Free Nothing to Fear by Jackie French Koller

as they don't try to sell it. Besides, the cops are too busy chasing after all the big-time gangsters and bootleggers to worry
much about ordinary people like Mrs. Mahoney. Pa says there's an awful lot of hoodlums getting rich off Prohibition, and the sooner it ends the better.
    Mama scurried around cleaning up the supper dishes, then she pulled off her apron and straightened the pins in her hair.
    "Sure ya don't mind now?" she asked me.
    "Not a bit, Ma."
    "Don't be forgettin' yer bath then."
    "Aw, Ma."
    "Do as yer told now." She kissed Maureen goodnight and paused in the doorway. "I'll put the radio on for you," she said, flicking the knob. Kate Smith's voice filled the room. Ma stood still and listened, her gaze far away. When the song ended she shook her head in admiration. "Sure an' that girl can sing," she said.
    "Not as good as you, Ma," I told her. "You could've been a singer on the radio."
    Ma threw her head back and laughed—a laugh so full of music it sounded like someone running their hand down the keyboard of a piano.
    "Aye," she said, "and I could've been the queen of England, too, if I'da married me the king."
    I could still hear her laughing to herself as she climbed the stairs. I put the water on to boil for my bath while I tucked Maureen in, then I filled the tub.
    I sure hate taking a bath. Not that I'm a slob or anything. It's just that our tub is right in the middle of the kitchen, and even though I pull the shades down and lock the door, I still feel naked to the world.
Once, a couple of years ago, Maggie walked right in while I was sitting there—nothing between her and me but a bar of soap. She never lets me forget it, either. I've grown up some since then, if you know what I mean. A bar of soap wouldn't be too much help anymore. We got a chain lock on the kitchen door now, but I still panic every time I hear footsteps in the hall.
    I climbed in and went about my business as quickly as I could. "Amos 'n' Andy" came on the radio and had me laughin' in no time. They are the funniest guys. All of a sudden, in the middle of a laugh, this knock came on the door.
    "Danny?" It was Maggie's voice. I sank down in the water.
    "Danny? Want to come over and play Monopoly?"
    I didn't answer. I wasn't about to let on that I was in the tub.
    "Danny, I know you're in there. I heard you laughin'." Then there was a giggle. "Why aren't you answering?"
    The next think I knew, I heard her key turning in the lock. The door opened a crack and then the chain stopped it. "D-a-n-n-y," came Maggie's singsongy voice. "Are you in the tub?"
    I swallowed hard and stayed as still as death. The tub was out of the line of view of the crack, but still, Maggie Riley's eyes were staring into the very room that I was stark naked in. I never realized before that you could sweat underwater.

FOURTEEN
Saturday, October 22, 1932
    Saturday morning is usually slow shining shoes, but today was the worst. I stood out there next to Ike's newsstand for a solid hour and all I made was one lousy nickel. I think Ike must've felt sorry for me, 'cause just as I was packing up he asked me for a shine.
    "Ah, you don't need one," I told him.
    "Sure I do. Got a date with my girl tonight. Gotta look spiffy." He gave me a wink.
    I didn't really believe him, but I wasn't about to argue too hard. After all, a nickel's a nickel, and they are gettin' harder and harder to come by.
    I handed both nickels to Ma when I got home. "That's all I got," I apologized.
    Ma looked at the two nickels, then handed them back to me. "You go to the movies," she said.
    "I don't need 'em, Ma," I told her. "I'm already going to the movies. Mickey's payin'."
    Ma looked at me strangely. "Why?" she asked.
    "It's a long story. I'll tell you later. I gotta get going."
    "Well, you take this anyway," said Ma, pressing the money into my hand. "Buy you and Mickey a Baby Ruth. You deserve it."
    "No kidding?"
    Mama grinned and tousled my hair. "No kidding. Now off to Miss Emily's, and