The next day, Aunt Bee and Opie had come home and Andy had gone off to work with Opie at school. Barney was in the station's bathroom shaving his face, and Andy was click-click-clicking away at the typewriter, making the procrastinated finishing touches on his speech. Then, to Andy's discomfort and dismay, Ellie walked in. This time her outfit was a bit more conservative (only a bit, mind you).
"Ell-"
"Andy before you say anything I just want to apologize for the way I behaved on Saturday. It was just a little mind-boggling, coming back to little Mayberry, seeing all the old sights. And... it was crazy seeing you again."
"Well, goodness, Ellie, I-"
"I just hope you can forgive me for coming into your home in the state I was. It's been sort of rough... up North. And honestly, you were a comfort to some very weary eyes."
"Don't worry about it—"
"You're probably wondering if I'm still into Pharmaceutical work. Well, I'm not," laughed Ellie. "I quit that long ago." Andy just stood with his mouth shut, expecting her to say something anyway. "Well? Aren't you going to say something?" Andy shrugged.
"There's not much to say, 'cept consider yourself forgiven, I guess," smiled Andy.
Barney came humming out of the bathroom dabbing his neck and face off. He heard a young-sounding woman talking with Andy. Maybe it's Helen, and they're working things out! He quick ran over to eavesdrop, finding himself looking at Andy and... not Helen. Darn, he thought. Well who is that, anyway? She looks like she fell out of the Ms. Homely Pageant of 1969.Barney laughed at his own joke.
"Oh, Andy, you were always so gracious and gentle..." the woman said from the other room, running her hand over Andy's broad shoulders and chest. She walked smoothly into an intimate hug, which Andy didn't quite return as intimately. When Barney saw this, his eyes bulged, and he walked out from the back room, clearing his throat hopefully to make the hug last less long.
"Oh, Barn, this is Ellie."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," said Barney politely but suspiciously.
"You don't seem to understand... this is Ellie. Ellie Walker, the old drug-store owner!" Barney's eyes seemed to bulge right out of his head.
"Well, how do you do?! 'M sorry, I didn't recognize you at first!" The three laughed, and there was an awkward second.
"I guess I'll come to the point of why I came here, besides to apologize to you," said Ellie.
"Shoot," said Andy.
"I hear Mayberry Days starts tomorrow."
"That's right."
"And you're the keynote for the evening picnic?"
"That's also right."
"Would you like to go with me?" Andy's heart sunk. He was planning on asking Helen later that evening. But it would be courteous to make her feel at home again, his annoyingly obstinate good conscience thought.
"Of course he will!" Barged in Barney.
"Barney-!" scolded Andy. Barney pulled Andy to the side.
"Don't you see, Andy?" whispered Barney, "this is your chance! Helen was a lost cause, you might be able to get Ellie back again!"
"That is about the last intention on my mind!" Whispered Andy back.
"So it's a yes, then?" said Ellie, and Andy sighed dejectedly as he faced her.
"I guess so," said Andy, and Barney clapped him on the back.
"Back in the saddle again, ol' buddy, huh?" Barney chuckled to Andy.