hurried down the aisle toward the seat behind the girl. As Jerry reached the seat, the bus lurched forward. He reached for the back of the girl’s seat but missed and grabbed her shoulder hard. He stared into her pale face as she jerked around, her shoulder tightening in his grip. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he murmured, dropping his hand to his side. He swayed to keep balance with the swaying of the bus. “I didn’t mean 168, ee “Listen,” he continued, leaning toward her. “I really didn’t mean £651 eos | “Forget it,” she snapped again and turned her head back, dislodging another black lock from the bun. The damp hairs clung to her neck. Strike two, Jerry thought, as he slid into the seat behind her, an uncomfortable feeling creeping through his stomach. He slid across the worn lavender seat and braced his slumped back against the window ledge, so he could see part of the girl’s face. “Please let’s go home,” the old man said. Moist wrinkles pulled deeply into his neck below his yellowish-grey hair. “You can’t, Papa,” the girl said without turning. “Why not, Anna?” he whined. Jerry glared at the back of his head. You’ve got a big mouth, Jerry thought. “You're sick,” the girl said. “What!” Jerry said, startled, but no one turned. “T am not sick,” the old man said. Color rose into his neck, mak- ing his hair look more yellow. “Just because I like to walk in the parks and talk to people, you call me a funny word and lock me up.” Shadows of buildings crossed his head. Air-on-air sounds escaped from beneath Jerry’s seat as the bus stopped, then lurched forward after two men got in. Jerry resented their presence. He wiped sweat beads from his forehead with his brown shirt sleeve. “What’s that big word you call me?” the old man continued. The girl didn’t answer. ‘““What’s that big word?” he repeated. “Senile,” she snapped as she looked at him. “Oh, what's the use, Papa? You just can’t live with me.” Jerry shifted in his seat. The old man irritated him enough to make his feeble courage gather itself. “How do you think I get?” the girl demanded, looking straight ahead. “No one wants to come near me when youre there. You bother everyone, and I get lonely, too.” Jerry felt that the girl had fastened a link between them. He knew now, he thought, how to approach her. Now she would understand him. Jerry leaned forward and said, “I think you should lock him up.” “What!” the girl said, jerking toward him to look at him. | Jerry repeated, “I think you should lock ,. .” 32 “Who are you?” she demanded, interrupting him. Her blue eyes widened, and she glanced from him to the old man and back. “T was in the store last night,” he said. “I just wanted to talk.” He rubbed his hand over his levis. “Get away from us,” the girl’s voice rose and wavered as she drew back. The old man stared at him with his mouth open. “Look,” Jerry said rapidly. “You said you get lonesome and so do I.” He looked from her eyes to the old man’s and back to hers. “T thought we might... .” “Get away from me,” her voice rose. “I know your kind. Get away.” Jerry tried to explain. “I... I just wanted to help,” he said, fear crawling across his stomach and into his throat. “Get away,” the girl repeated. Jerry stared at her. He wanted to run. Reaching up, he grabbed the bell cord and pulled hard. The bus lumbered to a stop, and the air-on-air sound escaped beneath him. He stood up and strode to the rear door. Pausing with his hands on the rail, he looked at the girl, who stared back at him, her mouth open. He started to say something, “I ...I just ...,” but he finish. He jumped to the crowded sidewalk, and the bus roared behind him. He turned to watch it. He couldn’t see the girl any Jerry began to walk toward the packing plant, still five blocks Cars sounded in the street beside the people hurrying past He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked down the walk, blending into the crowd. —— GAY HAPPINESS A\iry grains Silk-like Waves 2 But of drift lapping a kitten death — 33 sand through the fingers. land drinking approaches LINDA my milk. softly. MC ILRATH didn't from more. away. Jerry. side- ESTES