We Five by Mark Dunn Page B

Everything hunky-dory except for Maggie, who has suddenly decided she’d rather be dead than have another soak for a father.”
    Jane shook her head. “Ain’t that a bugger! And with the way things are right now… She really shouldn’t say such things.”
    â€œHurry along, Jane. Or you’ll miss the bus.”
    Jane thought for a moment. “I’m going to wait and take the stragglers’ bus with the three of you.”
    â€œBut what about Ruth? She’ll be waiting for all of us and I haven’t another penny to put into this telephone.”
    â€œ I’ll ring her up. Oh, sometimes I could strangle Maggie—putting herself in the way of everyone’s happiness like this.”
    â€œThen you know all about it.”
    â€œI know enough. And I don’t agree with any of it.”
    â€œI should go and see if the two have come to blows. Goodbye, Jane. We’ll see you later in the morning— I hope .”
    After ringing off, Jane placed the call to Ruth. However, it was Miss Mobry, the Methodist minister’s sister, who picked up the telephone. “Hallo, Miss Mobry. This is Jane Higgins. I wish to speak with Ruth.”
    â€œOh yes, she’s right here. Is anything wrong? Ruth was afraid that—well, last night’s air raid—”
    â€œOh no, Miss Mobry. It isn’t that, although a shop not too far from the emporium did take a nasty hit. Thank God no one was hurt. No, this isn’t life and death, but it’s really quite involved. I’ll have to tell you about it some other time.”
    â€œYes, do, my dear. And you should come to tea. Do you fancy loganberry tarts and seed cake? Who doesn’t? Ah, two old maids taking tea together. Is there anything cozier?”
    Jane didn’t respond. She resented being called an old maid. First: she wasn’t one. She was only twenty-three and still eminently marriageable. And although she hadn’t any prospects at the moment, neither had any of her circle-sisters. Second: “old maid” was such a loathsome designation, especially for an unmarried woman who was not at all content with her present unaffiliated status.
    Unlike her friend Ruth.
    Ruth had let it be known that she did not plan to marry under any circumstance, that this was her choice, and furthermore, that she had the right to make her own choices. Jane respected Ruth, though Ruth always seemed out of step with her sisters.
    â€œJane?”
    â€œGood morning, Ruth. There’s been a hitch. You’re to step out and catch the six-thirty and not wait for the rest of us. Maggie and Molly and Carrie are running quite late and won’t be able to make it.”
    â€œWhat about you ?”
    â€œI’ve decided to wait for them. ”
    â€œThen I’ll wait as well.”
    â€œThen we shall all be late, and how will that look?”
    â€œIt will simply look as if we’ve all been detained together. Everyone knows we come to work in a clump, Jane. We are only as punctual as our weakest link allows us to be, and I take it the weak link this morning is Maggie.”
    â€œSo you must know a little something about Maggie’s mother’s big decision.”
    â€œ Know something? I received quite an earful from Maggie the evening we spent together in the A.R.P shelter. We shouldn’t tie up this line into the parsonage; otherwise I’d tell you all about it.”
    â€œMaggie is being quite unfair.”
    â€œWell, of course she is.”
    â€œBut you really should nip over to the factory bus kiosk, Ruth. ‘Save yourself!’ they always say in the movies.”
    â€œI haven’t an overwhelming desire to wait for that bus alone.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œMust I tell you now? Miss Mobry is flitting in and out of the vestibule with little bits of unnecessary business. I know it’s so she can eavesdrop on this conversation.”
    â€œIs this something you