3.

   On Sunday morning, as she stood watching in her nightgown from the window of the bedroom she shared with her younger sister Judith, Marian saw her father washing the car outside the garage in back of the house. Joshua held the powerfully spouting hose, directing it according to his father's commands. She could see the gleam in the eleven-year-old's eyes as he sporadically sprayed his father who jumped and ducked and shouted warnings and finally grabbed the hose, reduced its power and in handing it back to his son accidentally sprayed him, too. Marian laughed coldly through her anxiety-ridden mood as she contemplated her fate. Edith walked into the bedroom in her brand new Sunday outfit, something she could afford now since she was working. Marian only glanced at her.

   "Papa said no, didn't he?" Edith said. Marian shrugged but said nothing. She opened the closet door and poked around inside, shuffling the hangers. "Well, he has a right to say what he thinks," Edith said as Marian emerged. "He's our father."
   "Hallowed be his name," Marian muttered.
   "I wouldn't trade him for any other father I know around here," Edith said. Marian put the skirt and blouse she had brought out on the bed. Then she sat on the bed and kicked off her slippers. "He gave us everything we have," Edith continued in a flat voice. "I think we owe him some respect." She paused, watching Marian sit with her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. "Compared to the rest of them, he's the best. He's the best looking, too."
   "You're in love with him," Marian said.
   "Oh, that's vile. That's really vile."
   "He wouldn't send you to college, would he?" Marian reminded her.
   Edith lips crawled in anger. "He would have if I had decided on it! I'm doing exactly what I wanted to do. It would have taken me years to get the money to have the things I wanted."
   Marian slowly looked up at her. "I'm going to have to run away," she said.
   "What? You're nuts. Where are you going?"
   "Baltimore. There's a nurse's college there right near cousin Doris. She sent me the papers."
   Lowering her voice, Edith said, "Papa's made up his mind. I can tell you that much. I heard him talking to mama. He won't give you anything."
   "I'm applying for a scholarship. Mama has some money. I'll talk to her."
   "How much will you need?"

   That afternoon at Miss Riley's, Marian shakily explained what she intended. "Because if I stay in the city he's liable to do anything." When she mentioned Baltimore Miss Riley jumped up and went to her desk. She pulled out her address book.
   "I know the head at Baltimore. We trained at the same school. I'll call him. Right now." She picked the long black receiver off the claw of the yawning telephone. She gave the number to the operator and it took a bit of time obtaining the long distance connection, and then the line was busy.
   "My sister Edith promised me a loan," Marian said. "I think I can count on my mother for something, too. I'll probably need some kind of scholarship. I want to do this right away. This term."
   "I'll talk to Tom. I'll call you soon as I find out," Miss Riley said.
   "No. Don't call. I'll come over tonight."

   When she returned home she walked in on her parents having a cup of tea in the kitchen. "Hey, miss," her father called as she turned away. Her heart thumped. He knew something.
   "Did you call me, papa?" she said, turning back.
   "I didn't get a bill from Mr. Rudolf this month," he said.
   "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I'm not going to him any more. Excuse me, I have to go upstairs for a minute."
   "Why did she stop her singing lessons?" Decker asked after she had gone.
   "She wasn't getting anywhere with it," his wife replied, pouring him a second cup from the samovar. "She's very upset. She doesn't know what to do."
   "Maybe she should apply for a job as a waitress. In Schrafft's."
   "You're joking," she said. "A girl with an A in chemistry?"
   "It's a high class place. I understand they serve cucumber sandwiches there. Don't you go to Schrafft's?"
   "I've been there once or twice."
   "You were there last week. A little bird told me."
   "Did he also tell you I met a man in front of Schrafft's?" Decker paled. She took a sip of tea. "My brother. Then we went for lunch. To the automat."

   Decker couldn't help but recall the lunch with his business friends whose problems with their women were manifold. He breathed a deep sigh of relief as he drank up his tea and watched his wife bring over the dishes to wash them in the sink.

   The next day he faced his partner at the factory the first thing in the morning. Over the weekend he had contacted the two men who had originally been interested in participating in the business, both engineers, but were unable to make the move at the time. One of them now enthusiastically responded and agreed to buy in, even though Decker gave him an inkling of some of the problems while also revealing a formidable offer from a major department store to buy as much product as he could supply. All he had to do now was force Osterman out. His cash-hungry partner, who knew nothing of the new department store client, immediately agreed and they settled on a price.

   On the subway ride home, Decker was in a new mood, almost light-hearted. He noticed the marquee of the local movie house as he came down the elevated line's steps and decided to take his wife out to dinner that night and to see his favorite actress, Joan Crawford.

   Decker had departed the factory a bit earlier, hoping to take the car to the garage for an oil change. To his surprise the only one he found to greet him was Joshua, who was listening to the radio.
   "Where's everybody?" Decker asked.
   "They took Marian to the station," Joshua said.
   "The station? What station?"
   "She's going to Baltimore. Is it far?"
   "When did they leave?" Decker demanded hoarsely.
   "Just before."

   Decker tore out of the house. He rushed back to the subway. His rage built on the half hour ride back into the city. He panted as he hurried into the enormous, echoing Penn Station, swallowing the crowds in its maw, reducing them to two-legged bugs crazily cavorting across the marble floor under the cavernous heights overhanging the steel structure. A ticket agent provided him with the track number of the about-to-depart express. He heard the shouts from the blue uniformed conductors, watches in their hands.

   "All aboooaaaaarrrrd!" they cried. The engine hissed.

   He raced by his wife and his two daughters on the platform as he swung aboard at the first available opening and the doors began to slam all the way down the length of the train. He ran through it searching everywhere. With a giant huff and puff and slam bang, the train jerked forward and began to roll sucking Jovian breaths as it picked up steam. By the time he saw her sitting all alone at a window with her hands prayerfully held at her breast the train smoothly slid through the tunnel running the rails toward its first stop.

   "Trenton! Trenton next stop! Tickets please!" the conductor called.

   She paled as she saw him, her mouth fell open. "Papa!"

   He stood over her, glaring, breathing hard, as he put his hand out for support against the window, taking deep gulps of air, slapped her, stood for a moment his chest heaving, then sat down puffing beside her.
   "Some day," he said, "you'll thank me for saving you from working in a hospital full of disease and naked men you have to wash all day."

   The conductor punched her ticket but Decker had to pay for his ride to Trenton where he pushed her ahead of him to the door. He led her towards the coffee shop on the platform and sat down exhausted at a table.
   "I left my bag on the train!" she cried, leaped away and ran. He fell off the chair getting up to chase her but by the time he reached it the train was moving and he saw her staring out at him biting her lips and waving.