01.-All-the-years-of-her-life

AlltheyearsofherlifeMorleyCallaghanThedrugstorewasbeginningtocloseforthenight.YoungAlfredHigginswhoworkedinthestorewasputtingonhiscoatgettingreadytogohome.Onhiswayout,hepassedMr.SamCarl,thelittlegray-hairedmanwhoownedthestore.Mr.CarllookedupatAlfred'sbackashepassed,andsaidinaverysoftvoice,Justamoment,Alfred,onemomentbeforeyougo.Mr.CarlspokesoquietlythatheworriedAlfred.Whatisit?Mr.Carl.Maybeyouwillbegoodenoughtotakeafewthingsoutofyourpocketsandleavethemherebeforeyougo.saidMr.Carl.Whatthings?Whatareyoutalkingabout?You'vegotacompactandalipstickandalisttwo-twooftoothpasteinyourpockets,Alfred.Whatdoyoumean?Alfredanswered,DoyouthinkI'mcrazy?hisfacegotred.Mr.CarlkeptlookingatAlfredcoldly.Alfreddidnotknowwhattosayandtriedtokeephiseyesfrommeetingtheeyesofhisboss.Afterafewmomentsheputhishandintohispocketsandtookoutthethingshehadstolen.Thatisthings,Alfred.saidMr.Carl,andmaybeyouwillbegoodenoughtotellmehowlongthishasbeengoingon.ThisisthefirsttimethatIevertookanything.Mr.Carlwasquicktoanswer,Sonowyouthinkyoutellmealie?WhatkindoffooldoIlooklike?Idon'tknowwhatgoesoninmyownstore.Itellyou,you'vebeendoingthisforalongtime.Mr.Carlhadastrangesmileonhisface.Idon'tliketocallthepolice,hesaid,butmaybeIshouldcallyourfatherandlethimknowI'mgoingtohavetoputyouinjail.Myfatherisnothome,heisaprinter.Heworksnights.Whoisathome.Mr.Carlasked.Mymother,Ithink.Mr.Carlstartedtogotothephone.Alfred'sfearsmadehimraisehisvoice.Hewantedtoshowhewasafraidofnobody.Heactedthiswayeverytimehegotintotrouble.Thishadhappenedmanytimessinceheleftschool.Atsuchtimeshealwaysspokeinaloudvoiceashedidtonight.Justaminute.hesaidtoMr.Carl,Youdon'thavetogetanybodyelseintothis.Youdon'thavetotellher.Alfredtriedtosoundbig.But*hewaslikeachild.Hehopedthatsomeoneathomewouldcomequicklytosavehim.ButMr.Carlwasalreadytalkingtohismother.Hetoldhertocometothestoreinahurry.Alfredthoughthismotherwouldcomerushingin,eyesburningwithanger.Maybeshewouldbecryingandwouldpushhimawaywhenhetriedtoexplaintoher.Shewouldmakehimfeelsosmall.Yet,hewantedhertocomequicklybeforeMr.Carlcalledinapoliceman.AlfredandMr.Carlwaitedbutsaidnothing.Atlasttheyheardsomeoneatthecloseddoor.Mr.Carlopeneditandsaid,Comein,Mrs.Hengens.Hisfacewashardandserious.Alfred'smothercameinwithafriendlysmileonherfaceandputoutherhandtoMr.Carlandsaidpolitely.I'mMrs.Higgins,Alfred'smother.Mr.Carlwassurprisedatthewayshecamein.Shewasverycalm,quietandfriendly.IsAlfredintrouble?Mrs.Hengensasked.Heis.Hehasbeentakingthingsfromthestore,littlethingsliketoothpasteandlipsticks.Thingshecaneasilysell.Mrs.Higginslookedathersonandsaidsadly.Isitso?Alfred.Yes.Whyhaveyoubeendoingthis?sheasked.I'vebeenspendingmoneyIbelieve.Onwhat?Goingaroundwiththeboys,Iguess.saidAlfred.Mrs.HigginsputoutherhandandtouchedMr.Carl'sarmwithgreatgentlenessasifsheknewjusthowhefelt.Shespokeasifshedidnotwanttocausehimanymoretrouble.Shesaid,Ifyouwilljustlistentomebeforedoinganything.Hervoicewascoolandsheturnedherheadawayasifshehadsaidtoomuchalready.ThenshelookedagainatMr.Carlwithapleasantsmileandasked,Whatdoyouwanttodo,Mr.Carl?Iwasgoingtogetacar.ThiswasIshoulddo,callthepolice.Sheanswered,Yes,Ithinkso.It'snotformetosavebecauseheismyson.YetIsometimesthinkalittlegoodadviceisthebestthingforaboyatsoakingtimesinhislife.Mrs.Higginslookedlikeadifferentwomantoherson,Alfred,thereshewaswithagentlesmilesaying,Iwonderifyoudon'tthinkitwouldbebetterjusttolethimcomehomewithme.Helookslikeabigfellow,doesn'the?Yetittakessomeofthelongtimetogetanysensesintotheirheads.Mr.CarlhadexpectedAlfred'smothertocomeinnervously,shakingwithfear,askingwithweteyesformercyforherson.Butno,shewasmostcalmandpleasant.AndwasmakingMr.Carlfeelguilty.Afteratime,Mr.Carlwasshakinghisheadinagreat*withwhatshewasseeing.Andofcourse.hesaid,Idon'twanttobecool.IwilltellyouwhatI'lldo.Tellyoursonnottocomebackhereagain.Andletitgoatback.Nowwasthat..AndhewarmlyshookMrs.Higgins'hand.Iwillneverforgetyourkindness.Sorrywehavetomeetthisway.saidMr.Carl,butIamgladIgotintouchwithyou.Justwanthimtodotherightthing.Thatitisall.It'sbettertomeetlikethisthannever,isn'tit?shesaid.Suddenlytheyheldhandsasiftheylikedeachother,asiftheyhadknowneachotherforalongtime.Goodnight,sir?Goodnight,Mrs.Higgins.I'mtrulysorry.Motherandsonleft.Theywalkedalongthestreetinsilence.Shetooklongstepsandlookedstraightinfrontofher.Afteratime,Alfredsaid,ThankGoditturnedouttolikethatneveragain.Bequiet!Don'tspeaktome,youhaveshamedmeenoughhavethedecencytobequiet.Theyreachedhomeatlast.Mrs.Higginstookoffhercoatandwithoutevenlookingathim,shesaidtoAlfred,Youareabadluck.Godforgiveyou!It'sonethingafteranother.Alwayshavethem.Whydoyoustandtheresostupidly?Gotobed!Asshewentintothekitchen,shesaid,Notawordabouttonighttoyourfather.Inhisbedroom,Alfredheardhismotherinthekitchen.Therewasnoshameinhim,justprideinhismother'sstrength.Shewassmooth.hesaidtohimself.Hefelthemusttellherhow*hewas.Ashegottothekitchenhesawhismotherdrinkingacupoftea.Hewasshockedbywhathesaw.Hismother'sfaceashesaidwasafrightened,brokenface.Itwasnotthesamecoolbrightfacehesawearlierinthedrugstore.AsMrs.Higginsliftedtheteacupherhand