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Chapter 24
«Whynot?They’reprettynice,themschools.»
«Well,araggedykidwithnoshoes,an’themotherkidswithsockson,an’nicepants,an’thema-yellin’’Okie.’Myboywenttoschool.Hadafightever’day.Donegood,too.Toughlittlebastard.Ever’dayhegottofight.Comehomewithhisclothestorean’hisnosebloody.An’hisma’dwhalehim.Madeherstopthat.Noneedever’bodybeatin’thehelloutahim,poorlittlefella.Jesus!Hegivesomeathemkidsagoin’-over,though—themnice-pantssons-a-bitches.Idunno.Idunno.»
Pademanded,«Well,whatthehellamIgonnado?We’reoutamoney.Oneofmyboysgotashortjob,butthatwon’tfeedus.I’ma-gonnagoan’taketwentycents.Igotto.»
BlackHatraisedhishead,andhisbristledchinshowedinthelight,andhisstringyneckwherethewhiskerslayflatlikefur.«Yeah!»hesaidbitterly.«You’lldothat.An’I’matwo-bitman.You’lltakemyjobfortwentycents.An’thenI’llgithungryan’I’lltakemyjobbackforfifteen.Yeah!Yougorightonan’doher.»
«Well,whatthehellcanIdo?»Pademanded.«Ican’tstarveso’syoucangettwobits.»
BlackHatdippedhisheadagain,andhischinwentintotheshadow.«Idunno,"hesaid.«Ijes’dunno.It’sbadenoughtoworktwelvehoursadayan’comeoutjes’alittlebithungry,butwegottofigureallatime,too.Mykidain’tgettin’enoughtoeat.Ican’tthinkallthetime,goddamnit!Itdrivesamancrazy.»Thecircleofmenshiftedtheirfeetnervously.
