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come, pick me up." He slumped, de- "OK, we'll try. You mop the floor
feated by his adventure. over there between the booths and the
counter. Pick up the chairs and put them
"I don't want you to be in trouble. on the table first."
Is there something else we can da?"
"Do I clean the ashtrays first?"
"N ... no. They'll pick me up. It's "Well, I'll be. Yes, you do. I forgot
better for them to do that." that part. I think you're going to do just
fine. (orne on. I'll introduce you to Beth
"Do you have the phone number, and we'll get the mop and bucket."
on an ID card or something?" Beth eyed them suspiciously, but
was all for a little extra help and the
He looked up again. His open face possibility of leaving early.
sadder now, and a little scared. He
shook his head no. Mark did the ashtrays and the
floors like he did everything else: one
"I can look it up. What's your movement at a time. But he was careful
name, so I can tell them you're here?" and thorough. When the floors were
done, they both went to help Beth in the
"Just t ... tell them Mark. They'll kitchen.
know."
Mark went straight to the dish-
Mark was still looking out the win- washing tubs.
dow when she returned.
"This is my favorite. c. .. can I do
"The van is out looking for you
now. As soon as it gets back, they'll this?"
send it over. It might be awhile, will
you be OK? I have to clean this place Mary and Beth smiled at each other
up." and told Mark to go ahead.
"(leon? I clean. (an I help?" About twenty minutes later there
"(an you help? No, you don't have was a knock on the kitchen door. Mark
to do that." was nearest and, careful not to open the
door to a stranger, called out, "Who's
"That's my job. They get us jobs in there?"
the day. I clean, wash dishes, floors. I
do a good job." It was Kevin Billings, Mark's job
coach. Mary opened the door, dreading
His sudden enthusiasm took her by some form of bureaucratic nonsense or
surprise. even policemen to come in.
Keeping him DUSY-where / con Kevin laughed out loud when he
wotch him is not 0 Dod ideo, she saw Mark with his sleeves rolled up,
thought. "You know how to be careful, wearing an apron with a dish in one
to not hurt yourself? You can help, if hand and a sponge in the other.
you're careful."
"I've been trained. Kevin told me,
I do a ... good job."
10 Contrast 2005
