Practice, Gloria told herself, makes perfect. And it wasn't her fault that she couldn't do any better. Next time, she'd have a little more practice and she'd be able to do a clearer and more complete job.
And, in the meantime, there was no real harm done. Mrs. Wladek would come round, before long, and then everything would be all right.
Why, after all, there was Rudi, too. And Rudi undoubtedly had a job by now, or at least a good chance of one through an employment agency.
There was no reason to be depressed.
Her son was waiting for her when she arrived at her home once more. Mrs. Wladek looked at the boy with relief and some suspicion. It was not natural for Rudi to be at home during such an hour; he was out with his friends through the day, and this was good for a boy.
"Ma," Rudi said, "guess what?"
"You are in trouble," Mrs. Wladek said at once, in a heavy voice.
"Trouble? I got no troubles, ma," Rudi said. He stood before her in the dusty living room, self-assured and proud, and it came to Mrs. Wladek all at once that her boy was a man.
"What is it?" she demanded. "Tell me at once."