Astounding Science Fiction (British edition) — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

CRAZY JOEY mothering him. Stop catering to him. Pay no attention to his tricks. Let his father take over, Mrs. Carter. The boy needs a strong man’s hand. ‘““He must be forced to play with the other boys. A black eye never hurt a boy, now and then, a real boy. Your boy must get in there and scrap it out with the rest of them, gain his place among them, just as he will have to scrap later to gain his place in society.” A sigh, almost a sob, escaped her. A doctor knows. And this doctor teaches doctors. Relief from tension, fear of the terrible words the doctor had said; and then a growing anger, anger at herself, anger at Joey. He had tricked her. Her son had lied to her, betrayed her love, pretended all sorts of terrible things just to worry her. She stood up suddenly, her face white with grief-rage. “Thank you, doctor. Thank you so much. I’m sorry we took up your time.” Her humiliation was complete. *"No thanks needed, Mrs. Carter. Glad to help. We’ve caught it in time. If it had been allowed to go on a little longer— He left the phrase hanging in the air, ominously. He patted her arm in a fatherly fashion, and turned absently away, dismissing her. Joey saw her open the door into the room where he was sitting. “Come, Joey,” she said firmly. Dr. Martin did not look up from the papers he was now grading with furious speed, furious intensity, slash- ing angrily with his blue pencil at any thought variant from the orthodox. But even while he checked, circled, questioned, the thought crept into his mind. | “I could write an anonymous letter to Dr. Billings of—yYes, that’s the thing to do. It’s out of my hands then. If Billings chooses to ignore the follow- up, that’s his business.” 103 Joey followed his mother out of the room and down the hall: She walked ahead of him, rapidly, her eyes blaz- ing with anger and humiliation, not caring whether he followed her or not. In one corner of the schoolyard, the boys were playing ball. Joey’ knew they saw him coming down the side- walk, alone, but they pointedly paid no attention to him. He did not try to join them. Even though they were not looking at him, he could hear the hated refrain singing through their minds. Crazy Joe Such a schmo! Hope he falls And. breaks his toe! It was simply their resentment be- cause he was different. Their uncon- scious wish that he stumble and fall now and then, as they did. He rea- lized that he must learn to do this. FANTASY BOOK CENTRE ® BOOKS FOR SALE—latest always in stock, widest selection of best titles. @ BOOKS TO BORROW—postal or personal Lending-Library of more than one thousand titles. @® WE SELL MAGAZINES — latest and vintage, U.S.A. and British, largest stock in Europe. ALL sub- scriptions placed, Professional bind- ing service. ® WE BUY BOOKS AND MAGA- ZINES—half price for fine digest- size U.S.A. magazines. One-third for fine books. Send goods or list for our ‘no-risk’ offer. FANTASY BOOK CENTRE 52 Stoke Newington Rd., LONDON, N.16 (CLIssold 5541) 10 Sicilian Avenue, (near Holborn tube) Southampton Row, London, W.C.1 (CHAncery 8669) Cconniclooolkks.c© inn