"I SAID NEXT PLEASE!"

Lucy's harsh outburst startled Schroeder and he jumped before tumbling onto the ground. Feeling somewhat wobbly, he got to his feet and walked over to the booth.

"H-hi Lucy."

"What seems to be the problem?"

"Well, I… uh…"

"Before we begin, I must ask that you pay in advance. Five cents, please."

Schroeder reached into his pocket and removed the shiniest nickel that he could and then placed it into her waiting hand. Lucy dropped the nickel into a small yellow can with a smile on her face. She shook the can, rattling the coin inside. "Isn't' that a beautiful sound?" She exclaimed. "I just love the sound of cold hard cash! I-."

"LUCY!"

Finally she stopped talking, a feat that he thought would never happen. He hated to yell at her but if he didn't do what he'd come here to do, he was sure he'd go crazy.

"Now what seems to be the problem?" Lucy asked again.

Schroeder swallowed hard, quickly trying to decide how to say what he wanted to say. "I-I have this friend. A-a girl… and I want to get her a present, but I don't know what to buy."

Lucy thought for a moment. "Is it her birthday?"

"Um, no. Not really."

"Well, you could always buy her flowers or candy. Girls love stuff like that."

"NO!" Schroeder yelled, louder than he meant to. "I-I mean… I don't think so."

"Why not? She's a girl, isn't she?"

"Well, yes…"

"What does she like?"

Schroeder looked at Lucy, trying to remember all the things that she liked. "Well… she likes baseball and… um… she's a great player. She likes music… at least I think she does. She's a good roller-skater. I-I've seen her roller skate by my house."

At this Lucy seemed to fidget. "Really? Who is she?" She demanded.

"Um, well…"

"Never mind. If you really like this girl, you'll do whatever it takes to make her happy, you got that? And when it comes to presents for pretty girls, money is no object. Take me for example. You do think I'm pretty, don't you Schroeder?"

His face turned at least five different shades of red and he'd never been more embarrassed. When he looked at Lucy he cringed. She didn't look happy at all. In fact she looked mad… Really mad!

Oh no…

"You didn't answer me right away!" She yelled. "You had to think about it first, didn't you? If you really thought I was pretty you would have spoken right up! But NO! I should have known that you didn't think I was pretty!"

"But Lucy-."

She rose from her stool and stormed past him. He watched in surprise as she yanked the sign from her doctor booth and threw it on the ground with such force that it broke into pieces.

"The doctor is OUT!" She exclaimed. "And by the way Schroeder, don't bother asking for a refund because it's not going to happen! Goodbye Schroeder!"

Schroeder watched helplessly as Lucy ran toward her home.

Darn it, why couldn't he have told her the truth? Of course she was pretty! In fact, she was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen! But now she'd never know. And he was afraid that he'd never get the chance to tell her.