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An hour later he was still there and still happier…happy all through。 The candy had been opened after he had presented it to Carol for all of them。 Lazarus had drunk much coffee thick with cream and sugar and had eaten a hefty slice of home…baked white cake with chocolate icing； then accepted a second while admitting that he had not eaten since breakfast
…then protested when Maureen wanted to jump up and cook。 They reached … a promise under which Carol went out to make a sandwich for him。
〃It's been a confusing day；〃 he explained； 〃and 1 haven't had time to eat。 You caused me to change plans； Mr。 Johnson。〃
〃I did； Ted？ How？〃
〃You know…I think I've told you both…that I planned to make a business trip to San Francisco leaving the first of July。 Then this happens…Congress declaring war…and I decided to make the trip at once； settle my affairs there…then enlist。
When I saw you I was all set to leave； packed and everything
…and you made me realize that the Kaiser wouldn't wait while I took care of private affairs。 So I joined up at once。〃 Lazarus managed to look sheepish。 〃My packed grip is still out in the car； going nowhere。〃 … …
Ira Johnson looked pained。 〃I didn't mean to rush you； Ted。 'Twouldn't have l~urt to take a few days to wind up your affairs； they can't organize an army overnight。 I …know； I saw 'em try； in 'Niy…eight。 Mrrph。 Perhaps I could make the trip
513for you？ As yotir agent。 Seeing that… Well； doesn't look like I'm going to be too busy。〃
〃No； no！ A million thanks； sir…but I hadn't been thinking straight。 Thinking 'peacetime' instead of 'wartime' until you got me back on the rails。 I went to Western Union and wrote a night letter to my broker in Frisco； telling him what I wanted him to do； then I wrote a note appointing him my attorney…in…fact and got it notarized and went to the downtown post office and registered it to him。 All done； everything taken care of。〃 Lazarus was enjoying the improvisation so much be almost … believed it。 〃Then i went downstairs and enlisted。 But that grip…Do you suppose you could put it in your garret？ I won't be taking a grip to soldier。 Just a few toilet articles。〃
〃I'll take care of it； Mr。 Bronson！〃 said Brian Junior。 〃In my room！〃
〃In our room；〃 George corrected。 〃We'll take care of it。〃
〃Hold it； boys。 Ted？ Would it break your heart if you lost that grip？〃 …
〃Not at all； Mr。 Johnson。 Why？〃
〃Then take it with you。 But when you get … back to your flat tonight； pack it differently。 You put in white shirts and stiff collars； no doubt。 You won't need those。 If you've got any work shirts； take those。 Be sure to take a pair of wellbroken…in high shoes you can march in； Socks…aII you own。 Underwear。 It's my guess…based on sad experience…that they won't have enough uniforms right away。 Confusion； and
lots of it。 You may be soldiering for a month or more in what you carry with you。〃
〃I think；〃 Mrs。 Smith said seriously； 〃that Father is right； Mr。 Bronson。 Mr。 Smith…Lieutenant Smith； my husband… was saying something like it before he left。 He left without waiting for his telegram…it came hours later…because he said he knew that there would be confusion at first。〃 Her mouth twitched。 〃Although he said it more forcefully。〃
〃Daughter； no matter how Brian put it； it wasn't forceful enough。 Ted will be lucky if his beans are on time。 Any？man who can tell his right foot from his left will be grabbed and made acting corporal； they won't care how he's dressed。 But you care； Ted…so take along clothes you might wear on a farm。 And shoes…fortable shoes that won't put blisters on you the first mile。 Mmm… Ted； do you know the coldcream trick？ To use on your feet when you know you might have your shoes on for a week or more？〃
〃No； sir；〃 Lazarus answered。 （Gramp； you taught it to me once before…or maybe 〃after〃…and it works； and I've never forgotten it。）
〃If possible； have your feet clean and dry。 Smear your feet all over and especially between your toes with cold cream。 Or Vaseline； carbolated is best。 Use lots； a thick layer。 Then put on socks…clean if possible； dirty if you must； but don't skip them…and put your boots on。 When you first stand up； it feels as if you'd stepped into a barrel of soft soap。 But your feet will thank you for it and you won't get jungle rot between your toes。 Or not as much。 Take care of your feet； Ted； and keep your bowels open。〃
〃Father。〃
〃Daughter； I'm talking to a soldier…telling him things that may save his life。 If the children can't hear such things； send them up to bed。〃
〃I think it is time；〃 Maureen answered； 〃to get the younger ones quieted down； at least。〃
〃I don't have to go to bed！〃
〃Woodie； you do exactly what your mother tells you to and no back talk…or I'll bend a poker over your bottom。 That's standing orders until your father gets home from the war。〃
〃I'm going to stay up till Private Bronson leaves！ Papa said I could。〃
〃Mrrph。 I'll discuss the logical impossibility of that with a club； it's the only way to make you understand it。 Maureen； I suggest that we start with the youngest； let 'em say good…bye in turn； and then march straight up to bed。 Which winds up in due course with me walking Ted to his streetcar stop。〃
〃But I was going to drive Uncle Ted home！〃
Lazarus judged that it was time to speak up。 〃Brian； thank you。 But let's not give your mother something extra to worry about tonight。 The trolley takes me almost straight home
and from tomorrow on I won't even have streetcars； I'll walk。〃
〃That's right；〃 agreed Gramp。 〃He'll march。 'Hay foot； straw foot！…heads up and look proud！' Ted； his father made Brian Sergeant of the Guard until he gets back； charged with internal security of this household。〃
〃Then he can't leave his post of duty to chauffeur a mere private； can he？〃
〃Not in the presence of the Officer of the Guard…me…and of the Officer of the Day； my daughter。 Reminds me… While the young 'uns are kissing you good…bye； I want to dig out
514
515a couple of my old Army shirts； I think they'll fit you。 If you don't mind hand…me…downs？〃
〃Sir； I will be proud and honored to wear them！〃
Mrs。 Smith stood up。 〃I have something I must get for Mr。…Private Bronson； too。 Nancy； will you bring down Ethel？ And Carol； will you fetch Richard？〃
〃But Private Bronson hasn't eaten his sandwich！〃
Lazarus said； 〃I'm sorry； Miss Carol。 I've been too excited to eat。 Uh； would you wrap it for me？ I'll eat it the minute I'm back in my apartment…and it will make me sleep soundly。〃
〃Do that； Carol；〃 decided her mother。 〃Brian； will you fetch down Richard？〃
After more backing and filling Lazarus told them all goodbye； in reverse order of seniority。 He held Ethel for a moment and grinned at her baby smile； then kissed the top of her head and handed her back to Nancy； who took her upstairs and hurried back down。 To kiss Richard； Lazarus had to get down on one knee。 The child seemed unsure why this was happening but knew that it was a solemn occasion； he hugged Lazarus tightly and smeared his cheek with a kiss。
Woodie then kissed him…for the first and only time； but Lazarus no longer felt bothered by touching 〃himself〃 as this little boy was not himself but simply an individual from whom he derived some scattered memories in an odd concatenation。 He was no longer tempted to strangle him…or not often。
Wc~odie used the unaccustomed intimacy to whisper： 〃Those chessmen are really ivory？〃
？〃Really truly ivory。 Ivory and ebony； just like the keys on your Mama's piano。〃
〃Gee； that's keen！ Look； when you e back； Uncle Private Bronson； I'll let you play with them。 Anytime。〃
〃And I'll beat you； Sport。〃
〃Says you！ Well； so long。 Don't take any wooden nickels。〃 Little Marie kissed him with tears in her eyes； then fled from the roOm。 George kissed him on the cheek and muttered； 〃You be caref