Chapter 11

I got old Jane Gallagher on the brain again on the way out to the lobby. I got her on and i couldn't get her off. I remember when i showed her Allie's baseball mit, she was the only person i ever showed it to. She and I became very close. Then there was one night when we got close to necking. We were playing checkers on this big screened-in porch, I was kidding her about keeping her kings on the back row. Not too much though, you never wanted to kid Jane much. Anyway, that evening it was raining like hell and all of a sudden this booze hound her mother married came out of the house asking Jane if she knew where any cigarettes were. He had a lousy personality. Old Jane wouldn't answer him, and when the guy asked again she still didn't anwser, she didn't even look up. When the guy went in i asked he what was wrong and she wouldn't even answer me. When she began to cry i came and sat so close to her i was nearly on her goddam knee. Then she really started to cry. Then next thing I knew I was kissing her all over. Anywhere, her eyes, nose forehead.
Jane's terrific to hold hands with, all i knew was, you were happy. You really were.
Thinking of old Jane made me upset, so i returned to my room. All the light's where out in the rooms across the street. Although I was still wide awake, so i made my way downstairs to grab a taxi.