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Show 128 Sends a little Gift of Roses' for the romantic scenes." On Thursday and Friday they practiced from the time they reached home after school until Kathleen left for work. Saturday morning they went over the music for another hour, until Kathleen told him, "You're good enough. Hardly anyone pays attention to the music anyhow. The main thing you have to remember is to play loud enough to cover up the noise from the projector." They were able to leave the house early because Maggie Rose had gone to pay the butcher's and grocer's bill, and had taken Henry with her. When they reached the nickelodeon at 5 p.m., Jame was already there, more dressed up than Karl had ever seen him. He wore a pinstriped suit, a striped shirt with a white collar, a narrow necktie, and a derby hat set at an almost prim angle -- unusually prim for Jame. "Hey! You're a swell pal to do this for me and Kathleen," Jame said, giving Karl such a slap on the back that his teeth rattled. "I owe you a favor, buddy. Anything, any time." Jame was holding a package wrapped in brown paper, tied with string. "What have you got in that package?" Karl asked. "What? This?" Jame didn't answer immediately. Then he winked at Karl and said, "What package? I don't see any package, do you?" so Karl supposed it was a birthday present for Kathleen. "We better get down to the streetcar stop," Jame said, taking Kathleen's arm. "Bye, Karl. Thanks a lot, kid." Kathleen hesitated, and turned back toward Karl as though she wanted to tell him something. He waited, but all she said was, "Goodby, Karl." The two of them hurried away. |