Billy and Hubert brought ham and cheese combinations back, also coleslaw, pickles, and a coffee ring.
"Cripes, didn't anybody make coffee?" Billy asked.
"There probably isn't any," said Theresa.
There wasn't; so they had tea. Louise came weakly from the bedroom to have a cup of coffee. They gave her tea, and she took it uncomplainingly. She also took a sandwich, a few pickles, and a slice of cake. Then she was ill again.
"Say, Billy," said Hubert, "why don't you and Louise go somewhere with us Sunday? I mean a week from tomorrow."
"All right, sure. That is, if she ain't dead. If she is I'll go anyhow."
"I'll leave it up to you and her where we'll go," said Hubert. "I like you two."
He looked around the table to see if there was anybody else he liked. His eyes rested for a moment on Mary Jackson but he rejected her because of her condition. He didn't even look at Hymie and Theresa. Theresa was too much of a killjoy. Fred wasn't much, but Anna seemed a sweet kid.
"Say," Hubert asked her. "How would you like to go along?"
"Depends on where you go," she answered cautiously. "I've no swell clothes like Louise has."
Hubert reached into his pocket and drew out his wallet. He threw twenty dollars on the table before Anna. "There," he said, "get yourself a pretty dress."
The others stared goggle-eyed at the scene. Cripes,
