 Your coca-cola bottler presents Claudia based on the famous play and novels by Rose Frankin Brought to you transcribed Monday through Friday by your friendly neighbor who bottles coca-cola Relax and while you're listening refresh yourself. Have a coke And now Claudia Who was it at the door Claudia? Good the package for you of all people can you imagine at this hour of the night here? Where is it from little boy from the hardware store downtown? What is it a package for me? You just said I know but it might be not something for you I wasn't thinking that much you work. Can I buy myself something for a change? Certainly you can once in a while not too often that once in a while if you're good It's something I can use to darling. I certainly hope not You could probably chop off your big toe using it chop off my big toe Now what would one use to chop something heavy, too? You know Can't imagine what it is. I bet you 20 cents with a few more hints I can guess what you just give me the package and I'll give you the 20 cents and you won't have to guess I like to guess all right the deal shake Here you are 20 cents you You're welcome very much David aren't you gonna open it? No, I know what's in it. I don't have to open it besides I am busy Oh, you're impossible All right, be busy make your one and only wife who loves you deeply and sincerely dive Curiosity What's one package more or less in my life If you did buy it at the hardware store, why couldn't you bring it home yourself because my love my sweet darling angel They didn't have it in stock at the moment So they asked me if it'd be all right to send it over tonight. All right, very logical I must admit it certainly is David you're gonna tell me or do you prefer torturing a little self-discipline and a little less Curiosity would go a long way in this house who fold a self-discipline Who will yourself package isn't for me. There is no reason why you should keep his contents a secret. It isn't a secret It's a hatchet a who a what a hatchet a small hatchet We have a hatchet a small hatchet we have a large hatchet. No, no, no We have a small one till you bought it just a few weeks ago David you've gone hatchet crazy Whoever heard of one household with two small hatchets. We want no hatchet to bury do if you will allow me to interrupt this stream of Consciousness or rather unconsciousness. Let me assure you that we only have one hatchet on the place Well, then what happened to the other one the new one you bought I don't know what happened to it You mean you you you mean you you forgot you bought. I mean no such thing. It's gone. It's disappeared I don't know what happened to it now. Are you satisfied? No, I didn't think you would come on Tell me what really happened. Oh Just go out buying hatchets all the time because you don't know what happened to the other Well, what would you suggest I do? Find out what happened to the other doesn't it cross your mind that I that I might have done just that you have found out Why don't you say I have not found out You don't make any sense Go away. Maybe Fritz put it somewhere. You don't know where he put it. I asked Fritz Well, then maybe Fritz put it someplace and he forgot where it is not the kind of man who puts hatchets somewhere And then forgets where he put it. No, I guess you're right. He isn't of course He didn't well, maybe it's just misplaced or something. No, it's been over a week now that it's gone We searched high and low for it couldn't find it You know, there aren't very many hatchets like it. That's why I had trouble getting this second one Why don't you tell me darling? Why should I just might have? What do you think happened? I don't know then you do know now Who said I know the way you said I don't know Come on tell me there is nothing to tell you a man is supposed to share his secrets with his wife This is not a secret. I think it was stolen. Don't I know I said no such thing Of course, you said no I certainly didn't a man who'd say such a thing. That's what you think That's why you kept quiet about the whole thing. Oh look Claudia. I'm reading my book. No, you're not you're telling me What you think happened to that? See I can't imagine anybody stealing anything out of our barn Who would do such a thing and why somebody who wants a small hatchet? Obviously, David What's your hunch Claudia a man doesn't go around accusing someone else of stealing a hatchet Man is innocent till he's proved guilty Where on earth did you hear that on a radio program in spite of where you heard it? It's true I know I know so don't you go around accusing anybody either? Who would I accuse? Well, you'll think of somebody Not very serious dealing is very serious now anybody who would steal a small hatchet isn't a thief well then what is he? Just somebody who wants a small hatchet the next thing that somebody will want is a diamond necklace of $50,000 well, we just have to lock the doors at night so they won't get your diamond There's nothing to tell now. Do you mind if I go back to my book? No I'd like to And all is dark You know in summer at 8 o'clock it's daylight you and I could be out walking wouldn't that be nice I'm very satisfied. Thank you. Just as it is like a vegetable That was the doorbell again. You don't say I heard it You didn't buy another hatchet. Did you go sure? I bought a dozen hatchets They're coming one at a time at the intervals of every ten minutes. I wouldn't put it past you go on read your book I'll answer the door I Wonder who that is now well in a minute you'll see Look for heaven's sakes come on in good evening, ma'am. It's Jimmy David. Well, come on in Jimmy Well Jimmy what brings you around at this hour of the night? I met mr. Norton downtown before dinner. He asked me good for mr. Norton. Hi there Jimmy. Hi there mr. Norton Oh, how about something to drink Jimmy glass of milk or coke or something? No, thanks. I got to get home I told my mom I'd just be out a few minutes Well, we haven't seen you in quite a while Jimmy just a little over a week. You've You've been up to the barn. Hey, how'd you know? Hey on your shoes nice sweet smell of the barn about you. Oh Yeah, I just dropped in and say hello to the heifer. Oh, how is she? Oh, she's fine She's coming along getting big. Yeah, she's six weeks old now It sure is hard to think she's only six weeks old. That's