"Papa, you said that."
He walked down the city street a little slumped, with the flower wilted in his button-hole. He was wearing his new round, straw hat on the back of his head. Не passed a little boy on the street, and the kid was singing lustily: "Over There...Over There...Sond the word, send the word Over There, that the Yanks are coming... The Yanks are coming...the drums drum-drumming everywhere..." He stopped and listened to the kid's high, unmusical voice: "Over...we're coming over...and we won't be back 'til it's over...Over Thero..."
"You like that song, Sonny?"
"Suro, mister, it's a song about soldiers. everything! They're brave!"
"Are you sure?"
"Sure I'm sure, Mister. The song says 30.
"Hero's a nickel, Sonny. Go buy candy."
They got
"Gee! Thank you, Mister. Are you a soldier?"
"No, Sonny; I'm just a Yank,"
"Gee, thanks, Yank!"
"It's all right, kid."
He watched the boy scamper off and disɛppear around the nearest corner; then he thrust his hands deep down in his new pants pockets and walked along, whistling.
the tenth muse
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF RADCLYFFE Hall By Lady Una Troubridge, London, 1961
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