Chapter 2

           AllduringthedayJimhadbeenrestive.HarryNilson,workingonalongreport,hadturnedonhimseveraltimesinexasperation."Look,"hesaidfinally,"youcangodowntothespotaloneifyouwant.There’snoreasonwhyyoucan’t.ButinanhourI’llgodownwithyou.I’vegottofinishthisthing."

           "IwonderifIoughttochangemyname,"saidJim."Iwonderifchangingyournamewouldhaveanyeffectonyou."

           Nilsonturnedbacktohisreport."Yougetsometoughassignmentsandgotojailenoughandchangeyournameafewtimes,andanamewon’tmeananymoretoyouthananumber."

           Jimstoodbythewindowandlookedout.Abrickwallwasopposite,boundingtheothersideofanarrowvacantlotbetweentwobuildings.Acrowdofboysplayedhandballagainstthebuilding.Theiryellscamefaintlythroughtheclosedwindow.

           "IusedtoplayinlotswhenIwasakid,"Jimsaid."Seemstomewefoughtmostofthetime.Iwonderifthekidsfightasmuchastheyusedto."

           Harrydidnotpauseinhiswriting."Suretheydo,"hesaid."Ilookoutandsee’emdownthere.Suretheyfight."

           "Iusedtohaveasister,"Jimwenton."Shecouldlicknearlyeverybodyinthelot.ShewasthebestmarbleshotIeversaw.Honest,Harry,I’veseenhersplitanagateattenfeet,withherknucklesdown,too."

           Harrylookedup."Ididn’tknowyouhadasister.Whathappenedtoher?"

           "Idon’tknow,"saidJim.