Catnip
"Hey, Don," the prop manager called, "you seen that book around?"
"What book?"
"You know, Tale of Two Cities. We need it for tomorrow's filming."
"Oh, that. Someone picked it up to read the other day. I'll go get it in a minute."
"Imagine that," Cosmo remarked. "Someone actually reading a book."
"As a matter of fact . . ." Don glanced around to make sure that Lina was out of earshot. "Kathy's got it. She saw it sitting with some of the props, and she was talking about how she'd never read it before, so I told her to go ahead if she wanted."
Cosmo gave a low whistle. "You'll have to get a new copy for tomorrow, then."
"Oh, she's almost done. She was going to finish it over lunch today."
"That's not what I mean. That book is catnip for dames. You give it to one of them, you never see it again."
"You're kidding."
"Remember back in high school, when I gave my copy to Susie Wright because she lost hers? She wouldn't give it back to me! I flunked a test because she—" Cosmo adopted a wailing falsetto. "—'couldn't BEAR to give it up!'"
Don laughed. "It's just a book, Cosmo—I'm sure it hasn't taken over her whole life. Look, I'll go get it right now." He set down the clipboard on which he had been making notes, and strode off.
He was back a few minutes later, looking slightly stunned.
"Well?" asked Cosmo.
"Cos, what the heck is in that book?"
Cosmo grinned. "I told you. Catnip. Didn't get it back, huh?"
Don shrugged helplessly. "I didn't have the heart to ask. She was sitting there sobbing over the thing. Sobbing!" He was wide-eyed. "All she could say was—" He imitated a choked female voice. "'It's so beautiful! It's just so beautiful!'"
Cosmo picked up the clipboard and made a show of writing "BUY NEW BOOK." "You got off easy, though," he observed, "all things considered."
"How's that?"
His friend struck a dramatic pose, clipboard clutched to his heart. "She might have asked you to prove your devotion on the guillotine."
