1979 - You Must Be Kidding Read Free Page A

didn’t hesitate.
    ‘Yes, Mr. Brandon. I’ll gladly cooperate, but may I make a suggestion? If you want a reasonable turn out of parents, I assure you, knowing them as I do, an evening meeting would be disappointing. The fathers have been at work all day, and they won’t be willing to go out again once they are home. The best time for a meeting would be Sunday afternoon at four o’clock. They will have had their Sunday dinner, rested and would then come.’
    Ken grimaced. That would mean giving up his own Sunday, but he realized the Principal was talking sense.
    ‘Okay. I’ll make it Sunday afternoon.’
    After more talk, the Principal gave him the names and addresses of four teenage blacks who he was sure, for a few dollars, would distribute the prospectus from house-to-house in the evenings, and could be relied on.
    Ken then called on the local printers. They promised to have three thousand copies of the prospectus ready by Wednesday afternoon.
    Satisfied, he had returned to the office. Sitting on Karen’s desk, he had told her what he had done.
    ‘How are you fixed for Sunday? I must have your help,’ he concluded. ‘Don’t tell me you have a date.’
    ‘I had, but it doesn’t matter. I think this is a marvellous idea. Pop will cheer.’ She smiled at him, and he was aware of the thrust of her breasts. ‘Anything else I can do? I do have a heavy date for tonight.’
    ‘Thanks a lot. This could jell, and I couldn’t handle it without you,’ Ken said. ‘You get off. I’ll be calling on these people. We’ve made a good beginning. See you tomorrow.’
    He watched her leave, and the slow roll of her hips as she crossed to the door again turned him on. Again the office seemed utterly empty when she had gone.
    Now, back home, he walked into his living room. Betty was watching television, but snapped it off as he came in.
    She began to smile, then her smile froze.
    ‘Ken! You haven’t been working, dressed like that?’
    ‘This is the new scene,’ he said, smiling at her. ‘Any beer? I’m starving!’
    ‘It’s all ready.’ She waved to the laid table. ‘I’ll get beer.’
    He sat down and began to eat slices of beef and a mixed salad. Betty returned and placed a glass of beer on the table. She sat opposite him.
    ‘Tell me.’
    While he ate, he gave her the details of his day. He didn’t mention Karen, nor did he tell her he would be working on Sunday for that day was strictly reserved when they were always together. He decided he would keep that news to end his recital.
    ‘I’ve made one hundred and ninety five dollars already in commission. How’s that?’
    ‘Marvellous! I knew you would be a success, darling.’ Betty paused, then went on, ‘But why this gear you’re wearing?’
    ‘When I got to the office—and what a dump!—I realized I was dressed all wrong,’ Ken said, helping himself to more salad. ‘Then Karen arrived, dressed any old way. So I came back and changed.’
    ‘Karen?’
    ‘The Sternwood girl.’ Ken pushed back his chair. ‘That was just what I needed. Suppose we go to bed? It’s getting late, and we’ve both got a hard day tomorrow.’
    ‘Tell me about her.’ Betty made no move to get up.
    ‘I told you. She’s like her father: tough and smart.’
    ‘What does she look like?’
    ‘Elaborately casual,’ he said, ‘The usual modern type you see on the streets. The usual uniform: skin tight jeans, T-shirt, dirty hair, but she’s smart all right.’
    He regarded his immaculately groomed wife: her hair, glossy, her make-up, even at this late hour, perfect, her simple blue dress more than pleasing, and he thought of Karen in her with-it gear, throwing sex off like a laser beam.
    ‘Pretty?’
    ‘She’ll pass in a crowd.’ Now came the crunch. ‘There is something I forgot to tell you, honey. This school meeting has to be at four o’clock this Sunday.’
    Betty stared at him, her eyes wide.
    ‘This Sunday! Ken! What are you thinking about? It’s Mary’s