4-MAID UP

apron which buttoned in the back, and with ruffles all the way from the front waistband over the shoulders to the waistband in the back. His sisters had left plenty of those behind and he was sort of "using them up." Unfortunately they were not easy to take off and presently he gave up. It was too late anyway; Mary had seen him already.

"Hi, Jill," hey, you look cute. What are you doing?." Mary looked him over from head to toe. When he was with girls, John always was annoyed at the fact that they familiarly called him by this girlish nick name. Once in junior high-school, some of his close friends had discovered his unusual middle name, "Gilles", a good old Dutch male name, carried by the male members of his family for many generations. They jokingly called him Gill, and then, Jill. It had stuck with him ever since, no matter how he complained to everyone. Eventually he gave up protesting.

John defensively explained that since they had no help in the house, he had to do whatever had to be done and that right now he was doing some ironing for his mother. "Mother has not been feeling well for a long time and she expects me to help wherever possible."

"That's really nice of you. May I come in?"

"Of course" said John, "what can I do for you?" his blushing slowly receding.

Mary explained her visit, asking that she wanted John, who was fairly popular in school, to help with her campaign for school president. Then Mary said: "Hey, do you have another apron? If so, I will help you with the ironing. That's a woman's job anyway." John smiled gratefully and said; "Would you really?"

He fetched another clean pinafore just like the one he was wearing and helped her button it up in the back.

While Mary began to help with the ironing, John went to get a soft drink and presently served it properly, according to Emily Post, as he was taught by his sister.

"You really know how to do things, John" said Mary. protesting. John now began to take off his apron after having served Mary the coke. But Mary said: "Leave it on; it fits you well and it seems to go with your personality and your name," she added jokingly. At this John become red with embarrassment and finally managed to unbutton and take off the garment he now had begun to hate.

"Just what is that supposed to mean?" he asked. "Oh, really nothing," Mary answered, blushing. "I'm sorry." She realized that she had said the wrong thing. "It is just that I have already become used to your wearing it. It really does not look strange on you. John accepted this explanation and dropped the subject, after hanging the apron in the kitchen.

When Mary completed the ironing, they sat down together on the couch and made plans for the campaign. Suddenly John looked

TV FICTION CLASSICS -5

at the clock and exclaimed; "Past 7 already, why don't you have dinner with us here?

"All right," said Mary, "let me call my parents first."

"Prepare for the worst though," said John, “we usually have TV dinners around here."

"Oh, I don't mind," said Mary. "It would be nice if we could complete our plans for action later."

John began setting the dinner table, and Mary joined him. John's mother had just come down from her afternoon rest and announced after greeting Mary that the TV dinners should be ready. Mary explained that she had been helping John with the ironing and therefore was wearing one of John's aprons.

John's mother smiled: "That's nice; you should come over more often." John misses his sisters, and he can sure use some female guidance." John blushed at this and even more so, when his mother frowned and said; I told you a thousand times to wear your apron when you are working in the kitchen. Go put it on, THIS INSTANT. Before you serve the dinner!" Turning to Mary, she added, "He spills food all over his clothes. We're not made of money, you know."

Red as a beet John went to the kitchen. Mary followed him and helped him button the back and tie the strings of the pinafore. "Don't let it get you down," she said consolingly, "I promise not to tell anyone." I think it is wonderful, the way you help your mother." As the evening went on, John became very enamored of Mary, and after doing the dishes together, both in pinafores, they spent the rest of the evening planning and talking excitingly about the possibility of Mary becoming president.

After this Mary and John became close friends. Frequently Mary would come to his house, to help him with his chores. He no longer felt self-conscious about wearing his work aprons in front of Mary. Sometimes she even reminded him to put his pinafore on, "before your mother gets mad."

CHAPTER TWO

After graduating from high-school John was soon drafted into the Army and was stationed in Germany for many months. His mother suddenly became ill and died within a few days. On emergency leave, John barely got home in time for the funeral.

He felt lonely and sad and did not get to see any friends. He spent the time cleaning up the house, getting ready to sell it and making the necessary other arrangement with Mr. Moore, the attorney, and an old friend of his father. Mr. Moore promised to take care of everything and John went off to join his unit again.

After serving his 2 years, he returned to his hometown and called Mr. Moore. John received the surprise of his life. It ap-