He heard the screen door slam shut after a
time and Nora's gentle footsteps coming up the stairway. He turned his
back to the door.
"Jerry," pleaded Nora's coaxing voice, "come on out and play. Danny
didn't mean anything."
Jerry did not answer. He did not even look around.
"Danny wants you to play with us," continued Nora. "Won't you?"
"No," Jerry replied at length.
"Why won't you?"
"He didn't play fair."
"I'll count over again, Jerry, so's I'll be the--" The voice stopped and
then continued chokily, "--the audience."
Jerry knew what it cost her to say that, but he hardened his heart. "I
don't want to play no more," he said.
"Please do, Jerry. I'm sorry I didn't play fair, Jerry."
"I won't," pouted Jerry. "He said I could be the el'funt some of the
time."
"Mebbe he'll let you after while, after he's tired of playin' it,"
suggested Nora, without any great fervor of conviction in her voice.
"I'll ask him to."
With that Nora left the room. He wondered if she could persuade Danny to
let him be the elephant part of the time.
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