A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Page #12

You're the father

of a pretty fine boy.

Alive?

Very much so.

He was a little reluctant

about it at first.

I had to rouse him with a little

oxygen. Now, he's mad at me.

You ought to hear him.

I've got to see him.

Well, neither one of them are

quite up to a visit just now.

In a little while.

The learning...

The learning that

saved that baby.

That's fine, Bill.

Where are you going,

Uncle Bill?

I'm going out and get some strawberry

ice cream and a rattle for my son.

And what's more, my name

ain't Bill. It's Steve.

Do you hear that? I'm a

papa, and my name's Steve.

And it's Uncle Steve, too.

Steve. Steve. Steve.

So, we have a man

in the family.

As quick as we see if she's all

right, you go on up to McGarrity's

and see if you can

do my work, too.

I'm gonna finish her scrubbing for

her. She ought not to do any more.

She wasn't feeling

good this morning.

Mama!

Mama?

In here, Francie.

You wait here.

You all right, Mama?

Give Neeley a nickel to

go after Grandma and Sissy.

He can walk home after.

Get me a nightgown

in that bottom drawer.

Hurry! Don't stand

there staring.

Is she going to die?

Of course not.

It's the baby.

You heard what Mama said, and hurry.

And don't forget stopping at

McGarrity's on the way back.

We can't lose the work.

She only wants me now.

Mama!

What is it?

I'll be there

in a minute.

You're taking real good

care of me, Francie.

Am I, Mama?

Mmm.

Tastes good.

Can I get you

a glass of water, Mama?

When I want something,

I'll ask for it.

Yes, Mama.

Don't just stand there and throw

questions at me. I'm too tired.

You'd better have

some coffee, too.

Mama, even if

Neeley is a boy,

wouldn't you rather

have him here?

He's always such

a comfort to you.

No, it's you that's a

comfort. Now, what time is it?

I don't know, Mama.

Get the clock.

One minute

to 4:
00, Mama.

Are you sure

it isn't slow?

No, Mama.

Maybe it's fast then.

I'll look at the jeweler's

clock out the parlor window!

The candle's pretty

like Christmas.

That was the night

I told him.

It's nice having a visit

from my daughter.

I didn't want for you to

have to grow up so soon.

I didn't want for you

to have to quit school.

I tried to tell him that.

He didn't mind about the baby

but he never forgive me for

wanting you to quit school.

I told him,

and he just went out.

You never

forgive me, either.

Please don't, Mama.

He would've bought you

dolls instead of milk, and...

I don't know. Maybe you

would've been happier.

I don't know.

I never would've thought of

giving you that school like he did.

And all them fine compositions of yours,

I never read one of 'em.

I should've had time.

Johnny did.

But I couldn't

do no different.

I don't know how I

could do any different.

What time is it?

One minute

after 4:
00, Mama.

Wring a cloth out of cold

water and wipe my face.

Don't let her die.

Please!

Mama, suppose the baby comes before

Grandma and Aunt Sissy get here?

You can see I couldn't

do no different, can't you?

Neeley, he don't like school. If

he'd quit, he'd never go back again.

But you, no matter what happens,

you'd find a way to go back.

You'd fight to go back.

You can see that, can't you?

I...

Yes, Mama.

Read me something,

Francie.

Yes, Mama.

Read me one of

your compositions.

I ain't never read any

of your compositions.

It's on my conscience.

I tore all those up.

No, you didn't.

Not all of them.

Can't I read you Shakespeare?

It's much better.

Read "'Twas on

a Night Like This."

I'd like to have something

pretty on my mind.

Sit by the candle.

"The moon shines bright

in such a night as this

"when the sweet wind

did gently kiss the trees."

Say, did you ever find out

who Troilus was and Cressida?

Yes, Mama. Troilus was...

Some other day

when I've got time.

Read me one of

your compositions now.

You won't like them, Mama.

You thought about 'em,

and you worked on 'em

and you got

good marks on 'em.

Get 'em, I said.

Sit here.

Go on.

It's called

"The Man People Loved."

Please don't make me

read it, Mama.

Read it.

"Perhaps many people might have

said of him that he was a failure.

"It is true that he had

no gift for making money,

"but he had a gift

for laughter

"and for making

people love him.

"He had the gift of

making you feel proud

"to walk down

the street with him.

"He had nothing to

give but himself,

"but of this he gave

generously, like a king."

"Like a king."

That's like it was.

Walking down the street with him,

you always felt like that.

Did you, Mama?

You're real smart to write

it down like that, Francie.

That's like it was.

Francie.

I miss him so much.

If the baby's a boy,

we'll call him Johnny.

Where's Sissy?

Neeley's been gone a long time.

Wipe my face.

No, don't let go

of my hand.

If it's a girl, we'll

call her Annie Laurie.

Remember that tune

he played?

You ought to have piano lessons.

I'll see if I can manage.

You won't forget to dust

the piano, will you, Francie?

Who'd cry for me

like that if I died?

I never did a wrong thing in

my life, but it ain't enough!

Sissy, I didn't mean to

be hard like you said.

If Johnny was here,

he could go to your graduation,

and I'd go to Neeley's.

But I can't tear myself

into two pieces.

How am I gonna do both?

Where are you, Francie?

I'm here, Mama!

You're such

a comfort to me.

I'm so tired.

Leave me sleep now.

You better start

some water boiling.

We'll call you if

there's anything we need.

I thought you was never

coming, Sissy.

Come on.

You quit worrying now.

The baby is here and

the mama is doing good.

She's asleep.

A small baby sister,

it is.

Annie Laurie.

Papa would've

liked that.

Look, Francie.

Aren't the flowers pretty?

Where's Grandma?

I got her in a front seat,

so she won't miss a thing.

Isn't your classroom

around here somewheres?

Yes, but I...

How about

giving me a peek?

Wouldn't hurt me none, seeing

a little more places like that.

Hey, Francie, you forgot your

flowers. They aren't mine.

I'm not carrying

flowers today.

Some of the girls, their

family sends them flowers.

They're on your desk, lamb.

Better go see.

Well, I have to

get my things anyway.

He gave me the money to

buy 'em way before Christmas

to make sure

he had it, he said.

Then he wrote out the card.

Come on, kid.

Let it go, baby. There ain't

a soul gonna hear. Let it go.

Frances Nolan.

Well, sir, I don't think Grandma

said one word the whole time.

And from the looks of her when

I put her on the streetcar,

she'll probably ride

clear out to Coney Island

and never know

the difference.

Heaven knows what

she'd have been like

if she'd got to

both graduations.

Looks to me like it was a pretty

fine day. How's your soda, Francie?

Pineapple's not as

good as chocolate.

Then why did you

order it for?

Because I'm up to the "P's."

I'll try raspberry next.

There's something

to that idea.

Try everything once.

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