Modern Screen (Jul-Dec 1945)

MY SON (Continued from page 45) enough, and found myself saying yes instead. Then I kept hoping it was just a passing fancy on the part of the magazine. "Maybe they'll forget it," I said to my wife. She laughed. ''What's the problem, anyway? 1 wouldn't have any trouble talking about Stan — " That's where they made their mistake, of course. She's the one they should have tackled. Talk comes easier to women. Besides, nothing fusses my wife. I take things a little harder. Not where it shows, but inside. For instance, when Stan sings on the radio — But before going on with that, I'd better get his name straightened out, or you'll be asking who is this Stan anyway? He's my son, Stanley Morner. In the movies they call him Dennis Morgan. But he's Stan to us. Always will be. fatherly fidgets . . . Now to get back. As often as I've heard him sing on the radio, I still get nervous. Stan doesn't. Neither does Grace — or Dot, our daughter. They're pleased and proud, but they keep calm. For reasons not clear to myself, I can't sit still. I walk round the room. "How's he doing?" I ask them. They all poke fun at this tendency of mine to get a little worked up over my son's doings. "Dad has to see Stan's pictures twice," says Dot. "The first time, all he sees is Stan. Then he goes again to find out what the story's about — ." I'm afraid she's got something there. Coming home from "Kitty Foyle," Grace heaved a long sigh. "I like that Jim Craig,"' she said. "But I do wish Stan could have kept the girl — ." I said, "Who's Jim Craig?" and I haven't heard the end of it yet. It didn't take much coaxing to get us out here. Like so many Middle Westerners, we'd long felt the lure of sunny California. And .with Stan and Lillian and the youngsters settled here, that was all we needed. All the children call Grace, Bonny. That's Little Stan's baby version of grandma. As for me, I'm Frank, and that's my own doing. I don't like the sound of "grandpa" and never will. That provides the family with plenty of amusement too, which doesn't bother me. I like to hear them laugh. Anyway, I started Little Stan off right when we first came out. Lillian's father was still living then — . "You've only got one grandpa," I said, *and he's in Marshfield." "Then what are you?" "I'm Frank." Kris picked it up from him and now even Jimmy, the little fellow — two and a half — starts yelling Frank when my station wagon roils in. I'm never quite sure if it's me or the wagon he's yelling at. Having Little Stan with us is almost like living Big Stan's life over again. We're pals, just as his dad and I were. If he can't find a youngster to play with, he commandeers me to fly kites or get down on the floor for a game of marbles. His bedtime's a quarter of eight and, if I'm reading, he always jacks me up. "Come on Frank, time for bed." I also have to get up when he does — and he's up at 6:30. David and he rout me out of bed. David's my daughter's young one, all of eighteen months. They're staying with us while her husband's in the service. Grace gets breakfast, I see Little Stan off on the bus and call for him in the afternoon. The minute we get home, he goes for the bat or the football. "Come on, Frank, time for a workout — ," "Miracle workei"! ivo?nen say qfpivved DEODORANT in New MODE S S YES, hailed as a real modern wonder — this proved-effective deodorant now sealed in each luxury-soft Modess napkin! Proof established by 26 exhaustive tests in a famous impartial laboratory! Seconded by women, themselves— thousands upon thousands of women — who acclaim its fast action, the unbelievable new peace of mind it brings! Try the wonder-working new Modess and you'll join the chorus of praise for: Modess' extra daintiness! No need for separate powder or endless fuss. Modess' extra softness! Three out of four women voted Modess softer to the touch, in a recent nationwide poll. Modess' extra safety! 209 nurses, in hospital tests, found Modess less likely to strike through than nationally known layer-type napkins. You pay nothing extra for wonderful new Modess, the napkin with the proved" effective deodorant. Get it, today! Your store has two kinds of Modess. If you'd rather have softer, safer Models without deodorant, just ask for "Standard Modess." der ****** rfecf!' ^