Righty:
Race and I shared a very pleasant afternoon. The weather was nice, no birds crapped on us, and no tight-ass customers came back yellin' cause of false advertising. We'd sold all of our 150 papes, and split the profits 50-50; I was feeling generous. "We make a good team, Race. I like sellin' with you." "We do seem to move papes quickly, don't we? I wouldn't mind doing this again." "Me either. How's tomorrow?" "Tomorrow...tomorrow...nope, ain't got any partners lined up for tomorrow." "Ok, great. I'll just stay in Manhattan tonight. How 'bout a game of poker? You up for it? Gives me a chance to win all that money we just split right back." "I'm up for it all right. But you won't win. My poker face has fooled Spot Conlon many a time. You know how those Brooklanders are." "I hate that egotistical lap-boy! Let's don't talk about him. I'll get sick all over my pretty money." Back at the lodge, Cowboy and Mush told me of their run-in with the Greek girl I'd tried to pick pocked earlier. "She's actally really nice, Righty. Don't get all sore because she caught you. It's real class she didn't turn you in," Mush argued, when I declared I hated the sight of her. "I don't hate the sight of her," Jack laughed. "At all! And neither does Mush. You should have heard his jaw flapping...I thought it was going to fall right off. It was just anything to keep her talking." "She's somethin' alright. I wonder if she brought a guy over with 'er. I don't know about you, Cowboy, but I am definitely eating at Tibby's tomorrow. Around 3." "Shut up or I'll soak you both!" I yelled. I was in no mood to hear Mush rave about another bimbo girl he'd found.
the next morning: (still Righty)
"Get up, get up you lazy bums! Papes don't sell themselves! Skittery, you louse, get up and CARRY THAT BANNER! When you gotta work, you gotta work! Get UP, Mush!" Kloppman cries, just like every morning. At first I had no idea where I was. Who the hell was waking me up, Righty of the Bronx? Then I realized I wasn't in my burrow at all, but in Manhattan. Last night's poker game, I recalled, had been capital, though I lost almost $3 to Race. What can I say, I'm no match for his poker face and his good looks both. Splashing water on my face and throwing yesterday's clothes back on, I turned around to see Race smiling down at me, followed quickly by Mush and Specs. "Pocket feel any lighter this morning, Righty?" "Shut up you bum! I'll soak you!" "Calm down. Ready to go make some dough?" "Sure thing." Mush cut in here: "Race, where you eatin' lunch today? I'd highly recommend Tibby's; the new waitress is a looker!" "Thanks Mush, but me and Righty prefer a more...secluded scene." His devilish smile and the wink he gave me made my heart race, but never the less I cried, "Cut it out!"
Mara:
At 3, again Mush and Jack came to lunch at Tibby's. We shared many laughs, and ended up making plans to meet after my shift and go to a theatre nearby. They were good friends with the owner and star, Medda. Later that night, Jack and Mush lounged on the bar while I swept up. Locking the door behind me, we set out for my first night of fun in America. I had expressed worry that I would not be able to understand their theatres because I did not speak the language well enough. Mush promised (more than once) to explain anything that went over my head, and also to help me learn the language more solidly. As we neared the theatre, the air was thick with conversation and smelled of cheap perfume. "Jack, I been noticin' Race and Righty spendin' lots of time together these past two days. Don't seem to want company even. Makes me kinda wonder. Does it you?" "It does, Mush. It does. It gives me a weird feeling-Righty isn't the kind to be anyone's girl. Too independent like. And she's not from Manhattan; she'll eventually have to go back and it'll break poor Race's heart." I, being bored with this conversation involving people that were not known to me, used this pause to change the subject. "Are we nearing the theatre?" Mush looks at me out of the corner of his eye. "I'd forgotten about you." "Many thanks, gracious American." Jack, amused by my comment, laughed. "Ouch, Mush! That outta teach you some manners, lousy bum!" Mush, overlooking his own blunder, asked me, "Do you have any family in America?" "No, I have not. My mother and father, with my six siblings and my goat are still in Greece." "Six brothers and sisters? Your poor mother. And did you say goat?" "Yes, my family keeps a goat for its milk. He is one of our family too." "You must miss it," Jack said. I looked into his eyes to see if he was kidding, but his face showed concern for me. "Yes, Jack, I do. Miss it with my whole being. Greece is my country. But people like you make times bearable, at least." "Bearable?!" Mush exploded. "I'm takin' you to the theatre, ain't I?!" I could not help grinning. "Yes, Mush. Thank you."
