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Show 91 We practiced in Miss Carruth's room, me about as relaxed as a saw-horse. Miss Carruth told Kate that she had done all right (of course!), and for me not to worry, we'd get it right. So Katie and I stood there facing each other, me feeling cold-blooded about it, and Miss Carruth said all right, give it a try. No, Chester, let's start with the approach: do not grab. Be hesitant and shy and just a little awed by it all. OK, try it again. Yeah, that's better. All right, hold the kiss. Hold it. Miss Carruth put her hand on my spine and pulled back on my shoulders (you are not an ape), she lifted one of my arms (you are not trying to get a feel), she told me to relax my mouth more (you do not disapprove of what you're doing) and then to close it a little (you are jiot eating watermelon). OK, break. Now, I want you to try it again, and I want you to remember everything I told you. It took a while to get it all coordinated, not bad work. Once, at something Miss Carruth said to me, Kate laughed, an explosion against my teeth, and I jumped back as if I'd been snake-bit. She laughed harder, and Miss Carruth began to laugh, telling us all to be serious. I was serious, plenty serious, and those two women smirked as if I was the fool. The ambience was completely different when after rehearsals I drove Kate out to that place her brother rented, parking on the roadside with the trunk of the big poplar tree between us and the front windows of the house, Chert theA*«r'warm from the long drive, Kate and I at ease with each other, and we would neck for a half hour or so. "Deep Purple" was popular that spring and we heard it on the car radio so often that it seemed to be our mood music, and still whenever I hear that tune I think of those nights. Kate set the tone. I didn't know what was up with Pat but she needed the ride home and so I took her, on past our place, and we talked and necked fairly cheerfully the first time, but after that there was always something quiet and thoughtful |