И проиграли бой

           Hesettledbackonhiscot."Aw,I’mlookingaheadtoomuch.Ourjob’sjusttopushalongourlittlebabystrike,ifwecan.ButGoddamnit,Jim,ifwecouldgettheNationalGuardcalledout,nowwiththecropscomingready,we’dhavethewholedistrictorganizedbyspring."

           Jimhadbeencrouchingonhisbed,hiseyesshiningandhisjawsset.Nowandthenhisfingerswentnervouslytohisthroat.Maccontinued,"Thedamnfoolsthinktheycansettlestrikeswithsoldiers."Helaughed."HereIgoagain—talkinglikeasoap-boxer.Igetallworkedup,andthat’snotsogood.Wegottothinkgood.Ohsay,Jim,haveyougotsomebluejeans?"

           "No.Thissuit’salltheclothesIown."

           "Well,we’llhavetogooutandbuyyousomeinasecond-handstore,then.You’regoingtopickapples,boy.Andyou’regoingtosleepinjungles.Andyou’regoingtodoPartyworkafteryou’vedonetenhoursintheorchard.Here’stheworkyouwanted."

           Jimsaid,"Thanks,Mac.Myoldmanalwayshadtofightalone.Hegotlickedeverytime."

           Maccameandstoodoverhim."Getthosethreelettersfinished,Jim,andthenwe’llgooutandbuyyousomejeans."