Page:Jay Little - Maybe—Tomorrow.pdf/59

 He had looked away from the girl in his confusion, but now looked back squarely into her face. Looked at the lips which had uttered the name, Adonis.

One day he had overheard her saying, "I think Gaylord's an Adonis" to a group of girls he had passed in the hall. It had only been a whisper, but he had heard every word. He had gone directly to a dictionary, could hardly wait until the large book had told him the meaning of the new word. He had never heard it used before. Adona'i … Adonic … pertaining to Adonis. There it was at last—Adonis … a youth beloved by Aphrodite or Venus for his beauty. From that day on her unadorned face had become beautiful to him. Not because of the features, but for the beauty of her mind.

"Did I frighten you?" she asked again.

"Oh, no … just made me jump," he said looking into the soft gray eyes. "I was thinking of something." He noticed the stout leather strap across her small shoulder. She looked at him without saying anything and the steady, loving eyes embarrassed him. He smiled at her and said, "I loved that last poem of yours in the Bulldog, Lois Sue." (The Bulldog was their school paper.)

"Did you really, Gaylord?" She flushed a faint pink. He sounds as though he means it, she thought. He really liked it … he's beautiful … kind … he's Adonis reincarnated.

"I certainly did," he went on. He took her hand but did not hold it. "Someday you'll be famous and then I can say: 'Sure, I know her. I went to school with Lois Sue Reid.'"

It puzzled him how such a sweet and musical sound could come from between two short braids of hair. He looked at their bright ribbons, and at the worshipping eyes. They embarrassed him and yet he did not resent them.

"Incidentally, I've started another one." She felt the eyes of her God of ancient mythology upon her and loved the moment. Her thin lips parted, showing tips of pearl white teeth.

He watched the excitement in her eyes. "Another one?" he asked, changing the weight of his body from one foot to the other. "Why, I think that's wonderful. Have you written very much?"

"I've only one line. I wasn't going to tell anyone until it was finished, but …" she hesitated … "would you like to hear it?" 49