Place Called Estherville Read Online Free PDF

him.
    He still had no idea of what he was going to say to her, but he realized that he would have to think of something before he found himself in a ludicrous position. The only thing in the whole world he could bring to mind was the banking business.
    “What I came in here for was to ask if you’ve ever considered opening a savings account down at the bank,” he said, feeling silly for talking about banking or anything like it at a time such as that, but relieved to have thought of something. There was no way out now, however. He would have to go through with it and try to make a fresh start later. “It’s a pretty good habit to get into, Kathyanne. You never know when a few dollars tucked away in a savings account is going to save the day for you. Having a savings account to fall back on is a real safeguard in a time of need. It gives you peace of mind. Squirrels stow away nuts for a time of need, and human beings have learned down through the ages that putting away dollars is just as wise.” He saw her moving her head up and down, and he hurried to complete a convincing argument. “It only takes a single dollar to open an account, and even if you save only a dollar a week in the beginning, the first thing you know you’ve got a sizable fund safely stowed away—just like the squirrels. Everybody, white and colored, ought to protect themselves with a saving account, no matter how small.” She was nodding again, and George was pleased with himself for having appealed so successfully to her acquisitive instinct. “I tell you what you do, Kathyanne. Monday morning you come in the bank and let me show you how easy it is to set up a small financial program for yourself. I’ll be glad to do that for you. It’s always a pleasure to help people who want to save money.”
    He beamed with satisfaction.
    “Mr. George, I didn’t want to interrupt while you were talking, but I’ve already got a savings account at the bank.”
    “You have?” he said in astonishment.
    “I opened it two or three months ago. You gave me a little piggy bank to save pennies in.”
    “I did?”
    She nodded, and as she did so he was positive this time that he saw an impudent sparkle in her eyes.
    “Well,” he said with a despondent feeling, “that’s fine. I’m glad you reminded me.”
    All he could think of then was finding some way to get out of such an awkward situation so that he could make a fresh start. He looked around the kitchen with a critical eye as though he had come there in the first place to inspect the walls and ceiling and to decide if they were in need of a new coat of paint. He nodded thoughtfully at the ceiling and left the kitchen without another word spoken.
    He went back to the front of the house feeling thoroughly foolish and cursing himself under his breath for wasting so much time talking about putting money in the bank. “Those goddam squirrels!” he said out loud. “Who gives a damn if they save nuts!” He jerked down the shades over the windows and turned on all the lights. Feeling too provoked to sit down, he began walking restlessly from one side of the room to the other. He told himself that the next time he was going to be thoroughly prepared and not blunder again.
    The doorbell rang, jarring his nerves. The dreaded thought instantly flashing through his mind was that Norma had come home. He felt a heavy weight sinking deeper and deeper in the pit of his stomach, and he wondered if he would ever again in his life have another opportunity like the one that had just passed. He stood in the middle of the floor listening to the bell and dreading to answer it while it continued its jangling ring. The last time it rang with a sharp tone of urgency.
    When he threw open the door, Hugh Howard was standing there. George was dumfounded. He stared open-mouthed at Hugh.
    “What’s the matter, George?” Hugh asked him. “You look like you might’ve been expecting somebody else.”
    “I wasn’t expecting