bg Frde Pacheco (Continuedfrom page 24) proud of his achievements. Of reproduction of his front room white towel neatly hung from just taken down from the house, and found that Sam course, she said, looking at that was so vividly etched in a small rack by its sid. Under clothes line. Asan added touch had gone tothe Cardiac Clinic Ferdiestely inthe eye, Sam Ferdie's memory. Sam had the basin was a folded army she picked some zinnia's from and ould not be home until had fallen on hard times and panted the walls an antiseptic cot, and in the other corner the yard and made a bouquet late afternoon. Miss Louise he would not accept helpfrom white. The old wooden floor a small cardboard closet with which she put in a chipped proved to be a warm hearted no one. was painted a dark brown and Sam's black coat, and striped chamber pot in the comer of expansive, church-going lady Withoutmuch persuasion gleamed. tie shirt hanging on wirehang- the bare room. who had a soft spot in her Miss Louise allowed Ferdie There was no fuiture in ers. Eve, 194 was heart forthe gentlenly Sam to enter Sam's room. It was the room except for the grand Sam likes -to keep things notable in the United States She told Ferdie that he had Christmas Eve, and Ferdie as- piano, whichoccupied most of simple," Ferdie smiled, looking because Bing Crosby intro- often spoken highly of J.B., sured her he was here to buy the space. In the comer was at the sparse room. duced Irving Berlin's. "White and that he followed Ferdie's Sam anything he needed. a wash basin and a medicine Sure do," Miss Louise said, Christmas," and so everywhere educational careeran was The room proved a smaller cabinet above it with a clean shaking her head. "He done all one went, whether to O'Falks the painting hisself.I did buy or Maas Brothers, orthe Yellow the paint." -House Bar, or the Columbia "What does he need most?- Restaurant, one heard this S; "Need? That mandon't need song. nothin'. He could use his watch Miss Louise's front porch S back. He hocks it at Detroit was no different. A ragged Reds at the end of each month assemblage of boarders were when he run out of cash. Tell drinking heavily, laughing at Red I sent you. It ain't much." twice told tales, and specifical- S"Is that all" ly not listening to Bing Crosby ." : Well, I spect he could stand sing the small song vhich Ssome company," Miss Louise played over and over again -. fixed him with her church-lady on Miss Louise's phonograph. hard stare, as if proddingihis From time to time they would S. conscience, in case he was look across the stree t atblack *-: ':/n Res a -l r : t :e a S ^ 7 :.; ::'contemplating just applying a 1941 Chevrolet where a white Accepting Reservationsfor Christmas Eve and Chrisimas white folk's money poultice to boy sat slouched-down in his Da and New Year's Eve and New Year Da. his achingconscience. co seat waiting.for Sweet Sam to 1 1J Il be back before Sam gets come back from the hospital. .... : : home from the hospital." As the eveningwore on and the That be' round six." sun went down, the thin string 11 Ibe here before that.' of Christmas-lights flickered // SMS Ferdie sped home with the on, and thederisivelaughter Snewsthat he had found Sweet of the front prch celebrants Sam, and asked his mother to grew in volume. Thethought of make a lemon meringue pie, a white boy, onChristmas Eve, using only fresh lemons, and in this neighborhood seemd to UaRANT making real meringue, as only fill them with merriment. RES :she could. While this was being Ferdie was growing uneasy done he sped to Detroit Reds as a few men made remarks S' where he picked up the big in his direction and, although Smee 1905 gold watch. He wound it with they seemed contemptuous, the tiny key, and opened it to not menacing, he felt uncom- hear the beautiful tune which fortable. Maybe he was intrud- he now identified as "The Mar- ing..Maybehe wasn't welcome, Sw uohana h seilles." but his excitement at seeing Finally, in the late aftemoon Sweet Sam again overcame any YR CY T a () he was back at Miss Louise's. doubts and he resolved to sty YBOR Tamp (813) 248-49 S AMAND CIRCLE S a He took the white towel.and put and seeit through! THEPIER, St Peterburg HISTORC DISTRICT St. Augstine spread it on the black ebony pi- Finally, as the street lights SAND KEY, Clearwater Beach DOWNTOWN, Celebraton ano bench. He placed the fresh were being tumed on, Ferdie SWest Palm Beach pie on the towel with the two saw him. He came walking plates, and two of his mother's down the street, much slower best silver forks. Beside the now, bent, but still somehow plates he put a large quart of giving the impression of being milk, the beads of condensa- erect. It was him all right. It tion on the sides, the cream at was Sweet Sam, as distinct as the neck of its glass. in his white celluloid collar and SIn a fancy case Ferdie had cuffs, his striped shirt, and his bought from Detroit Red he vest buttoned perfectly, as des- placed the gold watch. Miss tination anyone could be. No Louise, getting in the spirit, way to hide behind old age and opened the cot and made the grey hair. Youmight as well try bed with fresh linen she had (Continued on page 26) *Ly Inette Judge wishes the La aceta community a G safe and joyous servin our Co may you be safe. afe and oous Christmas. Echezabal & Associates, Inc. Surveying and Mapping 08 W (oiniry Club Drive (800) 324-3199 340-B Eas.New York Ave. Tampa. Florida 33612 De Land, Florida 32724 (813) 93 3-505 (3861 736-1030 (813) 933-2721 Fax wvw.echezabal.com (386) 731-4870 Fax Friday, December 22, 2006/Page 25 Section B