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Literary
July 10, 1962
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
In an early morning scene, Burt reassures Jessie about her car's tire issues with tenderness and a kiss, easing her fears. Later, Inspector Mendes awakens to his wife Theresa's silent resentment over money lost due to his case mishandling.
Clipping
OCR Quality
85%
Good
Full Text
"Don't worry about your car Jess. I'll take care of it in the morning." Burt reassured her.
"But could there be any trouble getting tires, I mean," Jessie persisted.
He started to answer her frankly. "Possibly. It depends on how many we'll need, whether we can salvage any of the old ones and what's available in San Luis." Then, noticing the chagrin creep across her face, he added firmly. "Look. Jess. I told you not to worry. At the very worst we'll have to order them from Mexico City."
"But that could take forever!" Jessie protested. For a single, vivid instant it seemed to her that without her car she was helplessly entrapped.
"Not forever. Jessie, an extra day or two at the most." He continued soothingly as if she were very young and very frightened. "Just remember, nothing serious has happened- nothing that couldn't happen anywhere and nothing that can't be repaired. Now. before it gets too hot, you get some sleep and leave the rest to me."
All at once, before she could respond or object. he leaned over and kissed her on the mouth. His tenderness comforted her, made her feel safe and protected. It routed the dark wisps of her fears as effectively as the golden wash spreading near the horizon was routing the purple wisps of night. In the shelter of Burt's arms it was difficult to believe that anything could ever harm her. And. in the coolness of the early morning, it was equally difficult to really believe in the inevitable heat of the day.
BEFORE dawn Inspector Mendes crawled out of bed. Although he moved quietly so as not to awaken Theresa, before he had finished dressing she was up, covering her plump body with the flowered housecoat.
"She's going to start again," the inspector thought gloomily, looking at her sullen, sleep-rumpled face and bracing himself against another tirade.
But Theresa left the bedroom without speaking. She moved heavily around the kitchen, banging the pots, clattering the dishes as if to emphasize the fact that she meant every word she had already said. A night's sleep had obviously not changed her opinion that her husband's bumbling had lost them a great deal of money.
The inspector realized that he had brought it all on himself. Never, never should he discuss his cases with Theresa. It gave her the privilege of asking ques-
"But could there be any trouble getting tires, I mean," Jessie persisted.
He started to answer her frankly. "Possibly. It depends on how many we'll need, whether we can salvage any of the old ones and what's available in San Luis." Then, noticing the chagrin creep across her face, he added firmly. "Look. Jess. I told you not to worry. At the very worst we'll have to order them from Mexico City."
"But that could take forever!" Jessie protested. For a single, vivid instant it seemed to her that without her car she was helplessly entrapped.
"Not forever. Jessie, an extra day or two at the most." He continued soothingly as if she were very young and very frightened. "Just remember, nothing serious has happened- nothing that couldn't happen anywhere and nothing that can't be repaired. Now. before it gets too hot, you get some sleep and leave the rest to me."
All at once, before she could respond or object. he leaned over and kissed her on the mouth. His tenderness comforted her, made her feel safe and protected. It routed the dark wisps of her fears as effectively as the golden wash spreading near the horizon was routing the purple wisps of night. In the shelter of Burt's arms it was difficult to believe that anything could ever harm her. And. in the coolness of the early morning, it was equally difficult to really believe in the inevitable heat of the day.
BEFORE dawn Inspector Mendes crawled out of bed. Although he moved quietly so as not to awaken Theresa, before he had finished dressing she was up, covering her plump body with the flowered housecoat.
"She's going to start again," the inspector thought gloomily, looking at her sullen, sleep-rumpled face and bracing himself against another tirade.
But Theresa left the bedroom without speaking. She moved heavily around the kitchen, banging the pots, clattering the dishes as if to emphasize the fact that she meant every word she had already said. A night's sleep had obviously not changed her opinion that her husband's bumbling had lost them a great deal of money.
The inspector realized that he had brought it all on himself. Never, never should he discuss his cases with Theresa. It gave her the privilege of asking ques-
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Love Romance
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Romantic Reassurance
Car Troubles
Inspector
Domestic Tension
Morning Scene
Mystery Case
Literary Details
Key Lines
All At Once, Before She Could Respond Or Object. He Leaned Over And Kissed Her On The Mouth. His Tenderness Comforted Her, Made Her Feel Safe And Protected.
It Routed The Dark Wisps Of Her Fears As Effectively As The Golden Wash Spreading Near The Horizon Was Routing The Purple Wisps Of Night.