1953 - The Things Men Do Read Online Free PDF Page A

honest. You mustn't think such things."
    "I know I look a fright. I know I should try to look smart, but it's awfully difficult, Harry, Be patient with me."
    "Don't say things like that. It's you I love, not what you wear. It wasn't anything like that. We're in a mess. We've got to face it. If this goes on much longer well go bust. Then what are we going to do?"
    "We'll sell up and well get jobs. You can get a job any day, and so can I. So long as we stick together. Harry nothing matters. Do you think we should sell now, and cut our losses?"
    "Not yet." My mind moved to Gloria again. "Let's hang on a little longer, Ann. We might get a break. I might think of something."
    She kissed me and slid off my lap.
    "All right. Eat your breakfast now before it gets cold. Perhaps it would be an idea if I got a job. It would help, wouldn't it?"
    "Well hang on a bit longer. I don't want you away from here. You're a good lad, Ann. I don't know what I'd do without you."
    Around ten o'clock one of my few clients brought his car in to have a tappet fixed. I talked him into changing his oil for the stuff I had overbought, and I told Tim to take care of it.
    While I was talking to Tim, Bill came in.
    "Hello, Harry, got some business?"
    "Not much, but it's something."
    "I'd like to have a word with you."
    I looked at him.
    "Come into the office, Bill. What's on your mind?"
    "Nothing much." He followed me into the office and dosed the door. "Have a gasper?"
    We lit up. He sat on the straight-backed chair and I sat behind the desk.
    "How's Ann?"
    "She's fine."
    "That's good."
    "We enjoyed the party last night. Nice of you to have celebrated with us, Bill."
    Bill took off his peaked cap, scratched his head and put tin cap on again.
    "That's all right. After all you and Ann are the only people I care about."
    "That, goes for you too."
    Bill looked at me and gave me an embarrassed grin.
    "I know. We've had some good times together, haven't we?"
    "And some bad ones."
    "That's a fact."
    Silence hung in the little room while we smoked. I kept looking at him, but he was staring down at the floor, a worried expression on his red, kindly face.
    "What's on your mind, Bill?"
    "You and Ann."
    I didn't say anything.
    "Maybe it's none of my business, but I'm fond of you two. Things are a bit rough, aren't they?"
    "Yes, they're rough all right, but you don't have to bother your brains about that."
    "Don't I? You know, Harry, I was under the impression that friends are supposed to help each other. If I got into a mess, I hope you would help me."
    "Well, I would, but there's nothing you can do, Bill. It's just one of those things."
    "There is something I can do. Last night was a bit of a wash out, wasn't it?"
    I looked sharply at him, and he grinned.
    "We just weren't in the mood for a party, Bill. We hoped you hadn't noticed."
    "Not noticed? Blimey! You looked like a couple of pallbearers. What do you think I am? Blind?"
    "Sorry, Bill, but we've got a lot on our minds right now."
    "How bad is it, Harry?"
    "Bad enough."
    "Now look, will you stop acting as if I was a tax collector? I've known you for eight yean. We're pals, aren't we? Just how bad is it?"
    "Well, we owe eighty-nine pounds, and we've only got about fifty to meet the monthly bills. If we don't settle our bills, they'll stop supplies. That's how bad it is."
    "Fifty quid would put you in the clear?"
    "For this month it would, but then there's next month. We're beginning to realize, Bill, Eagle Street is a wash out."
    "Let's take care of this month. Next month can take care of itself." He produced a chequebook from .his pocket. "I'm going to lend you fifty quid, Harry, just as you would lend it to me if I was in a jam."
    "You're not! Now look, Bill, it's damned nice of you, but I've got to see this thing through myself. If I take the money from you, I shall still be as badly off. I'd worry myself sick wondering how I was going to pay you back. No, I can't take it."
    "Fifty quid will hold you over to the