A Thousand and One Afternoons in Chicago — John Shaqi
A Thousand and One Afternoons in ChicagoHecht, Ben
General
A Thousand and One Afternoons in Chicago
Hecht, Ben
Chicago (Ill.) -- Literary collections; Hecht, Ben, 1893-1964 -- Homes and haunts -- Illinois -- Chicago
He returns to the employment office and raises his eyes to the bulletin
boards. He reads slowly, his large lips moving as they form words. In
another day or another week he will be riding somewhere, his dull eyes
gazing out of the train window. They will call him Ole or Pat or Jim in
some camp in the Dakotas or along some roadbed in Montana. He will stand
with a puny pick handle in his huge hands and his arms will rise and fall
mechanically as he hews away along a deserted track. And his forehead will
still be puckered in a frown of bewilderment. The thing held in his fists
will seem like a strange toy.
"Farm laborers in Kansas," says the bulletin board as the clerk with his
piece of chalk re-enters the office. The Mexican slowly removes himself
from the window and the contemplation of memories. Kansas lies to the
south and to the south is the way home. He goes in and talks to the man
behind the long desk.
An hour later the clerk and his piece of chalk emerge. The exiles are
still mooching around on the pavement and the shuffling one stands on the
curb staring dully at the street under him.
"Section hands, Alberta, Canada, transportation," says the new bulletin.
There is no stir among the exiles. This is to the north. It is still cold
in the north. But the shuffling one has turned. His eyes again trace the
crudely chalked letters of the bulletin board. His lips move as he tells
himself what is written.
And then as if unconsciously he moves toward the door. Alberta is to the
north and the voices that lie buried deep under the giant's mackinaw
whisper darkly that to the north--to the north is the way home.
THE PIG
"Sofie Popapovitch versus Anton Popapovitch," cries the clerk. A number of
broken-hearted matrons awaiting their turn before the bar of justice in
the Domestic Relations Court find time to giggle at the name Popapovitch.
"Silence," cries the clerk. Very well, silence. Anton steps out. What's
the matter with Anton? An indignant face, its chin raised, its eyes
marching defiantly to the bar of justice. Sofie too, but weeping. And a
lawyer, Sofie's lawyer.
Well, what's up? Why should the Popapovitches take up valuable time. Think
of the taxpayers supporting this court and two Popapovitches marching up
to have an argument on the taxpayers' money. Well, that's civilization.
Ah, ah! It appears that Anton, the rogue, went to a grand ball and raffle
given by his lodge. What's wrong with that? Why must Sofie weep over that?
Women are incredible. He went to the grand ball with his wife, as a man
should. A very fine citizen, Anton. He belongs to a lodge that gives grand
balls and he takes his wife.
Go on, says the judge, what happened? What's the complaint? Time is
precious. Let's have it in a nutshell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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