PAGE 2 THE ae Si. SSI SPIES UP sususususasususas “3 DY RICK HASSETT It was hot that day along the beach as the boy walked on the sand. He was in bare feet and he felt the grains of sand sift between his toes. This was his favo- rite place. Often he would come here so that he could be alone to think. He loved his family deeply, but to get away from them for a while did him good. The water beyond the shore was clear and exceptionally blue—the same intense blueness which was in his eyes. It sparkled brilliantly in spots from the reflection of the sunlight and he could look there for only a moment. He watched the sea where it didn’t shine for a long time. Finally he sat down just beyond the water’s reach. Pulling his legs. up, he wrapped his arms around them and rested his chin on his knees. There were several boats out on the water that he could see. This was by far the best place for fishing TUESDAY, LE DLE DEP PLL 99 . He stretched out his hand brushed and the dog) came to him. the dirt off his 22, 1964 Boe ‘#susususususzexs Afternoon The DECEMBER DLE SDL DS fishermen. Although his suddenly the dog licked him healthy tan he had received family could not aitord a on tne race. ‘ne poy laugn- from many months in the boat because they were ed and hugged tne itue sun. poor, sometimes the men black dog to mis side. When As he walked along the who did own one would of- he released It, the dog step- edge of the water again, he fer to take him along. They ped pack and stood im iront began thinking. Now I know considered him a good om- Of him and stared up at him what I must do, he thought. en. His dad was usually With those sad eyes tnat Dad would like me to help too busy in the shop to go, only a dog can make. Look- him in the shop, but I know but he never prevented the Ing around quickly, the boy that is not what I should do. boy from going. When the Saw aSticK lying on the sometimes I feel that is the boy was out in a boat and ground. He snatcned it up only thing I know well the air was all salty and the and hurled it several yards enough to make a living wind blew gently and he away. from, but there is always “Pil race you to it,” he that strong prompting inturned tan from the sun, he wished so much that his dad challenged the dog. side me which I know is The dog seemed to un- true that says, “You are could be there. But now as he sat on the derstand. As soon as the boy needed elsewhere.” I wonsand looking across the wa- took one step, its little short der, he thought, when I will ter, he was glad that he was legs darted off in the direc- be needed elsewhere? It alone. In the background he tion of the stick. he ran must be soon. I know it heard a dog bark. He quick- after the dog; but as he will be soon the way my faly turned around and be- reached for the stick, the ther measures time. hind him he saw a small dog grabbed it in its teeth A graceful white and gray black dog, its hair all dus- and accelerated its speed seagull flapped its way ty and shaggy, standing on and the boy landed in the across the edge of the sea, the top of a little knoll look- dirt. The dog turned and which was really a large ing at him. looked at him, the grey lake, and perched on a “Here, boy. Come on,” stick protruding horizontal- piece of driftwood .a few he said. ly from its mouth. Then it feet-in front of him. The The dog took a few steps trotted up to him, dropped mountains in the distance toward him and then stop- the stick in front of him, were like brown camels and ped. and dashed off down the their sides were steep and “Come on. Don't be af- shore. barren. _ The boy stood up and There’s so much corrupraid. in the entire area. Fishermen came from towns many miles away to test their luck here. He did not have the PD HIGHLANDER tion in the world, he thought. Merchants cheating need someone. Someone to show them the way. Can’t they see what they’re doing to themselves? Maybe they can. Maybe they just don’t care. No, some of them care. I know ‘they care. That is the only way they can save themselves. But they can’t do it all by themselves. Not fully. Not completely. I must do that for them. Bnt they cando much. They can do very much. But they © can’t do it all. | | He reached down and picked up a stone and tossed it into the water, cre-_ ating successively© bigger ripples on the surface. It was getting late now and his parents would begin to wor> ry about him. He stood ~ for a few moments more, looking quietly at the calm blue sea. Just then he heard someone walk up be- — hind him. He turned and saw his mother standing there smiling at him. “My growing son,” dark ther asked you. He me she needs said, “it’s and your fa- | to come for you. Come, Jesus.” two. figures were clothes. The sun was lower ; The — “There now. See, I would- now and the light struck ‘their customers and men darkly silhouetted against n't hurt you,” he said, pet- his eyes at an angle. It committing adultery with. the blazing red sunset as opportunity to do much fish- ting the dog. highlighted his hair which their neighbors’ wives.They they walked west to Nazaing himself, but he still He touched his nose ‘to was as tawny as wheat in lie and steal