“Hey, Chubs, if you keep running that fast, Tubs won’t be able to catch you,” shouted Roger. The words pounded in Gail’s head. Her vision was blurry as she ran faster. She threw herself on the ground. The damp October grass smelled of fresh soil. She held her breath until she couldn’t any longer. Then she breathed hard until her whole body tingled. She closed her eyes and squeezed them tight until she saw red and yellow dots. She dug her fin. gers into the grass. “Please, God, make the fat go away.” With her eyes still closed she saw herself at the dance. She wore a pink dress with a bright pink sash tied around her tiny waist. Her short mousy brown hair had turned a golden blonde and hung down her back, touching the pink sash. She twirled and swirled with a tall boy. His hair her was dark and his eyes were blue and he held her tightly. Gail opened her eyes and stood up. The clouded sky still looked gray. She wrapped she arms around her waist and twirled until the grass went spinning. Then stopped and felt the roll of fat. She pinched it hard. “T’ve got to get rid of this fat.” She walked across the lawn and down the street. As she cut across Albertson’s Food Store parking lot, she saw Jim McKinley leaning against the wall. His brown hair stuck up in back and his green parka made him look fatter. His levis bulged over his legs. In his stubby fingers he held a donut. Gail felt like running again, but this time not ever stopping. She closed her eyes as she approached the glass door of the Store so she couldn’t see her reflection. She opened her eyes as she entered the store. The florescent lights looked bright after being out in the cloudy day. She walked slowly toward the candy counter and stopped in front of the candy bars. Her hand shook as she reached out for a “Hershey” bar. She dug into her pocket, brought out a nickle, and gave it to the clerk. She tore the wrapper from the bar and bit down on the soft chocolate as she walked out of the store. Tubs McKinley was still leaning against the | wall, eating donuts. 38 STIL EE TO Re ae eee Titer Cae nee Gail shook her head and tried to get by. “Hey, didn’t Tubs ask ya?” asked Roger. He looked at Dawn and snickered, Gails’ head began to shake slightly. She clenched her teeth to make it stop. “Gee, Gail, you really should go to the dance. You're really missing a! lot of fun. I could see you doing the boogaloo.” Gail stared at Roger’s cowboy boots as she dug her nails into her palms. “You and Tubs would make the perfect couple.” said Roger. He looked at Dawn smiling. “Tubs and Chubs,” he blurted as if he couldn’t hold 4 it back. They both burst out laughing. Gail’s head shook and a sharp pain stuck in her chest. She dug her Hat deeply into her palms. The blood rushed to her head and she felt izzy. Roger laughed louder. “Ha, ha. Pretty funny. ‘Tubs and Chubs’.” The words closed in on Gail. The dizziness went through her whole body. She felt the pain working its way up into her throat. “Shut up!” she yelled. Tears filled her eyes and she pushed away from Dawn and Roger and ran across the lawn. Their laughter echoed in e the air. HANDS His | ample fingers are discolored Pom aint that lingers in their deep set lines. They aie rough work hands, large and strong Tools, tough skinned, to Ht A part of the land on which he toils, J, pair of hands that holds a pick, a spade. Llelen M cAAllister SOUTH TEMPLE - S.L.C: Il never forget that afternoon A\pril gray and stuffy. We ambled past proud old houses, Grandmothers. Three Louses. guys, content with man tall, and sandstone sidewalks. a asting the air of Laster Sunday. J ohn 39 Davis