1940-12-13 — Page 58

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THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 13, 1940.

SHORT STORY

OVERCOAT FOR DAVE BY KEITH AYLING

peace.

She rend the letter again. "I am sending you £5 for your

Dave needed a

new

By

after

Why does she have to come on my Dave slipped the letter into his birthday of all days. We ought to pocket. He tapped at the frosted, spend birthdays alone. She'll want glass door panel, Mr. Phillips, the to know what I have given you for a present, and she'll look down sales manager, greeted him with a brisk nod. "Sit down, Lander. her nose at whatever it is."

Anne was sitting on the big I'll talk to, you, a second.

Aunt aunt did want to invest some He would jolly well send her back Anne's smooth brow furrowed ing something for yourself," Aunt grocer's she thought of

"I shall be Mary's £5. She wanted a new inoney why should it not be in the cheque, and tell Aunt Mary~~ as she put down Aunt Mary's let- Mary, had, written. ter after reading it for the third very angry if I hear that you have winter coat, some new shoes, and Dave's business. She did not think tell her what, he asked himself. to her aunt would interfere either. She was Anne's only relative, He. time. It was all very well being spent. it on housekeeping or on in the spring, she was going

Dave was thinking of Anne's had, promised, Anne to be tactful her aunt's favourite niece, but that good-for-nothing husband of haye, a baby.

overcoat birthday as he went back to the with the old dear. His face was there was a limit. Changing from yours." her pale blue house-frock to her Anne sighed as she put the let- desperately. He would have to buy office. He had started saving up gloomy as he surveyed the che black costume Anne felt hot and ter back in her handbag. Ever one soon. Salesmen had to look for her present at the beginning que. That fiver would have been unhappy.

since. Dave had given up a safe smart. Dave's birthday was two of the year, with the idea of giv-, so useful.

Anne felt the ing her something really good. But, when at, the psychologica She sighed. She wanted to avoid position in a bank to go into the days after her's. a row, as she always did, but since. wireless trade, with the idea of oranges, and wondered if bananas there had been so many things ment of the Interview, his client Dave, her husband, and Aunt starting in business on his own, were more economical. If Daye and business, had been, bad. His refused to sign on the Mary had been at tacit logger- Aunt Mary had not approved of didn't have a new overcoat soon commission, account had not come, he wondered If a new sult would heads over nothing at all, it had him, And Dave was beginning he would look terribly shabby, up to expectations. Anne wanted have helped him to clinch the deal really been dimcult to keep the to resent the old lady's attitude. The last time his coat, had come a winter coat with a silver fox Outside again he stopped in front "If she wasn't your only rela- back from, the cleaners there had coller. He would have liked, to of a shop window, and contem- Polsing her beret on her blonde tive, and if you weren't the most been so many little squares of red have given her something like plated, his reflection. Phillips, was right. He was getting to look like head, Anne decided that this time wonderful woman in the world, cotton to mark the worn places that before, the baby came. Aunt Mary had gone too far. Dave I'd tell her something," he had Choosing the neat she wonder- As he rounded, the door of the a tramp. He would have to do ed if she dared to defy Aunt Mary, main office of the firm where he in Mary's coming to tea on

something about it. wasn't good for nothing. He was said. energetic, industrious and loyal,

Anne's blue eyes were troubled If she bought herself a cheap coat worked the girl at the switch- the Ideal husband.

as she glanced at the clock. She on credit, she might manage to board signalled him. "Letter for Sunday," Anne. announced grabbed her shopping bag. Dave pay for it by tightening up the you, Mr. Lander, and he wants to dinner. She shuddered with alarm came home at half-past twelve. housekeeping. Dave had never see you." She nodded her dark as Daye, snorted. "Pahl That old birthday, and I insist on your buy. She hurried off. Waiting in the noticed when she gave him mar-head towards the sales manager's cat, I'm sick of being nice to her,

garine Instead of buter-or he had office. been too sporting to notice.

