Life — October 5, 1928 — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SKIPPY’S By Percy Dear Sooxy: I was sent to the empty room cause I talked back. I had to stand in the corner an all I could hear in the whole house was the clock tickin like I was bein timed. It was rainin outside all day an I listened to the darn old splatter! splatter! splatter! on the window sill. Once I heard laughin downstairs so I made believe I was very funny an told jokes to the wall, but I couldn't laugh with that rain drippin outside, it made me feel that all the world was cryin. Then I got to thinkin of the people who owed me letters until I hate every- body. Why don’t ya write to a feller? I wanted to sneak over to the window an write my name on the glass, but then that'd be cheatin, besides I wouldn't give some people that satisfaction. Pretty soon mom comes an asks me if I'm sorry. “For what?” I sez. They was nothin more said, I was just sent to my room, an on the very day that the clocks was put back. Up there nothin happened. I tried to read a book only it was monitornus with so many big words. When it began to get dark, Nanny brought up some crack- ers an milk. She talked to me like I wasn’t a chair in the attic, an just for that I'm goin to buy her a hat when I get rich. I sorta had a little fun makin faces at myself in the mirror, but I don’t think I’m as funny as I used to was, cause I LETTERS L. Crosby didn’t get a howl, Remember when I used to put the gang in stitches? No more though. There was voices under the window an I creeps over for an earful an who should it be but Somerset Gohagen an Yacob. Somerset “T wuz!” an Yacob an Somerset come “T wuz! “Wuzn't!”” says Yacob. Well, they got to wuzzin an unwuzzin until my foot goes to sleep. I went an got a glass o° water an let it go, only Somer- set stood. Yacob beat it up the street an Somerset yells, “I guess I oughta know me own wuzzin!” If I could only begin to tell you how quiet it is in this room. It’s quieter than still—or noisier than still, I dunno— cause there’s a funny little ringin in my cars. Maybe I guess that ain't quiet! It got to be so quiet I had to walk up an down like a bandy-legged man an make believe I was Mr. Gobbily-Wobbles, but I felt so silly I was ashamed to turn on the light an look at meself in the mirror. How is it that a guy like Willy Wally can talk back an do anythin he wants to —maybe burn the house down, I don’t know. But every time he gets sent to his room, the fire engines seem to know about it, cause there’s always a fire that night. An no matter where the fire is, they pass his door. Where does he get his drag with the fire department? I don’t even know one little fireman. I was just about to hop into bed when somethin flashed in my eyes. Gee, I took a nip outa my heart. I thought it wa; burglars first. I stood there as if | had icicles for supper, then I crept over ty the window an I saw it was a searchlighr way in the distance. It shot UP over the mountains, clear an sharp, an way up 0 the other end was an aeroplane. It 2 made me think of an eye in some giant's needle. I just had to turn away cause I coulda of felt any more hurt if that needle wa stickin in me—an only because m tongue got to waggin before I could stop it. i Well, I'm goin to pray before I gow bed cause I got to have somebody to tak to, I'm gettin so tired of me. I guess if | was only a little pea, God would take m out of iE crowd an put me in a whiste Affectionately sincere, (Eoitor’s Note — Skippy, who war born in Lire, and remains its favorite sos, will write a letter to Sooky every week from now on, He will express his views on life, love, philosophy and any otke subjects that happen to come up.) Walter Winchell Meets O. 0. McIntyre on Sixth Avenue “Hetto, O. O., how are things along the Main Stem? It’s a long time since I'e been through the Whoopee Belt.” “Oh, everything’s fine, they tell me.! haven't been on the Hardened Artery mp self in an ice age.” “TI sure would like to see what's going’ on along Mazda Lane again.” “Yes, it would be fine to be back ia the White Light District.” “Well, if you get back before me, member me to the Naughty Thoroug> fare. I don’t want the phrails along Orange Juice Gulch to forget Mrs. Wie chell’s little boy.” “I sure will when I get back to te other side of the Smith and Wesson Lise But don’t you forget to do the same ft me, if you get back to the Street ¢ Broken Arches first. By the way, whet are you going now?” “Oh, I'm ankling over to Broadway: “So, am I—let’s go.” Bernard Teras. Reviseo Pullman sign—“Caod dates Standing on the Platform Do Sot Their Own Risk.” comicbooks.com W