over he ordered I 1 obeyed with alacrity at the curb I 1 became voluble anything to stave off a ticket I 1 told him that radio was a snare and delusion for any ambitious young gi girl ra id got nowhere sorry w we have our own staff accompanist sorry nothing right now but it if leave your name JI he grinned and it was like a burst of sunshine ile he leaned against my car looking at me as it if I 1 were a crossword puzzle say how about dinner tonight yo you u could have knocked me over with a feather why I 1 dont be lieve deve I 1 began primly you see if he thought I 1 was a girl who could be picked up even by a policeman okay sister he grunted 1 I get it then his voice became official again well ill let you off this time 1 thank you officer I 1 said but dont let it happen again re remember member im keeping my eye on YO you U I 1 looked at my watch id never make it by nine not when I 1 had to pick up that dally daily cargo of seven squirming kids and convoy them to the red brick building that was wa s my prison five days a week I 1 alg sighed hed art Is 1 long and ufa life Is short and I 1 know it id probably go 1 on tea teaching hing sassy brats five fang finger er C exercises until the grave yawned dawned especially now that charlie had gone international on me corporal charles brent no I 1 heel when I 1 got his bombshell of a letter two months ago telling me cooly hed fallen tor for one ona of those Aus I 1 kissed all hope goodbye of every marrying an artist charlie played the bassoon before the army made him play the bazooka until today I 1 thought hed broken my heart but that night in bed when I 1 tried to picture him all I 1 could see were a pair 0 of f sky blue eyes strong white teeth and moist blond ringlets under a p emans cap I 1 felt a twinge of remorse at having snubbed him who what t if he was just a traffic cop maybe something could still be done about it I 1 yv but dont let it happen again remember im keeping beeping my eye on you next morning I 1 wore my new easter bonnet a pink confection fec tion on my radio oneill wa wag giving deliriously with time walts waits for no one my heart went booms as I 1 approached the tha crossing on broadway there stood my nice giant in a shaft of sunlight I 1 drove straight through the red light at the blast of that tin whistle I 1 jammed on the brake he sauntered over twirling his shiny toy well sister he said sternly if youre gonna make it a habit I 1 have to take steps lets see your license I 1 looked at him in sheer dismay 01 neill went crooning on but my y or traffic cop seemed deaf this morning m n make it snappy so I 1 tumbled fumbled in my imitation alligator bag and fished out the license cense folder beryl thompson he read and took down the number name and address handed it to me here you are you conceited goon I 1 told my self hotly watching his broad back serves you tight right the low ceiling depression that hung over me all that day was lifted at when I 1 got back to my room and found a message to call mr burnham at the radio station I 1 flew to the hall phone 1 be at the studio tomorrow night at 6 30 sharp he said laid over the phone the next day I 1 was on hand long before six its a transcription program mr burnham explained mist miss miles the studio accompanist is out sick and her substitutes having a baby the program mr burnham the Song Songs shop bop hour studio B heres the music have plenty plent of time to run through it before oneill gets here ONel ll but he broadcasts broadcast mornings he he records at 6 the night before A S THE green balze door of studio AB AA B closed soundlessly behind me I 1 felt like turning cartwheels A little before 6 30 a familiar voice broke up my practicing hello sister I 1 locked up and my fingers began to prickle there was my traffic cop bareheaded and in shirtsleeves shirt sleeves pardon the attire he said with mock politeness im not supposed to wear rny my coat off duty are you tom oneill ONel ll professionally speaking yes he came over and began polishing with his hand the badge on his blue shirt which read the singing cop N nobody body knows about it except the gong gang here I 1 told ern em it had to be that way or else if the boy down at the station knew I 1 was a crooning canary life be worth livin 11 I 1 sat still looking slightly gaga ga ga say he said aid his eyes twinkling a fine reception considering that I 1 finagler finagled you a radio job i you did I 1 gasped but mr burnham sald said he waved his big hand at me 1 I know when I 1 heard ab about ou t missi miss miles I 1 asked him to give you a tryout he looked up at the clock okay beautiful lets try that thai old number why dont you r fall all in love with me I 1 obeyed mech mechanically As I 1 said before I 1 have hava a deep respect tor for law and order |