| Show But most of all the good times had been when she was with Niel he was the basis of her best memories Niel was also prominent in some of her not-sogood memories particularly the night aboutyear ago when she had broken her arm special celebration had been held at the opera house she had gone with Niel The pavilion was being remodeled and they wanted to see what the workers had been doing so they climbed the ladder to the loft to check the progress Niel beinggentleman preceded Anne up the ladder Anne preferred this to having him follow her up the ladder Heavens He might see her ankles They had gingerly stepped on the evenly spaced rafters easing themselves to where they could look down on the dancing couples below From their vantage point they could see their friends and family members dancing to the lively music or the slower more romantic tunes They watched for awhile then tiring of not beingpart of the dancing crowd below they began edging their way back toward the ladder Still the gentleman but unable to resist teasing Niel said Well sincecame up first guessll go down first Horrified Anne sidestepped Niel attempting to get to the ladder first so she wouldnbe embarrassed But she stepped too quickly and lost her footing Down she fell between the rafters through the ceiling onto the piled-up benches below She lay quite still Oh my Nile could enough In God an TI ve hardly instant killed get he my down was sweetheart the beside ladder her fast feeling her pulse checking her breathing Their lovely evening of celebration had turned intonightmare for them both Anne torn and arm bruised was broken She ached her all ribs over and by side the were time help arrived The doctor set her arm and monitored When the cast came off her elbow her recuperation ell the doctor said she was set inpermanent would never comb her own hair again much less do the myriad choreswife and mother would be expected Her mother Would Niel still want her to perform 65 |
