All the Way Home and All the Night Through Read Online Free PDF

down opposite me. “How’s every little thing?”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œAre you going to Harry’s party tonight?”
    â€œNo”.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause I’m going home.”
    â€œOh, of course. You’re not back till Monday, are you?”
    â€œI’d stay if I wanted.”
    â€œWhat about Hilary? She’ll be going. She’s been invited.”
    â€œWhat’s it to do with you?”
    â€œNothing, but I thought you’d both be going, you know.”
    â€œWell, we’re not.”
    â€œI only thought, you know. I mean, Hilary’s talking to Gwen as if you’re going together.”
    â€œWe haven’t even talked about going yet, so go and get your ears washed out. And when you come back, go and sit somewhere else than with me.”
    I got up and went over to where Hilary and Gwen and the rest of the girls were screaming at each other.
    â€œHiya, Vic,” said Gwen.
    â€œNow then,” I said. Then to Hilary: “Are you ready for off then?”
    â€œI haven’t had my milk yet.”
    â€œNo. It’s over there. Come and get it and then we’ll make a move. See you, Gwen.”
    Hilary saw something was up, so she followed me over to her glass of milk as soon as she had made her farewells.
    â€œWhat’s the matter with you, then?”
    I couldn’t tell her there so I put on my nicest face and said:
    â€œSweet, I’m sorry. Look, it’s just the heat and everything. Besides, I haven’t seen you for a week and I want you for myself. We only see each other for a short time, you know.”
    It pacified her. She drank her milk.
    â€œHow about the pictures this afternoon?” I said. I wanted to see “Rio Bravo” and it was the last day of its run.
    â€œYeah, I don’t mind.”
    â€œWe’ll just about make the beginning of the one at the Regal if we move now.”
    We went to the pictures. We sweated the afternoon away necking on the back row. In the interval, when the lights went up, I told her.
    â€œLook,” I said, “It’s like this. You see, it’s not that I don’t feel any the less about you or anything, but well, I’ve got problems, you know, and I can’t tell you what they are because, well, I can’t. Anyway, until everything’s blown over, sorted itself out, you know, I think it would be simpler if I didn’t see you for a while. Only until everything’s sorted out. It will be easier for me this way. Try and understand.”
    She stared at the seat in front of her.
    â€œWhat are the problems?”
    â€œLook honestly, I can’t tell you. I wish I could. Try and under-stand. I can’t tell you, really.”
    She looked unhappy.
    â€œYou’re sure it’s not because you’ve changed or anything because I’d rather know if it was. I know I’m only sixteen, but I’d rather you—”
    â€œLook, honestly Sweet, it isn’t that at all. I wish I could explain.”
    â€œI wish you could, too. You can’t think very much of me or else you’d tell me what it is.”
    The lights began to go down and the advertising came on. In the dark, I told her a pack of lies.
    â€œWell, it’s my folks. It’s hard for me to tell you, to tell anyone, and I hope you won’t talk about this. I know you won’t, but anyway. You see, I—it’s hard even to say it. You see, they’re getting divorced, so...”
    â€œOh, Victor.”
    â€œYeah. Well, I know. Apparently it’s been going on for some time now. Anyway, I didn’t know. Not until they told me the other day. It was awful.”
    I piled it on. She believed me. She cried in pity and honest concern showed in her face.
    â€œSo you see, it’s just that, well, I have to have time to get used to everything.”
    â€œCouldn’t I help you?”
    I paused to give me time to think of an