HOMEWARD

BY JEAN RAY

The day had been unusually difficult. The doubts and indecisions of the past week had nagged at the edges of her consciousness until she had been forced to work automatically, using all her wille power to keep her thoughts in check. by 5:00 she vas exhausted.

As she walked the few blocks to the bus stop, she concentrated on regaining some amount of self control. She was so engrossed in her "am I, am I not" trend of thought that without quite realizing it sh noticed her bus nearing the stop and weighed the worth of running to catch it or waiting for a later

one.

Suddenly, out of the throng before her, a girl with gorgeous red-gold cropped hair darted into the bus. Almost against her will she speeded up, barely clearing the closing doors. She stood before the meter, breathless and without change. As she fumbled for a seat, she looked hastily around. Again unwillingly, she found herself taking the seat from which she could best see the girl with the red hair. And there she sat; miserable, confused, one moment near tears, the next near laughter, eyes straight ahead, with a terrible feeling

of flushed excitement.

The bus made several stops before she had courage to glance again at the girl. Great God! She was looking straight at her! Oh dear, she thought, is it that obvious? Everyone on this bus must know what I am but am I? Is she? Furtively she sur។

veyed the girl again. Beautiful skin not pretty

but that wonderful hair. She looks so young, a sure. so poised. And I am all flustered and must look. like a lecher.

She glanced at the other passengers. A woman across the aisle was staring at her with marked disapproval. Does it show, she wondered. Surely

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