The two of them seemed happy with the room. I can't ask much, even in mid-season, because there is only one bath on the floor, and when all my rooms are filled, it has to be shared with maybe eight, ten others. So, for six dollars a day, the two girls had a nice, clean room with an ocean breeze. They could have had one farther down the hall with twin beds, but they said the double bed would be all right, especially since it was right next door to the bath.

They liked it that the beach was right across the highway, and you could see that the little one was itching to get over there. She changed into her bathing clothes right away. But the big one, who was tall like a man, almost, and broadshouldered, wanted to sit awhile downstairs in my luncheonette. They didn't want to eat, but they ordered some lime soda and ice, and the big one had a bottle of something inside a paper bag. When she poured whatever it was into her soda pop, the little one looked around like she was embarrassed.

I don't serve any beer or liquor in my place, but I don't mind if my customers. are quite about what they bring in. These two were quiet and they seemed like nice girls. Both of them wore slacks and little white caps on their heads. They had arrived in one of those funny little sports cars with the top down.

So, I made out like I didn't notice when the big one poured something into her soda. My old man drinks all the time, so I know about drinking.

When I took some more soda to the table, I brought along my book for them to sign. This is a law here when you rent out rooms. The big one was Ron Starr and the little one was Jane Paul. They said right away for me to call them by their first names, and they started to call me "Mom" like everybody does. They finally did go over to the beach, and later when they came back the little one, Jane, went on upstairs and came down showered and dressed in clean white shorts and a blue shirt. But Ron, the big one, sat at the same table as before and ordered some tomato juice. She had a different bottle in a paper bag now, and I said maybe she should have something to eat. One thing I always make sure of, that my old man eats when he is drinking, because I know how he gets if he doesn't eat. But this Ron laughed in the same drawly way she talks and said she takes her calories in liquid form. All the time she is pouring from the bottle and her eyes don't look very good. When the little one came down she ordered some of my spaghetti and meat balls for both of them.

I stood and talked with them while the spaghetti water was boiling. Ron tells me that she is an airplane pilot, and I am surprised because I never met a woman airplane flyer before. They both say how much they like it here, my place and the beach, and I say, well, why don't you stay longer than just one night? Ron says she could stay down all summer if Jane could stay with her, and Jane says she wishes she could, but there is her job.

I brought the spaghetti and then the supper crowd came in and I got busy. When I looked again, the girls were leaving their table and starting upstairs to their room. Ron wasn't walking very good, and when I looked at their plates, she had hardly touched her food.

Hours later, maybe it was nine o'clock, Jane came downstairs by herself. She sat at the counter and asked for a cup of coffee. "I thought you two had gone out," I said. Most of my roomers go out in the evenings, to the movies. or the bars or someplace.

"We'd planned to," Jane said, "but Ron fell asleep." She drank her coffee and smoked cigarettes and we chatted awhile. She looked lonesome.

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