A KISS FOR THE BAY OF PLENTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 1, 7 September 1942, Page 2

A KISS FOR THE BAY OF PLENTY

Far down the road Mary saw a cloud of dust, then the shape of the blue ami white bus as it turned the Airport corner. Jus-' a short lime before she ha.l let her mother and father out at the Ik,use, put th? car away and walked back down to the road. She wanted to wave a last goodbye as Johnny passed. It was over. She had seen John 113' get his wings. Johnny, marching up to the Officer Commanding, having the insignia pinned on his left breast, the quick handshake, the smart salute. She could close her ;!yes and see it all. The great drill

hall, the ranks of airmen, the visitors, neighbourhood men in '-heir •stilt* Sunday best, neighbourhood women in their silks, their tail'etas, pink and white and blue. The New Zealanders giving an exhibition of a Maori war dance. And then Johnny, his face Hushed with excitement, rushing over to where she and her parents waited, and shaking hands wilh her father and mother. "Sorry," he had .said, "but we're moving oil' at once. 1 really must saj T gooilbye." Johhny rushing away, -vanishing amid the crowiF of blue-clad airmen. How proud she had been. As though, almost, Johnny actually belonged to her. How proud the other Mary would have been to see Johnny's big moment. How —then for an instant the queer conviction struck her that the other Mary was here, feeling with her feelings, seeing with her eves, yes, and loving with her heart ... It was a strange sensation., The bus loomed large, filling the road. Frantically .she waved as the bus passed, but, although there was a face' at each window, she could not be sure which, if any, was that of Johnny. Perhaps he sat on the other side and hadn't seen her. Slowly she began the uphill walk to the house. A voice called her name. Quickly she glanced back. The bus. had stopped. A figure in Air Force blue was running toward her.

Her heat leapt. It was Johnny. "Johnny!" "I made the driver stop for a minute," Johnny said. "I'm afraid I left you people rather abruptly. Excitement and all, I suppose.," "That, was alright, Johnny." "Mary, there's something .That is —" He stopped, fumbling, and hung his head. "Yes, Johnny?" She felt she knew. Perhaps he did fell as she did, that there was so much to say in this last moment, —and yet, nothing to say. "Yes, Johnny." A raucous voice called from the bus. "He3 r ! Hurry i: up there, taxi driver. You're holding up the whole bloomin' Air Force." More than a dozen airmen stood behind the bus, watching, grinning. Mary coukl see mother's blue dress on the front steps of the house. "Well, I can just say, thanks a lot, Canadian Mary," Johnny said. "You've been really marvellous." Her heart interfered with her

voice, but she managed to speak. "That's all I ask, Johnny. I've beer happy. Fin glad I was here, glac that my name, too, is Mary ant that I was able to help." She coulc not restrain a sob. "I do understand, Johnny . . . Bend down." She took his shoulders in her hands and pulled his face close to her own, and, oblivious to her audience, kissed him gently, deliberately, on each clieek. "One is for me, Johnny,''' she smiled, "and the sweetest one is for —for Bay of Plenty." She could sec the tears shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Canadian Mary. You're a person of wonderful understanding." "Hey! Taxi!" "Right! Coming, fellows." He saluted. "Goodbye, Canadian Mary." "Goodbye, Johnny. Remember me to New Zealand when you get home." "I will that.'" She did not look back as the en-j gine roared. She walked briskly up the slope to the house. Now she was happy again, happier than ever before, happy with the real happiness of understanding and of sacrifice, within her was the jojr that needs both laughter and tears. Her step was light. Mother, of course, was horrified. "Mary!" she cried. "Imagine! Right there before all those boys. 'Aren't you just ashamed of yourself?" "No, mother, I'm not afraid now." "But, Mary, what would your father think? I'm sure I never though t—" "Mother, please." Mary said. STEELO —King of Kitchen Cleansers —removes grease. Renews burnt and scotched pans. 7d packet.