THE PHANTOM FRIEND - Margaret Sutton

The Empty Chair

?I've had enough,? exclaimed Irene Meredith, ducking to protect her face from a biting wind that was blowing across the skating area at Radio City. ?Wouldn't you like to go inside now, Judy? It's really too cold to enjoy ice skating.?

?It is cold,? Judy agreed. ?What a difference from the way it was in the summer! They had chairs out here then, and there were flowered umbrellas over the tables. But with the big Christmas tree up, Radio City is still beautiful in spite of the cold. Don't you wish??

Judy did not finish the sentence.

?What's the matter with you two?? Pauline Faulkner demanded as she stopped short, almost colliding with Judy and Irene. ?You can't just stop skating and gaze at the sights. Other people will bump into you. There, I knew it!?

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?Watch it!? someone called out just too late.

Florence Garner, the fourth member of the skating party, turned sharply on her skates and went sprawling. But she was soon picking herself up.

?Are you hurt, Flo?? Irene asked solicitously.

?We're sorry,? Judy added. ?We didn't mean to upset you.?

?I'm upset in more ways than one,? Florence replied as the four girls skated off the ice. ?Nothing is turning out the way I planned it. Pauline said??

?Never mind what I said,? Judy's dark-haired friend interrupted. ?We'll discuss it at lunch.?

Ten minutes later the rented skates had been returned, and the four girls were sitting around a table in a nearby restaurant. The waiter served steaming hot soup.

?This will warm us up,? Irene commented over her soup plate. ?Remember, Judy, I promised you we'd skate by the golden statue the next time you came to New York, and now we've done it.?

?It was fun, but watching your television show will be the real treat,? Judy told her. ?When do you have to be at the studio for rehearsal??

?Not until two. There's lots of time.? Irene looked at the girl she had first known as Judy Bolton. She herself had been Irene Lang then, a timid little mill worker with a secret ambition to become a singer. Now, although her ambition had been realized and she was also a happy young wife and mother, she still looked to Judy for advice.

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?I have a big decision to make,? Irene confessed. ?If you were in my place, Judy, you'd know what to do. I don't want your little namesake to think of her mommy as one of the ?naughty' people on television. That's what she calls the people who do the commercials. We even have a little song we sing about it. Dale and I made it up to amuse little Judy. Of course, I'd never dare use it on my show,? Irene added with a laugh. ?The sponsor would never get over it.?