Part 40 (1/2)
She nodded
”He ever say anything?”
”He was angry at first; then he calmed down He still didn't like it, but he said it could have been worse You could have been a Jew Coh was bitter ”Would you be surprised to learn that he knows more about my new job thanyou out of the way because you didn't think they should call the strike He also said if they hadn't gone out on strike they would have fired you outright, but they're afraid to rock the boat at this ti rid of you would upset too anized”
He shook his head ”Then they figured wrong I found out tonight that nobody really gives a da I said got twisted out of shape and thrown into the ru them down the river because of you”
'They have to know you better than that”
'I think Phil Murray does But I doubt if any of the others share the saoing to do?”
”I honestly don't know,” he said ”Murray wants htened out But Fm not sure that I can wait the way he wants I'”
”Why don't you talk to Uncle Tom?” she asked ”I know froht not like you”
He looked at her ”I can't do that I've been living on this side of the street so long there's no way I could cross over Besides, if I did, then everything they're saying about me would be true”
Sheyou on the rack like this”
He didn't say anything, just looked at her
”I know I said I would wait for you to call me,” she said ”But I couldn't I missed you too much Daniel, I want to stay here with you”
He took a deep breath ”I would like that too But it would onlyto do?”
”Wait,” he said ”The way Phil Murray told s will be better”
”What if you can't wait the way he wants and decide to go away?” she asked
”I'll o away, I'll take you with me”
He saw the tears jump into her eyes and pulled her to hi her cheek
”I' happy” She looked up into his face ”You do love et personal” ''Just a little?” she asked in a s her on the mouth ”A lot”
He looked down at the calendar on his desk Friday, May 28, 1937 The teeks just past had dragged interminably He had waited for the call that never came Despite Murray's pro excite in the office around hi made for the Memorial Day demonstration, but no one spoke to him or included him in the conversations about it He found out ress of the strike frolanced at his watch It was after five thirty
He opened the door of his office and looked out The big outer office was empty He closed the door and went back to his desk He reached for the telephone and placed a call to Phil Murray in Washi+ngton Mr Murray had gone to Pittsburgh and would not be back in the office until Monday He tried Murray's hoh, but there was no answer
He took the bottle of whiskey from his desk It was almost empty He held the bottle to his lass Again he stared down at the calendar Murray had asked him to wait until the end of the month For all intents and purposes, this was the end of the h his mind
Monday was the thirty-first Could it be that they were keeping him here, safely out of the way, until after the demonstrations on Sunday? That what Girdler had told Chris was right? They were afraid that he ht rock the boat?
He wondered ould happen on Monday Would Murray call and tell hi out? Or would they then feel he was safe enough to give him a real job? Either way, it didn't matter now He spread his hands flat on the desk top and stared at the showed in his hands They were still the saman's hands Not the hands of a man supposed to think or feel And that was all he had ever been Working hands Moved and directed by so wave of anger rose inside him He clenched his hands into fists and sh his arms He held his fists up to his face and stared at theh the broken skin Slowly he unclenched the, it was tio
Time for him to leave, ti on in his own head He had begun to open the desk drahen a knock cairl's voice
He went to the door and opened it Nancy stood there, a wide-eyed look on her face, ''Yes?” he asked gruffly
''I ca from my desk,” she said quickly 'Then I heard a crash froht?”
He nodded slowly ”I'o, then I'ht, Nancy,” he said ”Thank you for your concern”
She turned to leave He stopped her ”Nancy”
She turned back ”Yes, Mr Huggins?”
”Would you have ti? I have a date tonight and have to get ho,” he said ''But it's very iet my steno book” He watched her walk toward her desk, then went back to his own desk and began to e to be a very different life for you You can still change youryou off that easily” She took another sip ''This whiskey really is not that bad”
He laughed
''Did you speak to Mrs Torgersen?” she asked
”Yes She's already moved into the baby's room so we can have the other bedroo withtime,” she said ”How's the baby?”
A note of pride caer Gained alh the night”
”Anxious to see him?”
He looked at her, then nodded ”Yes Funny, I never thought of myself as a father But when I held him and looked down at hioing to Uve forever”
She held her glass toward him ”FU take a little bit lass ”What's it like outside?”