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“He ain’t called in yet,” snapped Ma

“Called in?” I glanced up

“He calls on that phone across the street about this time, to see has so-and-so arrived, come out, stuff like that,” said Charlotte “Saves time He sleeps late, cause he’s usually out front restaurants hts”

“I know” I finished the last signature, gloith an inadmissible elation I still could not look at my new admirers, who smiled at me as if I had just leaped Galilee in one stride

Across the street the glass-booth phone rang

“That’s Clarence now!” said Ma

“Excuse me—” Charlotte started off

“Please,” I touched her elbow “It’s been years Surprise?” I looked from Charlotte to her Ma and back “Yes? ”

“Oh, all right,” grumped Ma

“Go ahead,” said Charlotte

The phone rang I ran to lift the receiver

“Clarence?” I said

“Who’s this!? ” he cried, instantly suspicious

I tried to explain in some detail, but wound up with the old metaphor, “the Crazy”

That buttered no bread for Clarence “Where’s Charlotte or Ma? I’m sick”