Page 33 - Contrast1958Springv2n2

do lowe you?"
"Just one hill," the tallest one replied. "Those things ain't too

expensive."
I slid two dollars into his hand. Grinning widely, his voice was

replete with gratitude.
"Gee, man, thanks a lot."
His face showed that he felt incapable of expressing himself fur-

ther.
Driving past the boys, who had now resumed their positions be-

neath the street light, I felt an overwhelming shame at my original
hostility and fear toward these surroundings. I'd better go back home-
don't trust this car to get me all the way across town. Passing through
the alley into which the boys had previously disappeared, I noticed
a car simillar to mine with the hood raised. No one was in sight.

"Huh, looks like somebody else had car trouble tonight."

THE OLD MAN

"What's the trouble sir?
Why do you stagger so?"
"Nothin's wrong with me,
Just gettin' old you know.
Can't seem to work any more,
Too old: they say to me.
I told them I'd worked before,
But they'll have no part of me.
Man, I've worked for forty years,
Without a day off sick.
An' yet I'm standin' here,
They laid me off so quick.
I was up for retirement soon,
Was gonna go to Florida to live.
But here I'll stand 'til noon,
Waitin' for any job they'll give.
Look at the rest of the guys,
They're in trouble too.
Oh well, soon I'm gonna die,
I'm almost sixty-two."

ALLEN WORTZ

31