Dave was a sport, she remem bered with pride as the butcher dropped the meat into her bag, and he was clean and, honest. It was just as exciting being married to him now as it had been five Dave settled his spare young, cream pouffe, at his feet with her years ago. Jogging home with body in the deep leather chair. His blonde curls, laid, against, his knee. the heavy bag she could think of quick eyes astudied, his boss, How "Oh, darling, please be nice to have a nothing but, to give him, a new smart Phillips was. He was dap- Aunt Mary, this, time.

special reason." overcoat.

per, the ace of efficiency and proa-

Dave did not answer. She pat- When he arrived home for lunch perity. Dave, envied him his neat Dave dropped a fondly apprecia- blue suit, the spotless linen col ted his knee imploringly. "Please, tive kiss on her ear. "Darling, lar, and the burnished dark tan darling, be extra nice, this time,

it's important,” what would you like for your shoes."

"But I'm always nice to her. I birthday? I expect F'll be able to His eyes were unhappy as they believe if I let go sometimes she'd find something in the old sock." went to his own that were show-

respect me more. She seems to She slipped her arm round his ing signs of wear and tear, and think. I'm a spindless nit-wit be- neck and kissed him on the side his suit that didn't answer “to cause I accept all she says," He of the mouth. "Why not postpone the present business until, next He started from his reverie, ran his fingers through her hair.

The

best, behavi ***But, I'll be on my year, darling""

aware that Mr. Phillips was, Inok-

our

for your sake, my sweet.. He shook his head and made a ing at him. "Oh. Lander began

promise, but it's going to be face. "No! a birthday's a birth- the sales manager. You're doing day, and you deserve one every well, but

you're

not difficult. You see

The

front door bell rang. Anne day of the year, my sweef.ing well enough as my head.

It was nice to be loved that salesman, I've made no secret sped to answer it. At the door she halted. "Oh, Dave, I forgot to mark- way: Anne thought as she answer- of the fact that we've

so tell you.' Her cheeks were bright ed: "I want a packet of smokes ed you for a bigger.

Now she was and a box of Turkish delight, so I am going to talk to you squarely, spots of colour. that I can make a pig of myself I want you to give me, that little frightened of what she had done. in the afternoon when you are extra cifort, and I want you to Dave, please don't be cross, but look head a bit." Phillips paus- Mr. Martin, the tailor called. away."

Over lunch Dave suddenly stop-ed thoughtfully, his fresh grey While business is slack he is mak- ped eating. Anne felt a little un- eyes on Dave. Lander, has it ever. ing clothes for his old clients at a comfortable as he studied her, his occurred to you how important a special reduction. I thought you overcoat and-er-I dark blue eyes full of concern. part appearance plays in our needed an

promised to pay it off at five bob "Here, I say, darling," he remark, ed anxiously, "you're not eating

a week I can manage that out anything. What's up, Anne, tum

of housekeeping." my ache or something?"

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"Yes, sir, I have. As a matter of fact. I was thinking of that very thing when you began to speak” Dave knew his face was getting

-

Dave's eyes, flashed with sudden irritation as he stood up. Anne came over and stretched up to slender

Staf

While the tailor was measuring

arms.

Before Anne could answer he had come round the table and hot. was hugging her tenderly," "Tell "Good. I am glad of that, Lan- Kiss him. He held her me, darling," he whispered, "What der. I was afraid you were get- body close to his. He remember- is it, I hate to see you worried."ting a little slack. Appearance has ed that interview with the-sales- She shook her head, and made a great deal to do with the psy- manager. So Anne had noticed, her voice convincing, "There's chology of sales success. A client too. After a little while he said: nothing wrong, my sweet; it's just, even in the smallest business al-All right, Anne, we can do it on der to credit for once. I do need a coat well-oh, I've just got the miser- ways prefers to give ins

a well-dressed repr ics, I suppose."^

tative, badly," But it went against the "Oh, indeed, well I'll have to When I was your age. I starved grain, kiss them away and risk giving myself to buy clothes." you indigestion." Dave laughed “But you see, I have a wife. him he wondered if he dared tell lovingly as he took her in his and Dave was defending, but Anne, about Aunt Mary's cheque. arms. They hugged each other Mr. Phillips baulked him sharply. He would not for the moment; the They seemed to melt into one "So had I Lander. She sta.v.d. matter needed thinking over very person, with the same hopes, the too. Now she reaps the benefit." carefully.

