The focus of Gaylord's mind widened beyond Thelma White now and took in the campus of the school. It was a place of bare earth, noise, and thuglike strangers. Half a dozen boys were clanking at the rusty flag pole with rocks. Other boys were walking past, mumbling under perspiring foreheads. One boy in track shorts ran past. Another followed. All around were patches of boys and girls, patches of reds and greens, patches of tans and blues, patches of various colors. A tangle of snaky hoses, woven in black and green, lay across the sidewalk. An enormously fat, husky young man, almost tripped over it and a four-letter word filled the air around them.
"Look out, Skinny," Joy giggled. "And watch your language."
He grinned back and ran on. Gaylord sighed like a horse having a saddle taken off. "I thought sure he was going to fall," he said to Joy.
Joy squeezed his arm, and regarded Gaylord with amused eyes. "So did I. Maybe it would have knocked some of that fat off if he had. I'm glad I'm not fat. I'd sure hate to be like Skinny. J just can't understand why some people let themselves go. Nobody wants to go out with a fat man or girl."
Gaylord did not know what to answer. It seemed that Joy wanted to say something but could not find a way to begin.
"I wouldn't want a date with a fatso."
"I wouldn't either," said Gaylord.
"No use to get fat."
A picture flashed across Gaylord's mind: the kitchen of his grandmother which he had visited so often. His grandmother was fat, wore a shapeless printed dress, and had straight black hair. She was old, shapeless, but so wonderful. He remembered a picture of her as a girl … Yes, age did bring on changes.
"My grandmother sure was fat," put in Gaylord.
"So was mine, but that's different. No use to be that way when you're as young as Skinny or Velma. Velma could be very attractive."
"She's very nice."
"I like Velma. I feel sorry for her. Nobody ever asks her for a date." She grinned. "I should talk, shouldn't I. Bob's stood me up too. Guess I'll have to go home alone."
Gaylord glanced at his watch. Ten after four. He felt obliged to
