The Studs Lonigan Trilogy - James T. Farrell [360]
“You men, with your heavy compliments,” she smiled. He returned the smile, chewing.
“Aren’t you glad now that you telephoned me and didn’t go on being such a silly goose?”
“I wasn’t silly .. .” he stopped short, determining not to let himself in for dumb baby talk, or even for a teasing argument, lest it lead to another serious row.
“Dear, you know, you did say nasty things to me the other night.”
“You didn’t seem to spare my feelings,” he said, immediately fearing that it was the wrong thing to have said.
“Your feelings... You acted like your feelings were hurt. You just went ahead like a bull in a china shop, insulting me right and left.”
“I got sore, that’s all. I got a bad temper, and I lose it sometimes.”
“Don’t I know your temper?” she smiled.
“Of course, maybe I was too quick on the draw in some of the things I said, and I guess I really didn’t mean them. But gee, Kid, I couldn’t see the reason for making so much importance out of an unimportant quarrel.” He chewed into a slice of steak. “And listen, Kid, don’t you ever let anyone try to tell you that you can’t cook.”
“I’m glad you’re learning some things,” she said, continuing to eat.
He helped himself to more steak. She blew him a kiss. “How is your mother and everyone?”
“Oh, all right.”
When they finished, she brought in the coffee percolator from the kitchen and set it on a pad. She poured coffee and pointed at the cake.
“I baked it.”
“Looks swell.”
“I hope it tastes as good as it looks. I’m worried about it. I’m afraid it’ll be too heavy.”
“It looks jake to me.”
She cut large pieces, carefully placing them on plates. The inside was golden yellow color, and Studs, watching her, playfully licked his lips, made extravagant faces, smiled at her boyishly.
“You’re a darling.”
“Swell,” he said with his first taste of the cake.
“No, I think it’s too heavy,” she said, her air almost professional.
“You’re a dandy cook, Kid, and don’t let anyone ever tell you anything previous.”
“You’re just trying to be nice to me and make up. Well, mister, I’m not going to let you off so easily. I’m going to put you through a long probation of good behavior.”
“And suppose it isn’t good,” he said, his eyes almost twinkling mischievously.
“You men, you’re so much like little children,” she said with a gay laugh.
“And, girls, you’re just old Father Experience herself,” he said, and she returned his smile.
“And now you’re going to play house with me and help wash the dishes,” she said after they finished their coffee and dessert.
His face suddenly flushed. He arose and walked over to her.
“I thought I better bring this back to you.”
“Put it on,” she said, raising her hand.
He slipped their engagement ring back onto her finger. She kissed it, and looked at him tenderly. She pulled him down onto her lap, kissed him, toyed with his hair, pressed his head against her breasts.
“I don’t want you ever to fight with me again,” she said with assumed sternness, again kissing him.
He was proud to have his girl back, and to receive her attentions. But not wanting to show his feelings too much, he let himself act a little bored.
“We better get those dishes done,” he said with transparent gruffness.
“I see you’re beginning to get trained right.”
He got up and commenced to pick dishes off the table.
“You’re so inefficient,” she said, smiling with a sense of superiority. “Here, scrape the leavings off the plates, and then stack them and save yourself extra trouble.”
He helped carry out the dishes, thinking that there’d been a time when Studs Lonigan had never thought he’d be doing a thing like this—and liking it, too.
“Nice looking monkey-suit you got me into,” he said with pretended discomfort after she had tied an apron on him.
She laughed and left the kitchen. Returning with her hands behind her back, she smiled impishly.
“Close your eyes.”
He complied, and she placed a lace night cap on his head.
“You look so sweet and innocent and domestic now. No, don’t you dare do that. William Lonigan, you keep that cap on. Don’t you dare!