A Little Learning Read Online Free PDF Page A

came in, her arms full of magazines.
    “Oh, hello, Madeline.” She plopped the magazines on the small table.
    “I just stepped back here to make a phone call,” I said.
    “Anytime, dear.” She took off her half glasses and let them dangle on their pearl chain. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”
    Another case? I was pleased and appalled at the same time. When would I find time to paint? “Nothing serious, I hope.”
    “Well, it depends on how you look at it. Business is a little slow right now, and as much as I love having Jerry around, there’s just not enough for him to do. I’m going to have to cut back on his hours.”
    Uh-oh. “Business picks up around October, though, doesn’t it?”
    “Usually. How do you think he’ll feel about this?”
    I knew exactly how Jerry would feel. Free! Free, at last! “He’ll be okay.” Oh, my gosh, I’d have to find something for him to do.
    “I’m sure I’ll have more work for him during the holiday season, but I have to keep my other workers on the payroll. They’ve been with me for years.” She peered at me anxiously. “This isn’t going to be a financial burden on you, is it?”
    “No, we’ll manage,” I said. “I have a case right now.”
    “Good. I was worried. I wanted to sort of find out how things were before I told him.”
    “He’ll be fine, Georgia.”
    “I think I’ll go ahead and let him know today.”
    My mind whirled with this information as I walked back to the counter. Jerry was laughing and joking with two women who’d been in the community theater’s recent production of
The Music Man.
    “Are you going to play for
South Pacific
next summer?” one asked.
    “I don’t know,” he said. “It’s hard to plan that far in advance.”
    “Would you be interested in playing for our Christmas cantata?” the other woman asked. “We’re desperate to find somebody. The music isn’t hard. I’ll bet you could sight read it.”
    “I’ve never played for a church program,” he said.
    “Oh, it’s easy. It’s basically lots of Christmas carols with a few extra tunes thrown in. Why don’t I bring a copy by and let you look at it? Then you can decide.”
    “Okay,” he said.
    “This might work into a good job for you,” she said. “Do you play the organ, too?”
    “Never tried that.”
    “Think about it.”
    Jerry needed plenty to do, but I knew he didn’t want to be tied down every Sunday. He told the women he’d look over the cantata, but he couldn’t make any promises. After the women left, there were a few more customers, and then Georgia came up.
    “Jerry, dear, I hate to tell you this, but I’m going to have to cut back on your hours. You’re a very good worker, but business is slow, and the other employees have been with me for years. I’m just going to need you a few hours every day, if that’s all right.”
    I saw the gleam in Jerry’s eyes. “That’s fine with me.”
    “You’re sure?”
    “Georgia, there are all kinds of things I can do.”
    She looked relieved. “I’m glad to hear that. I’ll have a new schedule for you tomorrow.”
    “Okay,” Jerry said. “See you tomorrow, then. Ready to go, Mac?”
    “All set.” I kept my smile in place for Georgia’s sake, but as we walked down the sidewalk to the car, I said, “I’m a little concerned about this.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll find another job.”
    “Seriously?”
    “You’re going to enter the art show, aren’t you? We have a deal here.”
    “Yes, but what sort of job do you have in mind?”
    “Oh, something will come up.”
    “You’re not bored here, are you?”
    “No, not at all.”
    “We could always take a trip somewhere, do something a little more exciting.”
    “Don’t worry about me. I can make my own excitement.”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
    He grinned. “I seem to recall we made a bargain not long ago. I’ve kept my end of it. I am legally employed. You were supposed to continue your art work, right, Mrs.