How Francie says, no, Bill, I can't marry you, she says. I like you like a brother, she smiles to take away the sting, but you know I'm so much in love with Tim I can't even think about another man, she says.
But she hopes he'll forget his silly infatuation, as she calls it, so they can keep on being good friends. You know how much Tim thinks of you, she says, and how it would spoil his happiness if anything happens.
Sure, he tells himself, sick-like. Forget beautiful Francie with the laughing eyes, the red-gold hair. Forget her wonderful body, her kiss-demanding lips. Be a good sport and stick around us, like she said. Forget heaven and live in hell, she might as well have added. Be the pal of the lucky stiff who's won me away from you. See me with him every day, but never want me, never touch me. Just see Tim doing that, and act as though you enjoy watching him.
So outwardly Bill smiles and says, yeah, sure,, I'll rally 'round, and I hope you'll be very happy as long as you live, he says. And he grins and says, I must have been nuts to think you could ever fall for a mere atomic physicist when you could snag a millionaire. And then he says, Tim always said when he got married I was to be his best man, so now's the time, he says.
And she smiles and says, that's the spirit, and she is very happy about it all. And he says, well then, let me do something nice for you both, let me give you the double rings. And she says isn't the groom supposed to do that, and he says, oh maybe, but this is a special case isn't it, and I wish you'd let me. And after a little while she says, yes, and of course Tim, the dope, always agrees with anything Francie thinks is O.K.
And Bill says, well how about one little kiss just for luck or remembrance, and she backs away as though the suggestion is improper and says, oh no, I couldn't, it wouldn't be fair to dear Tim. And when Tim hears of this he says, Bill, I wouldn't have thought it of you, and Bill says, well, hell, I'm losing her so I ought to have something.
So Bill goes back to his laboratory and only comes up for air on the wedding morning. Then he sends a messenger to Francie with the ring she's to give to Tim, and he takes Tim the ring he's to give to Francie. And he and Tim start getting dressed up.
My gosh I'm sick, Bill says all of a sudden just before they're to leave for the church, and he doubles up on the bed. And Tim says, oh, you'll be all right, come on, and Bill says, I can't Tim, I'm all cramps. You'll have to get someone else, he says. So Tim sees he means it and phones another pal who agrees to help him out, and Tim leaves on the run so as not to be late.
And as soon as he's gone Bill gets up from the bed where he's been pretending he was sick and he sits down and watches the clock and gloats. Turn me down will you, he says, and want me to be a brother to you, when you know I've got other ideas, he says, and gets madder. Make out like I'm your best pal, he snarls, and all the time you're taking the girl I want, and laughing at me for losing out.
And all of a sudden the clock strikes twelve and in his mind's eye Bill sees the ceremony begin. The wedding party comes down the aisle. Francie meets Tim at the altar. The ritual. And he says I do and she says I do and they exchange rings. And then the minister says, you will now join hands.
And Bill's moment of gloating is interrupted by the door-bell and a messenger hands him an envelope. And it contains the ring he's sent Francie and a note that says, Bill, we decided not to use these. And Bill cusses and tosses the ring into a little box on the table. And just as it leaves his hand he sees Tim had left the other ring in there, and Bill screams and lunges after it.
But too late.
Critical mass.
Data entered by Judy Bemis
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