Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1951)

Record Details:

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Gay, eager, intensely in love — that was Crystal. She was also very young — too young, in fact, to have to find that a dream fulfilled does not always spell happiness By ANNE MALONE me something about why Crystal had a right to be mad at the world. The only world she had known was inhabited by a dissolute father, a rickety house down by the factories way across town, then finally a job as counter-girl at the Three Oaks Diner. "She's so pretty," I said sadly. "Too much make-up, all the wrong clothes, all the worst kind of education . . . and still so pretty underneath it all. Do you think she's as tough as she sounds, Ralph?" Dr. Munson had smiled without mirth. "They're all tough these days, Anne. They have to be. Especially a kid like Crystal who's been fighting her way since the day she was born." . I said, with a sigh, that I supposed he was right, and as I went back to my work I gave a fleeting thought to myown little girl, Jill. Jill was just seven, and God willing she would never have to fight as Crystal had for the right just to exist. Even though my husband and I were separated, I could still give her a good life . . . but what else could I do? You couldn't protect them forever. You couldn't make them do the things you thought were right. You could only love them, and stand around hoping to be called on if they needed a little help. Oddly enough, that's precisely what Crystal Gates did. With no further contact than the one I've described, she came to see me one night shortly afterward. She was obviously nervous and ill at ease as she stood before me on the unlit porch where she had found me sitting — so nervous that I didn't suggest going inside because instinctively I knew she was glad of the dimness that veiled her face. Crystal had something on her mind, and she said at once, "I'd better get it over with right away, because my nerve isn't going to last. You're going to think I've got enough for an Army, but me — I know it's going." She sat down suddenly. "Do you mind? My legs are kind of wobbly." I hid my curiosity as well as I could and made a little general conversation till she settled down. Then she started to say something, made a helpless gesture and looked at me wide-eyed. "I just don't know where to begin. Mrs. Malone. Coming over I made up about a dozen speeches. I was going to say this and explain that, so you'd understand just how I got up the nerve to come — and why I came to you . . ." (Continued on page 96) The moon was pale and promising. Every R thing was so right — except Gene. I knew M how Crystal must be feeling . . . 95