Our story today is called "All the years of her life". It was written by Morley Callaghan. Here is Shep O'Neal to tell you the story.
The drug store was beginning to close for the night. Young Alfred Higgins who worked in the store was putting on his coat getting ready to go home. On his way out, he passed Mr. Sam Carl, the little grey-hair man who owned the store. Mr. Carl looked up at Alfred's back as he passed, and said in a very soft voice,
"Just a moment, Alfred, one moment before you go."
Mr. Carl spoke so quietly that it worried Alfred.
"What is it? Mr. Carl."
"Maybe you will be good enough to take a few things out of your pockets and leave them here before you go." said Mr. Carl.
"What things? What are you talking about?"
"You've got a compact and a lipstick and a list two-two of toothpaste in your pockets, Alfred."
"What do you mean?" Alfred answered, "Do you think I'm crazy?" his face got red.
Mr. Carl kept looking at Alfred coldly. Alfred did not know what to say and tried to keep his eyes from meeting the eyes of his boss.
After a few moments he put his hand into his pockets and took out the things he had stolen.
"That is things, Alfred." said Mr. Carl, "and maybe you will be good enough to tell me how long this has been going on."
"This is the first time that I ever took anything."
Mr. Carl was quick to answer, "So now you think you tell me a lie? What kind of food do I look like? I don't know what goes on in my own store. I tell you, you've been doing this for a long time."
Mr. Carl had a strange smile on his face.
"I don't like to call the police," he said, "but maybe I should call your father and let him know I'm going to have to put you in jail."
"My father is not home, he is a printer. He works nights."
"Who is at home." Mr. Carl asked.
"My mother, I think."
Mr. Carl stared to go to the phone. Alfred's fears made him raise his voice. He wanted to show he was afraid of nobody. He acted this way every time he got into trouble. This had happened many times since he left school. At such times he always spoke in a loud voice as he did tonight.
"Just a minute." he said to Mr. Carl, "You don't have to get anybody else into this. You don't have to tell her." Alfred tried to sound big. But * he was like a child. He hoped that someone at home would come quickly to save him. But Mr. Carl was already talking to his mother. He told her to come to the store in a hurry.
Alfred thought his mother would come rushing in, eyes burning with anger. Maybe she would be crying and would push him away when he tried to explain to her. She would make him feel so small. Yet, he wanted her to come quickly before Mr. Carl called in a policeman. Alfred and Mr. Carl waited but said nothing. At last they heard someone at the closed door. Mr. Carl opened it and said, "Come in, Mrs. Hengens." His face was hard and serious.
Alfred's mother came in with a friendly smile on her face and put out her hand to Mr. Carl and said politely.
"I'm Mrs. Higgins, Alfred's mother."
Mr. Carl was surprised at the way she came in. She was very calm, quiet and friendly.
"Is Alfred in trouble?" Mrs. Hengens asked.
"He is. He has been taking things from the store, little things like toothpaste and lipsticks. Things he can easily sell."
Mrs. Higgins looked at her son and said sadly.
"Is it so? Alfred."
"Yes."
"Why have you been doing this?" she asked.
"I've been spending money I believe."
"On what?"
"Going around with the boys, I guess." said Alfred.
Mrs. Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr. Carl's arm with great gentle nails as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. She said, "If you will just listen to me before doing anything." Her voice was cool and she turned her head away as if she had said too much already. Then she looked again at Mr. Carl with a pleasant smile and asked, "What do you want to do, Mr. Carl?"
"I was going to get a car. This was I should do, call the police."
She answered, "Yes, I think so. It's not for me to save because he is my son. Yet I sometimes think a little good advice is the best thing for a boy at soaking times in his life."
Mrs. Higgins looked like a different woman to her son outspread, there she was with a gentle smile saying,
"I wonder if you don't think it would be better just to let him come home with me. He looks like a big fellow, doesn't he? "
Yet it takes some of the long time to get any senses into their heads.
Mr. Carl had expected Alfred's mother to come in nervously, shaking with fear, asking with wet eyes for mercy for her son. But no, she was most calm and pleasant. And was making Mr. Carl feel guilty. After a time, Mr. Carl was shaking his head in a great * with what she was seeing.
"And of course." he said, " I don't want to be cool. I will tell you what I'll do. Tell your son not to come back here again. And let it go at back. Now was that.". And he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins' hand.
"I will never forget your kindness.""Sorry we have to