He leaned back, surveying her critically. "You ain't fat, The 1ma!"

She smiled weakly. "Okay then, Willie, Gimme a beer."

"Comin' right up, Baby. One-on-the-house."

He placed the glass of foamy, ambor liquid before her; and reached over across the bar with his free hand, to grasp one of hers. "I missed you like crazy, kiddo," he said softly.

"Why didn't you come over? You know where I live, Willic."

"I thought about it; but you got that other guy now, that ...what's his name? John?"

She gave an indifferent shrug. "Oh him. I give him the boot out the back door long ago. I...I was kinda waitin'

for you to come over, Willie."

His little greenish oyos gloamed with inner joy. "Goe, honey; I didn't know. I figured you was busy."

"What time you done tonight, Willie?"

"At ten, Baby. You wait for me, okay?"

"Sure, Willie. I'll wait..."

"Drink up, honey. You got another drink-on-tho-house comin'."

"What's the matter, Thelma; you act like you don't like me no more..."

"Oh, Willio! Stop it. Didn't I come over to the bar, and didn't I let you come up here? And besides, I dono all the things you like me to do."

He swung his feet over tho odge of the bed, and sat up. "Yeah, you did, honey. I didn't mean to pick on you; but it just soems like you ain't got you mind on what

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