A Patch of Blue Page #2

- Sunglasses?

- It's kind of you. What are they for?

- Never mind. Put them on.

- There. Just as I thought.

- What?

- Now you're a very pretty girl.

- Pretty? Me?

Yeah. No sign of a scar.

Your face looks perfect.

Perfect.

- You're pulling my leg.

- No, I mean it.

All because of these glasses?

- It sounds like magic.

- Yes, it is. A kind of magic.

Hey, would you like something to drink?

Yes, please.

I love them.

Are you wearing glasses?

No, but I often do. Here.

- Lots of people do.

- Why?

keep the sun from being bright.

To hide behind.

Many people wear dark glasses

to hide behind.

- You?

- Sometimes.

What's the name

of this wonderful drink?

Wonderful drink?

It's just pineapple juice. You like it?

Yes, I do. I wanna thank you.

That's all right.

Stringing beads is thirsty work.

Oh, holy smokes, the beads.

I'm way behind with the beads.

Those beads seem to mean

a lot in your life.

Sure do. It's my work,

and I promised to do double today.

Some hope with them

all mixed-up like this.

I could give you a hand

for a couple of minutes if you want.

- You got better things to do.

- It's my fault they're messed up.

I wouldn't want them on my conscience

for the rest of the day. So...

Well, let's see.

I think you're a real nice person.

- You mind telling me your name?

- Gordon Ralfe.

My name's Selina. Selina D'Arcey.

- Sleena?

- That's right.

- How do you spell it?

- S-E-L-l-N-A.

Oh, Selina. That's a lovely name.

- How'd you say it?

- Selina.

- Selina. It sure does sound better.

- It sure does.

- Do you like this work?

- Nobody likes work.

- How long you been doing it?

- Five or six years.

Five or six years!

Even while you're in school?

I've never been to school.

- Why not, for heaven sakes?

- Well, being blind and all.

That's no reason.

There are blind schools.

Never kind of come up.

I guess Rose-Ann was too busy.

- Can't you read Braille?

- What's that?

You're not serious? You mean,

you've never heard of Braille?

Haven't you been taught

what blind people do nowadays?

- I ain't been taught nothing.

- Oh, that's not possible.

It's okay. I get by.

Did you hurt yourself?

- No, I'm doing the Watusi.

- Maybe you really need that.

Excuse me, is anyone there?

Is anyone around?

Is there anyone here?

Selina!

Selina! Where the heck are you?

Selina!

Get a load of lover-girl

in her sunglasses.

What'd you say, Rose-Ann?

I said, dumbbell, I said, I got me

a brand-new pair of sunglasses.

- They belong to somebody else.

- Not anymore, they don't.

I found them in the park. Whoever

dropped them might look for them today.

Says you.

Shut up in there.

Do you have to behave like a pig?

So you had your day in the park?

- How was it?

- It was like, wow!

- You sick or something?

- I never felt finer.

You feel like "wow" now?

I washed your nylons, Rose-Ann.

I cleaned up. I didn't skip nothing.

Except my supper. That don't matter,

I suppose. And what about your beads?

- I done them. I done quite a few.

- You just better.

Watch where you're going.

I'll have a thing to say

if I get home tonight...

...and find out she's been

in the park again.

Look at the time!

I'm warning you. Both of you.

Drop dead.

- Ole Pa?

- Shut up.

- Did Rose-Ann still have the glasses?

- What glasses?

- The sunglasses when she went out?

- I don't know. I don't think she did.

- There's your choppers, Ole Pa.

- I know, I got eyes.

Here.

Mr. Faber will take me

to the park today.

You'll pick me up, won't you?

I don't mind how late.

It don't matter how late,

as long as I'm back for her supper.

- You heard what your ma said!

- Yes.

Well, then.

Hello, Scum-dog, best dog in the world.

I sure am glad to see you.

And how is my best worker today?

It's getting late, Mr. Faber. You

still got time to get me to the park?

- It's the park again, is it?

- Yes. Please?

I work good in the park.

- Look.

- This is just fine.

- You will take me now, won't you?

- I shall be glad. More than glad.

Thank you, Mr. Faber.

- Which one of these is the prettiest?

- I think the one with the white spots.

- This one?

- That's it.

Do you see a pair of sunglasses?

I forgot where I put them.

I'll look.

Here they are.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

Do I look okay?

- You look lovely!

- I never heard you coming.

- I hope you've worked hard today.

- I done a lot.

Just stopping for lunch.

Hey, you want some?

- What you got there?

- Crackers.

Crackers? Crackers are for the birds!

- Well?

- Come on. Let's go get something!

- How'd I get up like that?

- That was easy.

Lead the way to the exit.

I'll show you what to do next.

- I don't know how to get to the exit.

- You'll have to learn.

It's not so difficult

if you know a little geography.

Can you feel the sun on you?

Sure. It's hot.

Now try facing straight towards it.

- Here?

- Good.

This time of day, the sun is

in the south, so you're facing south.

Now raise your left arm.

Now, that's east.

Now raise your right arm. That's west.

The nearest exit is west from here.

So which way do we go?

- That way!

- Good.

- We're on the path.

- Turn right.

Now it's smooth sailing.

This is a parking meter.

It costs 10 cents to park.

Or 5 bucks

if you try to be a wise guy!

Come on! We want to cross the street.

So we have to stop the traffic.

Stop the traffic?

Yes. That's no problem.

Feel for this post here.

About level with your waist

is a button.

- Here?

- That's it. Press it.

That signals for traffic to stop.

It'll take a minute,

but I want you to listen for it.

Now, one step down...

...and count your steps

as you go across.

One step up! There you are.

There's a delicatessen a bit further on.

- Don't we have to let the traffic go?

- No, that's automatic.

Wait a minute.

How about that?

I could just about kill Ole Pa. He

never told me this. Mr. Faber neither.

We take it for granted. Next, tell me

when we get to the delicatessen.

- How will I know?

- I think you'll know.

- It's here someplace, ain't it?

- Right.

I thought so.

Whatever they're cooking,

it sure smells good!

They make great corned-beef

sandwiches. You like corned beef?

I love corned beef!

- Still hot too!

- Here's your drink.

- No, thank you, Gordon.

- It's pineapple juice.

I don't care to drink anything today.

You don't have to worry.

A few steps from here is a place for

girls to wash their hands, et cetera.

I'll show you how to get there

anytime you say.

Now, how about that drink?

- I would love a drink.

- Here.

You need a partner for stringing beads.

If I ever turn up stringing beads,

seriously, boy, I would stab myself.

Stop!

Stop, please.

Don't make me laugh anymore.

What's the matter?

Okay?

Straight ahead.

It's wonderful to have a friend.

That's gonna be

my favorite word from now on.

I know a better word.

Well, perhaps friend doesn't mean

so much to you.

- I suppose you've got lots of them.

- A few.

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