[legendsport]

September 10, 1934 - Los Angeles, California

"Hey, Doc, how are you?" greeted John Carey as he and his wife waited in line at the box office of Grauman's Chinese Theater. John looked over his shoulder and found himself face to face with Ralph Deevers, an on-again, off-again patient - and chronic hypochondriac.

"Hello, Ralph. You know Verna, my wife?"

Ralph grinned widely and lifted his cap, "Pleased to meet you, ma'am."

He turned his gaze back to John, "Going to see 'Barretts of Wimpole Street,' eh? I think Fredric March is one of the best actors ever."

John put on a polite smile and said, "Yes, we like to see the newest movies. It's a guilty pleasure. Even though money is tight, I think folks need a little entertainment now and then. What brings you down here, Ralph?"

"Oh, just out for a walk. I've been wheezing lately and thought maybe some fresh air would do me some good." Ralph peered at John keenly. "Think that's a good prescription, doc?"

John chuckled - in spite of himself, he had always liked Ralph. "Sure, Ralph. It's always good to get some exercise."

They had reached the front of the line. John turned to the ticket booth - "Two please," he said, pushing his money through the slot.

"Take care, doc," Ralph said and headed down the sidewalk.

Inside the theater, both John and Verna found themselves waiting for the newsreels with more anticipation than they did for the feature.

The newsreel began with a shot of the new president, John Nance Garner, speaking to the House of Representatives about his own plan. He had decided not to pursue the New Deal, but guaranteed his plan, called the "Square Deal" would be better for the nation. John scoffed - a Roosevelt man, he had little use for the Texas-bred Garner, who John viewed as a political expedient for getting FDR elected and who was now an underqualified President.

"Shoot, this isn't going to be good," muttered John as the newsreel moved on to show more rallies by Adolf Hitler's Nazi party in Germany. He paid little attention to the European stories - America had learned its lesson and was happy to let the Europeans stew in their own juices. Instead he wondered what Garner's "Square Deal" would be all about.

"John," whispered Verna, "don't forget you promised to bring Johnny to the Angels' ballgame this weekend."

John shook himself out of his reverie and leaned over. "Yep, I sure did." He smiled and gazed into her eyes, "That boy and his baseball. Do you know he talks about nothing else but baseball. He's been wanting to see that DiMaggio kid the Seals have - says he hit in 61 straight games last year and..." John cut off as a fierce "Shush" came from the seats behind him. The feature was just getting started, so John turned and for the next couple of hours, took his mind off Garner, the Depression, baseball and everything else.