exactly how I thought the night is born I couldn't believe she was just newborns. He seems so complete. I saw the pig too. You're getting quite a barn for mm-hmm Say, uh, hey Jimmy. I I Bought you something You bought me something. Yeah, I finally managed to pick one up down at the hardware store. I I Thought you might like it It's a handy thing to have around What is it? Open the package there David. No, go ahead Jimmy. Open it. It's it's for you. Gee whizzikas. I can't imagine You're a swell guy buying something for me. David. What's going on here? Nothing's going on here. Why dope? That's a new hatchet. I don't see anything mysterious say Gee, this is a hatchet. Mr. Norton. Yeah, that's what it is. All right It's a nice one. You know hatches like that aren't easy to get Jimmy Yeah Can can you use one like that Jimmy? well, I Don't know. Oh sure you can all kids can use a hatchet particularly a small one like this one You know, I remember when I was your age I I would have given an eye tooth for one like that you would have I certainly would have I would have done I would have done most anything to get one You would have sure I would Look at this hatchet. It's small and it's light and shiny. It's it's wonderful for chopping up your firewood of winning number of things Go on take it Jimmy Take it. It's yours You mean yet absolutely Honestly, you want to give it to me? Yeah How many times do I have to tell you good go ahead pick it up Gee you're such a swell guy mr. Norton. That's all this fuss about a little hatchet Well, you're a pretty swell guy yourself Jimmy. So It's yours No, I can't I can't take it mr. Norton. I can't take it. Yeah me. What's the matter? Why not? I gotta tell you I I Took the other one The other one. Yeah, I Was up at the barn last week and I seen it and gosh I always wanted a little hatchet like that and then I took it. I didn't mean to take it But I took it and if you let me go home now, I'll go and get it. Gee. Will you ever speak to me again? I? I Don't see why you're making such a fuss Jimmy, but it's it's wrong. It's awful wrong I stole something from you And I wouldn't blame you if you never let me in your house again. You must think I'm a terrible person. I Don't think anything like that Jimmy. I think that you saw something you wanted and helped yourself to it and you You've been sorry every sense that you did Just because you've been sorry you did it Don't think that you'll do it again So as far as I'm concerned, that's just about all there is to it You bet that's all there is to it. I haven't been able to use that hatchet. I hated it I had it at home and every time I took it out and looked at it. I hated it. Well, I tell you what you do You run along home and we'll see you back here in a few minutes We'll start we'll start all over Absolutely fresh with the with a new hatchet. All right, you know mr. Norton If my papa alive, I'd wish he were you I'm going back to get that hatchet so long Jimmy darling How'd you know it was Jimmy that Jimmy had taken the hatchet? Yeah, I Wasn't sure until he came around again tonight and said he'd been up to the barn I never thought Jimmy'd be the kind of boy who'd steal he isn't the kind of boy who would well he was Nothing of the sort Now mind you I am not condoning what he did. It wasn't right But he he knew it wasn't right So he didn't get any kick or thrill out of it the way he had expected to You see the way I figure it that kind doesn't often do it again David does every little boy go through that stage you think no, I suppose so and one way or another I I took pennies out of my mother's pocketbook once I remember and I didn't return a book to the library The kids who don't take anything sometimes wish they had For Jimmy little boy misses not having a father Now if the hatchet incident is closed I would like to get back all right go on back to your book David darling, you know our Bobby's going to be a little boy someday. That is no news. Nope But it's wonderful. He'll have a father like you To win the approval of a teenager is no small achievement as mothers of the junior set know But there's one sure way to do it provide plenty of ice-cold coca-cola for after-school and after study hours Enough coke so that friends can be entertained in the manner to which they're accustomed That will get you orchids every time from girls and boys alike. Were you listening today by any chance, mr. King listening? Yeah, Claudia. I always listen. I wouldn't miss what goes on between you and David or anything Well, I'm not much much much for much to listen to but Honestly, don't you think David was wonderful with Jimmy? I thought he handled it pretty well if that's what you mean You know because he could have been so stuffy about Pointing out a lesson as it was. I didn't have any idea myself Why he asked Jimmy to drop in this evening. Well, neither did I the thing I loved about it was it? He took the trouble to go to all that trouble. It seems a little thing Small boy and small hatchet and yet it could be a turning point in Jimmy's life I should say it could I guess sometimes he handles me the same way. He does. Yeah, but I never let on I know he does. Well, do you ever handle David that way? Occasionally seems to me like life goes on pretty smoothly in the Norton household though. Oh, yes in big things We see pretty much eye-to-eye. What don't you see eye-to-eye in ass trays for one thing If David had his way, he'd have ass trays as big as soup to read. Well, I don't blame him Have you quarreled about it? Not yet, but I expect we will almost any day now. We're always on the brink Well, when it happens, that's something I want to hear. So think I'll drop in tomorrow on the chance And as I was about to say every day Monday through Friday Claudia comes to you transcribed with the best wishes of your friendly neighbor who bottles Coca-Cola So listen again tomorrow at the same time And now this is Joe King saying au revoir And remember Whoever you are whatever you do wherever you may be when you think of refreshment think of Coca-Cola For Coca-Cola makes any pause the pause that refreshes and ice-cold Coca-Cola is everywhere These broadcasts are adapted for radio by mania star and the entire production is supervised and directed by William Brown Maloney Now here's a word from your friendly neighbor who bottles Coca-Cola