Pewter Angels by Henry K. Ripplinger

run into her on the way. Thanks, Mrs. Sarsky.”
    As he turned to go down the stairs, Mrs. Sarsky said, “Oh, by the way, Henry, we’ll be out for dinner tonight and Jenny is coming along, so she won’t be home.”
    “Okay, thanks for telling me.” Henry hustled to his bike as fast as he could, ignoring Mrs. Goronic’s summons as he flew down the street towards the store.
    But Jenny was nowhere in sight.
    Victoria Avenue was exceptionally busy. His heart galloped as he waited for the traffic to slow down. By the time the flow of cars had finally subsided enough for him to cross, he was sure he had missed his only opportunity to see her that day.
    Mr. Engelmann was behind the counter and the store appeared empty. Mr. Engelmann looked up at him, smiled and, with a twinkle in his eyes, cast a look towards the back of the store. Henry followed his gaze to see black and white saddle shoes sticking out into the aisle. So she was hiding on him, was she? He decided to play along.
    “Hi, Mr. Engelmann. Boy, I sure am unhappy. I went over to Jenny’s after lunch and she wasn’t home. Guess I’ll have to call on another girl I know.”
    “Oh no, you don’t!” Jenny blurted, jumping out from behind the centre aisle with a broad smile. When she reached Henry, she gave him a shove. “Gone for a few hours and you’re all ready to abandon me for another girl, you traitor.”
    Henry laughed and was surprised to see Mr. Engelmann chuckling too.
    “I had to see you, Henry,” Jenny went on, “We’re going to see my dad’s business friend tonight so I won’t be home later.”
    “Yeah, your mom told me. And thank you for telling me, too. By the way, I forgot to mention it to you last night, but there’s a new movie starting at the Broadway Theatre—a comedy starring Bing Crosby that’s supposed to be pretty good. Would you like to go?”
    “I’d love to,” Jenny replied, “I’ll have to check with my parents but I’m sure it’ll be all right. What time?”
    “There are two shows tomorrow night. One starts at six-thirty and the second at nine. I was thinking we could maybe go to the early one.” Out of the corner of his eye, Henry caught Mr. Engelmann’s nod of approval.
    “Sounds great, Henry. I’ll let you know as soon I check with Mom and Dad.”
    Once again, Mr. Engelmann nodded in approval. Jenny and Henry tried to hide shy grins. Though Mr. Engelmann had said nothing, talking with each other was a bit awkward in front of an audience.
    “Well, I better get home.”
    “And I better get back to work or Mr. Engelmann is going to fire me,” Henry countered.
    “Oh no, Henry,” Mr. Engelmann said now, shaking his head. “You have a job here for as long as you want.”
    Jenny beamed, gave them both a wink, picked up her bread and bounded out of the store, leaving a trail of sunshine behind. Gravity itself could not hold down her buoyant spirit.
    “Ah, Proverbs 13:15,” muttered Mr. Engelmann as Jenny disappeared from sight.
    “Sorry, what was that, Mr. Engelmann?”
    “Oh, I was just thinking how that young lady is an example of what the Lord was trying to tell me in the passage I read this morning.”
    “And what was that?”
    “A happy heart makes a cheerful face.”

Chapter Five

     
     
    a fter Jenny left, Henry walked over to the front door and peered out the window, watching her as she strolled to the corner and stopped to wait to cross the busy street. When he first started school his mom had always watched him as he left the house and crossed the street, unable to do any housework or chore until she knew he was safely on the other side. Seeing Jenny scurry across the busy road, Henry felt the same way, his mind and heart sending out a shield of love to surround and protect her.
    Halfway across Victoria Avenue was the boulevard where the trolley ran. Jenny made it to the boulevard and looked down the street. A huge delivery van was in the lane next to the boulevard, followed closely by a blue