Race and I shared a very pleasant afternoon. The weather was nice, no birds crapped on us, and no tight-ass customers came back yellin' cause of false advertising. We'd sold all of our 150 papes, and split the profits 50-50; I was feeling generous. "We make a good team, Race. I like sellin' with you." "We do seem to move papes quickly, don't we? I wouldn't mind doing this again." "Me either. How's tomorrow?" "Tomorrow...tomorrow...nope, ain't got any partners lined up for tomorrow." "Ok, great. I'll just stay in Manhattan tonight. How 'bout a game of poker? You up for it? Gives me a chance to win all that money we just split right back." "I'm up for it all right. But you won't win. My poker face has fooled Spot Conlon many a time. You know how those Brooklanders are." "I hate that egotistical lap-boy! Let's don't talk about him. I'll get sick all over my pretty money." Back at the lodge, Cowboy and Mush told me of their run-in with the Greek girl I'd tried to pick pocked earlier. "She's actally really nice, Righty. Don't get all sore because she caught you. It's real class she didn't turn you in," Mush argued, when I declared I hated the sight of her. "I don't hate the sight of her," Jack laughed. "At all! And neither does Mush. You should have heard his jaw flapping...I thought it was going to fall right off. It was just anything to keep her talking." "She's somethin' alright. I wonder if she brought a guy over with 'er. I don't know about you, Cowboy, but I am definitely eating at Tibby's tomorrow. Around 3." "Shut up or I'll soak you both!" I yelled. I was in no mood to hear Mush rave about another bimbo girl he'd found.
the next morning: (still Righty)
"Get up, get up you lazy bums! Papes don't sell themselves! Skittery, you louse, get up and CARRY THAT BANNER! When you gotta work, you gotta work! Get UP, Mush!" Kloppman cries, just like every morning. At first I had no idea where I was. Who the hell was waking me up, Righty of the Bronx? Then I realized I wasn't in my burrow at all, but in Manhattan. Last night's poker game, I recalled, had been capital, though I lost almost $3 to Race. What can I say, I'm no match for his poker face and his good looks both. Splashing water on my face and throwing yesterday's clothes back on, I turned around to see Race smiling down at me, followed quickly by Mush and Specs. "Pocket feel any lighter this morning, Righty?" "Shut up you bum! I'll soak you!" "Calm down. Ready to go make some dough?" "Sure thing." Mush cut in here: "Race, where you eatin' lunch today? I'd highly recommend Tibby's; the new waitress is a looker!" "Thanks Mush, but me and Righty prefer a more...secluded scene." His devilish smile and the wink he gave me made my heart race, but never the less I cried, "Cut it out!"
Mara:
At 3, again Mush and Jack came to lunch at Tibby's. We shared many laughs, and ended up making plans to meet after my shift and go to a theatre nearby. They were good friends with the owner and star, Medda. Later that night, Jack and Mush lounged on the bar while I swept up. Locking the door behind me, we set out for my first night of fun in America. I had expressed worry that I would not be able to understand their theatres because I did not speak the language well enough. Mush promised (more than once) to explain anything that went over my head, and also to help me learn the language more solidly. As we neared the theatre, the air was thick with conversation and smelled of cheap perfume. "Jack, I been noticin' Race and Righty spendin' lots of time together these past two days. Don't seem to want company even. Makes me kinda wonder. Does it you?" "It does, Mush. It does. It gives me a weird feeling-Righty isn't the kind to be anyone's girl. Too independent like. And she's not from Manhattan; she'll eventually have to go back and it'll break poor Race's heart." I, being bored with this conversation involving people that were not known to me, used this pause to change the subject. "Are we nearing the theatre?" Mush looks at me out of the corner of his eye. "I'd forgotten about you." "Many thanks, gracious American." Jack, amused by my comment, laughed. "Ouch, Mush! That outta teach you some manners, lousy bum!" Mush, overlooking his own blunder, asked me, "Do you have any family in America?" "No, I have not. My mother and father, with my six siblings and my goat are still in Greece." "Six brothers and sisters? Your poor mother. And did you say goat?" "Yes, my family keeps a goat for its milk. He is one of our family too." "You must miss it," Jack said. I looked into his eyes to see if he was kidding, but his face showed concern for me. "Yes, Jack, I do. Miss it with my whole being. Greece is my country. But people like you make times bearable, at least." "Bearable?!" Mush exploded. "I'm takin' you to the theatre, ain't I?!" I could not help grinning. "Yes, Mush. Thank you."