and do any- reth which 3 is in the lane: 2 SORE of a as a nie —. Ss on wee nose iis ee oo a sin pil oe ; is . i sonst a oN ia SiGe ee x < é enSu NY SAS ee e _RICK HASSETT Dear ~ Totter Toe Sacts a. a 35- ee week iin- cluding tringe benefits, and Admirers, - For the first time in my long career I won’t - south be for year. Before let me as Santa Claus, able to come Christmas you this start to cry, tell you why. Hey, that rhymes. I think ll give up this stupid job and become a writer or something. (Just kidding). Well, like I was saying before, my annual “sunshine break” is off. It does- n’t have anything to do with Western Airlines at all, either. They were, however, most cooperative with the use of their helicopters as usual. Of course I had to turn them down. My reindeer would never ~ oe a forgive. me if I accepted. So if you see a guy dressed up like me landing at some shopping center in a helicopter you'll know he’s a phony. At least he had better be. _ There are several reasons why I cannot make it down this season. First, Rudolph I’m finally back down to one hundred and ninety bad Weatner delayed tne ar- pounds, my doctor, James rival of a big shipment of Kildeer, still says ‘nothing wrapping paper from New but Metrecal for me from York. You wouldn’t want now on. If I’m lucky, maybe eee gifts, now would Pll be able to get into my you? Old Marine uniform again. That’s not all: There are You’ve probably heard some other reasons for my that poem about my eight trip’s unfortunate cancella- tiny reindeer which goes, tion. “On Comet, on Prancer, on I had a choice bottle of Donner, and Blitzen.” Well, vodka all picked out for Ni- it’s all a big lie. Those were kita Khrushchev, but then names some poet made. up he went and moved or rath- so that he could rhyme his er, was dispossessed. You poem better. For the sake probably read about it in of accuracy, here are the the papers. And he was so real names of my reindeer: friendly, too. It seems like Rudolpho Valentino, J. every time they get a de- Bracken Humble, Barry Becent man in, the first thing ligerent, Loveme Lyndonthey do is kick him out. The bird, Georgia (Alabama) same thing almost happen- Paleface, Pierre Sorryinger, ed to Joe with the mus- and Clyde Pennypincher. I tache. I don’t even know just can’t think of a sweetwhere Nikky and Nina live er group of fellows that now. Oh, well, at least I you’d ever want to meet. won't have to fly over that And that part about them damn Kremlin building with being tiny — that’s a laugh a bunch of reindeer any- if I ever heard one. Pennymore. Those high spires pincher is 300 pounds if are murder. he’s an ounce. He makes One reason I can’t come Bambi’s father look like a is that so many people and their kids were leaving food and goodies out on their coffee tables for me I just worry, he'll probably die. couldn’t resist. Boy, was I. eee ek pe a are de- a butterball. Even (you know, the one with the inflamed nose) is flat in bed with a natsy cold. Don’t Se 82 87 S21 321 921 9 2 9 Sf SI. reject from Ranch. Hardware Mechanical troubles, too, have plagued me this Christmas season. I can’t even afford antifreeze or snow run- 2 2 SIL SI 2 ea oe SUSU SAEED ners for a sleigh because jst capt If you. miss one : of my electric bill. You program you might as well know, running a toy factory miss them all. for the whole world ain't I’m SOrry about ae I. | exactly cheap. Try it some. really am. 1 know how much ~ time. (Just joking, ha, ha). you children were expecting | I have also been having me. (That’s how the cookie __ my family problems, which crumbles, ha, ha). Judging for some reason seem to be by your playthings, howev- — more pressing this year. My er, most of you could use son with a Beatle haircut, more toys about as much _, bless his heart, wants to au- as Don Juan could use more. tomate the toy shop with computers. First it’s alumi- girls, if you mean. can volunteers?) you know what I num Christmas trees and It’s surely going to be a_ now it’s computers. (I won— der if the Peace Corps long winter here at the needs any more young Afri- South Pole. (Ha, ha, fooled _ again). Of course, My wife, who can be as there’s always the: Sunday sweet as peaches and cream afternoon football games on when she wants to, hasn’t T.V., and of course we can been. When I accused her always listen to my Beach the other day of denting the, Boys album. fender on got mad. my our Honda, Boy, she Doc Kildeer said left eye should be heal- can Rudolf I really believe, that most of my surf. though, time ed in about a month. Be- be spent worrying about the lieve me, Sandy Koufax has- future of the Republican n't got anything on my wife Party. Although I am what when it comes to pitching you might call a middle-ofvases. I don’t know what the-roader politically, you she got so mad about. I would have to admit that only accused her. I’m quite an extremist. Like I just remembered, ma always used to say, “ExChristmas Eve falls on a tremism in the delivery of Thursday night this year. toys is no vice.” | That clinches it. That really Your pal, : does it. I can’t miss ‘“‘Peyton Place” on television. I Nicholas S. Claus ? SO 2 PY SOS PS SSS .