Prologue
“Yes, you bet I’ll call you back,” the girl’s angry voice declared, “and, believe me, I’ll have plenty of things to say to you!” With that, Julie Scott slammed down the telephone receiver. She clenched her fists and heaved a great sigh. Then she relaxed a bit. Pasting a smile on her face, she sauntered casually back into the living room full of relatives, announcing indifferently to her favorite cousin Sue, “Oh, that was just Allen.”
Everyone had had supper, and cousin Sue and Uncle Jake and the rest were now preparing to leave. It was nearly seven on this balmy July evening, and Julie’s relatives who celebrated Grandpa Philip’s birthday were gathering their belongings and their kids together. One by one they said goodbye to each other, exchanged kisses, and soon the house and yard were empty—and a mess. Julie knew it would be up to her to clean things up. Grandpa was probably some place sleeping, and Momma was so tired from cooking and entertaining everybody. But that all could wait until later “when it gets cooler,” Julie promised Momma. Right now she must call Allen.
“No,” she told herself, “I won’t call him. After what he said!”
She slumped into a chair. Ten minutes before, Allen had called her. It had started out as just a short friendly conversation. He had a great sense of humor; but when he called, Julie was in no mood for the teasing he had given. He had only been kidding, of course, but he had touched a sensitive spot about Julie and her family. That’s when Julie grew angry.
“I’m sorry, Sugar,” he had said. “Don’t be mad. Call me back when your company leaves and your temper cools.”
“I must call him,” Julie told herself now, “and let him know a thing or two.”
She reached for the telephone receiver but drew her hand back as the telephone rang. After letting it ring once more, she picked it up. “Hello?”
“Julie?” It was Allen. At once, her defenses were up.
“Allen Lee Macintosh,” she began, “you’ve got some nerve—”
“Julie.”
“What?”
“I—I just called to say I—I’m sorry, and won’t you please forgive me? I—I was wrong.”
Julie tensed and shut her eyes. Oh, Allen, don’t, she thought. It was a long moment before either spoke.
“Julie?” Allen’s voice was soft. “Please?”
“You know you’re forgiven,” Julie answered. “And I’m sorry I blew my top. I—I guess I’m just too sensitive.”
And so they patched things up, at least for the time being.