The next morning Anne was same great purpose to love each He wagged a lean freckled finger other always. Their eyes grew at Dave. "Make your sacrifices wrestling with the housekeeping You have accounts when the noise of Dave's misty with happy contentment, while you are young. "To think that two people could the right stuff in you. Keep your key in the door disturbed her. It be so happy together," murmured sales going up, and I'll rälse you was 11 o'clock. She fled to the Dave, "It's too wonderful." in two months. In the meantime hall,

"And it's going to last for ever." I want to see you the best-dressed Dave caught her in his breathed Anne. No one could man on the best-dressed staff in He lifted her off her feet to kiss her. "Sweetheart, you're having a ever come between us."

the business." Dave's grip on her slackened a Marching his heated self out new coat, too, for your birthday. £5 minute. His face was resolute as Dave admitted that Mr. Phillips I've had a bit of luck-a he echoed. "No one." He broke was right, and what could he do bonus for getting a difficult client. Hurry up with lunch, and we'll into a little grin, "Not even the about it?

He began to famous Aunt Mary."

His mind turned, over anxious go and buy it." Immediately the front door had ly. With the furniture Instal- whistle a fox-trat and they danced closed behind him, Anne's mind ments due, the insurance and the into the kitchen.

Anne met him at the office that went to ways and means of buy money he was putting by for the

Anne must have night in her new cont. "Darling, ing him a new overcoat, She set- baby's arrival, tled herself in the big fawn arm- the best. He frowned and clench you look lovely. I am a lucky chair and stared at the big bowl, ed his fist in sudden, worry, He man." Dave's dark face was lit It was us if.. of red roses by the window. Dare simply couldn't afford a new over with enthusiasm. she be frank with Aunt Mary and coat or a suit, and he needed bo h. they were just married, it seemed tell her how important it was, that So did Anne. The poor kid hadn't, to her. How wonderful it was to Dave should have smart clothes had anything decent since they be so completely in love. ******

Over dinner, she reflected hap- for his work. She decided against were married, He jumped on a

pily. How wonderful of Dave to that.'

bus. Dave had forbidden her to dis- He was fealing for a penny to have spent his bonus, on her birth- cuss finance with her aunt. after pay his bus fare when his fingers day present, Really he ought. one unfortunate skirmish, There touched the letter. He had forgot-have invested in a new sult to was another reason. One day Dave ton all about it. His face was with the overcoat. Her conte wanted to go into business on his puzzled as he studied the en- ment faded as her mind went to own, and Aunt Mary had suggest- Velope, Who would write to him Sunday.' If she Abbed to Aunt led that if they ever wanted capital at the office? Although the writing. Mary and told her she hid bought she would supply it. Of course was familjar he could not place the new coat with her cheque?

But she dare not tell Dave about Dave had turned the iden down it. He tore it open, and his eyes dat

widened. Golly, it was Aunt Mary, Aunt Mary's cheque that she was I wouldn't be bossed by your She had sent him £5 for his going to return as tactfully as nunt, darling," he had said. "She birthday. Five pounds — Dave, possible. She wondered what to

do. means well. I know, but if she gasped-pennies from Heaven! puts a farthing into the business.

But his face sobered all at once. "Dave.you won't tell auntie how she would want to run it. No. There was a postscript, (You are much you gave for my coat," she I'll work my way up to sales man- to buy something for yourself (he hazarded later as she snuggled on jager of this arm, then I raise read) and you are not to tell your his lap in her blue padded dress- the capital on my record. It wife about this cheque. She would ing gown. She might think we won't be difficult. Let's keen the not understand my being gener-were extravagant."

ous with you, having been spoilt Dave's answer sent her alarm family out of the business.”.....

cocktet high, N Anne reflected. Dave was in- all her life," clined to be a little too sensitive over Aunt Mary, who had been a father and mother to her. If her

"Oh, won't. Il And ! why Dave grunted in. sudden anger, Of all the check. So the old girl shouldn't It I jolly well wi was cross with Anne as well now,(Continued on Page will