Read Online The Fredric Brown Megapack by Fredric Brown - Free Book Online

there isn’t anything I’m worrying about. Not exactly. I mean—” And he’d had to wriggle out of the cross-examination by inventing a worry or two for Richard to talk him out of.
    He thought about the Geezenstacks a lot. Too much. If only he’d been superstitious, or credulous, it might not have been so bad. But he wasn’t. That’s why each succeeding coincidence hit him a little harder than the last.
    Edith and her brother noticed it, and talked about it when Sam wasn’t around.
    “He has been acting queer lately, Dick. I’m—I’m really worried. He acts so— Do you think we could talk him into seeing a doctor or a—”
    “A psychiatrist? Um, if we could. But I can’t see him doing it, Edith. Something’s eating him, and I’ve tried to pump him about it, but he won’t open up. Y’know—I think it’s got something to do with those damn dolls.”
    “Dolls? You mean Aubrey’s dolls? The ones you gave her?”
    “Yes, the Geezenstacks. He sits and stares at the doll house. I’ve heard him ask the kid questions about them, and he was serious. I think he’s got some delusion or something about them. Or centering on them.”
    “But, Dick, that’s—awful.”
    “Look, Edie, Aubrey isn’t as interested in them as she used to be, and— Is there anything she wants very badly?”
    “Dancing lessons. But she’s already studying violin and I don’t think we can let her—”
    “Do you think if you promised her dancing lessons if she gave up those dolls, she’d be willing? I think we’ve got to get them out of the apartment. And I don’t want to hurt Aubrey, so—”
    “Well—but what would we tell Aubrey?”
    “Tell her I know a poor family with children who haven’t any dolls at all. And—I think she’ll agree, if you make it strong enough.”
    “But, Dick, what will we tell Sam? He’ll know better than that.”
    “Tell Sam, when Aubrey isn’t around, that you think she’s getting too old for dolls, and that—tell him she’s taking an unhealthy interest in them, and that the doctor advises— That sort of stuff.”
    Aubrey wasn’t enthusiastic. She was not as engrossed in the Geezenstacks as she’d been when they were newer, but couldn’t she have both the dolls and the dancing lessons?
    “I don’t think you’d have time for both, honey. And there are those poor children who haven’t any dolls to play with, and you ought to feel sorry for them.”
    And Aubrey weakened, eventually. Dancing school didn’t open for ten days, though, and she wanted to keep the dolls until she could start her lessons. There was argument, but to no avail.
    “That’s all right, Edie,” Richard told her. “Ten days is better than not at all, and—well, if she doesn’t give them up voluntarily, it’ll start a rumpus and Sam’ll find out what we’re up to. You haven’t mentioned anything to him at all, have you?”
    “No. But maybe it would make him feel better to know they were—”
    “I wouldn’t. We don’t know just what it is about them that fascinates or repels him. Wait till it happens, and then tell him. Aubrey has already given them away. Or he might raise some objection or want to keep them. If I get them out of the place first, he can’t.”
    “You’re right, Dick. And Aubrey won’t tell him, because I told her the dancing lessons are going to be a surprise for her father, and she can’t tell him what’s going to happen to the dolls without telling the other side of the deal.”
    “Swell, Edith.”
    It might have been better if Sam had known. Or maybe everything would have happened just the same, if he had.
    Poor Sam. He had a bad moment the very next evening. One of Aubrey’s friends from school was there, and they were playing with the doll house. Sam watching them, trying to look less interested than he was. Edith was knitting and Richard, who had just come in, was reading the paper.
    Only Sam was listening to the children and heard the suggestion.
    “…and then