Modern Screen (Jul-Dec 1945)

Natalie has a passion for fuzzy animals, and the koala bear is something special. Her companion from childhood, she won't be parted from him. To her he's a person — ■ One morning Bob picked him up and his head came off. She burst into tears. "Now, really, honey — you'd think someone was dead — " The sobs grew wilder. "Want me to sew him up?" A strangled sound, which he took to be yes. "All right, if you'll "stop crying — " But when he started operations, down went her head again. "Now what's the matter?" "I can't bear to watch the needle — " To Bob — to any man — that's comical. But on the subject of live animals, they're completely in accord. They want a house, when the war's over, for several reasons. In an apartment, there's no place to go but the living room. In a house, there's outside. Besides, Bob likes a lawn to mow and a hedge to cut. And another reason is Vic — animal lovers . . . A month after their marriage, he brought Vic home in his pocket and set him down in the hall. Natalie was fixing her hair. "Someone to see you," he called and, brush in hand, she went down on her knees to the black and white scrap, all paws and eyes and droopy spaniel ears, and a perfect V for Vic on his forehead. He grew up to be a devil, and the most wonderful dog they'd ever known. But Vic believed in self-expression at any hour of the day or night. His barking made him unpopular with the neighbors, and they finally had to park him with a friend. Meantime they entertain the neighborhood pets. Either the front or back door is always open, and young visitors wander in at will. One night Bob found an Irish setter under the bed. One morning Natalie woke to meet the patient eyes of three dogs and four kids. They feed the dogs Friskies, and the children cokes. A child or dog turned away by a closed door is more than they can contemplate. Since "Hollywood Canteen" started the Hutton landslide, Bob's been steadily at work. "Ro-ughly Speaking," "Too Young to Know," "Janie Gets Married." So Sunday's his lazy day. They both sleep late, and each gets his own breakfast. Because Bob's a marvelous cook and likes things the way he likes them, while Natalie eats strangely. Never a whole meal at a time. Maybe orange juice for breakfast, and an egg for lunch. Bob really sits down to his food — a big orange juice, cream of wheat, two soft-boiled eggs and a glass of half-andhalf — to keep his weight up. They agree that he's by all odds the more efficient of the two. Natalie's easily distracted. The other day she was pressing her best blouse. "Bet you'll burn the collar before you get through," Bob prophesied cheerfully. And she did! She practically never gets really mad, for the simple reason that Bob's an angel. But they sometimes wonder what the neighbors think. Because they love to wrestle. And of course she screams and things fall and it probably sounds awful. Bob likes his showers hot. One morning, to create a diversion, Natalie dumped a pitcher of cold water over him. "You'll regret this," he promised calmly, so she fled downstairs to the landlady for protection. Creeping back an hour later, she was seized by her husband and stuck under the shower, because she can't stand getting her hair wet. Later, he went down for a paper, and she locked him out. He had to crawl in through the bathroom window. "We call it entertainment," says Bob. "Simple, inexpensive, and harmless—" When he has a day off, they like to go marketing together. The market has a neighborly atmosphere. The clerk at the bakeshop hands over a bag of bran muffins without waiting to be asked. They both Protect your natural SWEET SELF with NEW 0D0*R0*D0 CREAM DEODORANT It's tme. The same pretty clothes that enhance your many physical charms, endanger your most precious charm — the feminine daintiness that is naturally yours. Because all clothes catch and hold under-arm perspiration odor! Stop this threat before you dress with fast-acting, long-lasting ODORONO, the new cream deodorant that goes to work to protect you faster than you can slip on your slip. Z9i Also 59t & I0(* {Plus 20% Federal Tax) NeW, SOOthing, smoothing ODORONO cream contains science's most effective perspiration stopper . . . protects up to three days. Doesn't irritate skin (even after shaving). Prevents perspiration stains, will not harm fine fabrics. No waiting to dry. Doesn't turn gritty in jar. SO before yOU think of what dress to wear . . . think of your Sweet Self and use immediately new, snowy white ODORONO. v'"''r>'<xx BE AfliU YOU OSESS WITH