They both laughed. Then Molly fell serious again as she watched Andy refill his pipe.
“But I wish it wasn’t that way,” she said.
“Why?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Father never felt the need of—playtime.”
“He was more than twice your years, I guess.”
Andy re-lit his pipe.
“You mean when he was young?”
“Surely.” Andy nodded. “Don’t you reckon he ever hit up a joytime?” he asked. “Don’t you guess he and your mother made out at parties an’ dances? Maybe,” he smiled, “he even found the inside of a saloon better than the outside. I tell you we all need to get joy or—burst.”
“Yes. I feel that.”
“Why, you can even get joy in Hartspool.”