"A VERY ADJUSTABLE SITUATION”
‘By A1 Stein
Now that they were speeding away from
the church, he wondered if it would re
ally last them a lifetime. He suddenly
felt isolated. Like he was sealed in a
tomb. She was sitting close at his right
side, laughing and crying softly, and
brushing the rice from her wedding gown.
A few days preceding the wedding, Pete
had felt very good about everything. The
old jealous feeling he had known so well
in their stormy courtship was gone in
those final few days. It had been bad,
all those terrible thoughts of jealousy
And in the preceding days, he had hoped
they were gone forever. His collar be
gan to annoy him.
He laughed aloud trying to escape the
strange feeling that was lurking some
here in his mind, "Melania,” he said,
"3re you my baby?” ”0h darling,” she re
plied in a dramatic tone, "till death do
us part.” Then she laughed and began
talking about how happy they would be
togeather. The strange feeling left him
and was replaced by a warm,light feeling
kind of a satisfaction. "Melania,” he
asked, "Yes Pete Sweet." Thats what she
always called him when she was in a good
mood. "Melania,” he said expecting a
suitable answer,"do you feel it all over
like I do?" "What darling," she replied
"Oh, I don’t know a kinda warm feeling
all over," "Yes Pet, I feel it, I felt:
it since the day I met you."
She turned her head and looked into
the passing street. She saw Bob, one of
her ex-dates. "Hi Bob," she said. Pete
crammed the gas of the new Thunderbird
to the floor. The feeling clutched him
solidly this time almost introducing
itself. The jealousy had never left him
it seemed to say to him, Hi Pete, I’m
Mr. Jealousy, if you have any questions,
just ask. I always have a good answer,
"Good old Bob," she said,"111 never for
get him," Pet® felt a nameless feeling
somewhere in his chest. "Melania, I
want you to forget all those other men.
We’re married now. . They can’t matter
anymore." "I will darling, but .1 meant
(con’t top next column)
I wouldn’t forget him in a different way!
than you think.'” ’’What do you mean?”
Asked Pete.
The stoplights changed colors fast.'
He had to stop quickly, causing a loud:
squeeling noise to arise from beneath!
the car. ' ”0h, I don’t know Pete* Bob’s:
the kind of fellow a girl doesn’t forget;
not like you tho, darling, but just a!
different type fellow. Your a man, you:
wouldn’t understand.” The light changed:
again. Pete pushed the car ahead faster,,:
’’Pete dear, don’t drive so fast. We’111
never life to hav our honeymoon,” ” Ij
don’t much care Melania, you know how I;
feel when you keep talking about other!
men. I don’t appreciate it.” His face:
was red. ’’But honey, oh, I'm sorry, ”|
she exclaimed. ”1 guess I can explain*”;
Pete was eager to hear her explanation,!
He sped the car up as she began talking.';
Pete, always expected to hear'the worst;
of everything, "you see Pete, I think I
had to break Bob’s heart when I told him
I was marrying you. You khow I never
dated him but once or twice, he was more
or less like a brother to me. I just
feel sorry for him.” Pete relaxed. Sud
denly he saw the car in the center of
the street, his foot went automatically
for the brakes. The tires screamed aga
inst the hot navement. The car slowed
fast. Melania was thrown against • the
windshield. A few packages fell from
the rear window. A small thud sounded
as they hit the other car. Pete lifted
Melania from the dashboard. She was all
right. He felt as though he would never
khow that lurking jealous feeling again.
He kissed her bruised forehead. "Sorry
darling,! didn’t see the obstructions in
front of me.” She looked puzzled. "Was
there more than one,” she asked, "yes;
there was,” he said as he got out of the
car.'
A tender gift of priceless worth could
be workings from the tender earth. : But
from man’s dreaming mind, a poem is a
gift so kind.
. Teachers "Which hand is the Statue
of Liberty holding over her head?”
Smart kid; ’’The one with the torch
in it.”