She lost her air of frightened timidity. She looked composed, even a little ironic.
âShe doesnât like men callers to stay too long,â Ruby said.
âDo you have other men callers?â
âI canât see that itâs any of your business.â
âIt isnât. I just want to know.â
âWell then, sure. Sure I have.â
âI donât believe it,â George said.
Ruby put her hands on her hips in an exasperated manÂner. âWell, I like that! I certainly like that, Mr. Anderson! You, you just get out of here and donât come back!â
George smiled painfully. âYouâre not such a bunny after all.â
âI certainly donât have to stand here and be insulted.â
Thump, thump, thump, Mrs. Freemanâs implying feet went down the hall again.
âWhy did you leave the other place and move over here all of a sudden?â George said.
âThatâs my affair.â
âWas it the rent? Do you need money?â
âNow I suppose youâre thinking that I skipped out without paying my rent! Well, let me tell you one thing, Mr. Anderson. If I were broke I could always go home. You seem to have gotten the wrong idea about me. Iâm no orphan. Iâm not alone in the world. I can go back to San Francisco any time. My mother and father have a beautiÂful home there and theyâre always begging me to come back. But I told my dad, Iâm tired of this sheltered life, I want to earn my own way.â
âWhy?â
âBecause. Because I do, thatâs all. In the modern world a girl has to be able to look out for herself.â
âYouâre not thinking of going home, then?â
âI havenât made up my mind. It all depends.â
âI wouldnât like you to leave town.â
âThatâs funny. Someone else told me today that Iâd be better off if I did. There are more jobs down south.â
âThere are jobs here, too. If you donât want to come back to the Beachcomber, maybe I can find something else for you. Iâve got some connections around town.â
Rubyâs face lit up. âThat would be wonderful. Do you really think you could?â
âI donât see why not.â
âA receptionist, maybe. Iâve always thought Iâd like to be a receptionist.â
âI donât know about that,â George said cautiously. âThereâs not much call for receptionists in a town this size.â
âStill, itâs possible, isnât it?âwith your connections?â
âYes.â
âGosh, itâd be nice, sitting instead of standing all the time, and wearing pretty clothes and keeping my nails decent.â Her eyes were soft and her cheeks seemed tohave already fattened on this dream of pretty clothes and half-inch nails. âIâd have to get a new permanent, though. My hair is a mess.â
âIt looks fine to me.â
âNo, itâs a mess.â She twisted a strand of it between her fingers. âWhy should you do me a favor, Mr. AnderÂson?â
âBecause I want to. Thereâs nothing, well, personal in it. I know you need a job, and youâre just a kid. In factâwell, to tell you the truth, Iâm old enough to be your father.â
âYou are?â Ruby giggled nervously. âMy goodness, you certainly donât look it. You donât look a day over forty.â
George, who was forty, thanked her and pulled in his stomach. He knew by her expression that she had meant the remark as a compliment and that she probably thought he was at least fifty.
He felt a little sick, but he smiled and said, âIâll do the best I can for you.â
âOh, I know you will.â
âI donât suppose youâd like to come out and have some dinner with me.â
âIâd love to, but I canât.â
âOh.â
âI really canât. Iâm so tired.
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