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A BIT OF BEAUTY

Pat Schaefer

The ring of the cash register only added another note to the
multitude of noises in the brightly lighted penny arcade. The long,
shiny, red counter was seeing quite a turnover of hamburgers and
milk shakes that evening. At one end a group of female "squatters"
were being noticeably impressed by a local Romeo. Hunched over a
gaudy pin-ball machine a tall, blond boy in a trench coat expertly
manipulated some flippers. Music, mostly beat and brass, blared out
(unheard by most) from the juke box.

No one paid any attention to an old man with a rumpled, green
silk tie who wandered stiffly in and took a stool between two circles
of laughing teenagers. His brown hair was speckled with grey, and
his brown suit had probably seen many tugging grandchildren.
Several minutes passed while he watched flying waitresses like tennis
balls. But if he was impatient, he didn't show it. He pulled a napkin
from a holder and began folding it again and again.

Anne set three large orange drinks before three young boys in
crew-neck sweaters, "That'll be forty-five cents."

Each rose from his stool, digging deep in his pants' pocket for
change. The old man watched her through small deep-set eyes-saw
her smile and say automatically, "Thank you," as she received fifteen
pennies from one. She swung around to the cash register, her chest-
nut pony tail swinging after her. She was slender and fair and wear-
ing a fresh yellow and white striped blouse.

"Can I help you, sir?"

"Coffee," he said mildly. Anne tore off a check and put into her
pocket.

"We've got a fresh pot all ready." Anne poured the steaming
brew into a shiny, thick, white cup and set it in front of the old
grandfather.

"Cream please."
"Oh yes, sure." As she handed him a full pitcher of cream, his
slightly wrinkled, freckled hand reached for the sugar cup. But some-
thing extra was there which caught her eye. Under the cup was a
paper napkin doily torn neatly in points, diamonds, and crescents.
She glanced shyly at the old man. "You?" Realizing what she meant,
he nodded. "Gee, that's real pretty."

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