american tragedy

Chapter 5 (1)
Chapter 14 (1)
Because of the fact that his sister ran away, Clyde thought more deeply about his own affairs.So far, most of the things he has been able to do are odd jobs: every summer, helping the packer deliver cardboard; or, working in the basement for a small grocery store; Every Saturday, I help people unpack the goods.To earn such a generous salary of five dollars a week was almost a fortune in those days.He felt that he had made a fortune, so he went to see plays and movies now and then.His parents objected to watching these things, but he secretly watched them despite their parents' objections.He felt that since he spent his own money, he had the right to play, and he took his little brother Frank, who was naturally happy to go with him, so he was happy to say nothing.

In the second half of that year, he wanted to leave school because he had long felt that he could not keep up with others in his studies.So he found a job in a grocery store as an assistant to the soda clerk.The shop is next door to the theater, and the catering business is not bad.This happened to be the place he passed by on his way to school, so the "apprenticeship" billboard there caught his attention.Later, he talked with the young man who was going to take him as an assistant to learn business, and expressed that he was very willing to do this job.He had heard from this conversation that if he learned this trick he could make a lot of money, fifteen dollars a week, maybe even eighteen dollars.The one he approached offered only twelve dollars, which was the standard salary for a general store.

However, he was told at the time that it would take some time to learn this set of skills, and that he had to be enthusiastically taught by experts.Five dollars a week at first, if he likes it.Well, six dollars, then, because he put his face down.He will soon learn the art of mixing delicious drinks of all kinds, and of mixing ice creams of all kinds with syrups to make ice cream mixes.At the moment, all the apprentices do is scrub the cups and plates, wipe down the fittings and equipment of the catering department, and needless to say, open the shop every morning at 07:30, sweep it, and dust it off.The boss sent him there to deliver, and he had to deliver.His immediate boss is a gentleman named Seiblin, who is only 20 years old, well-dressed, confident, and talkative.If he was too busy with business, he might ask Clyde to make some minor drinks—lemonade, Coca-Cola, etc., depending on the needs of the business.

After discussing with his mother, he decided to continue this interesting errand. According to his guess, there is at least one advantage, that is, how much ice cream you need to eat and how much you don’t need to spend money. One step, this is exactly what he needs, and another point, the store requires him to work until twelve o'clock in the evening as compensation.A few hours of rest during the day did not seem to him to be a disadvantage.In this way, he can be away from home at night, and he can finally get rid of the ten o'clock night shift for children. You have to do business too.

Besides, the soda clerk used to get free tickets from the manager of the theater next door.The general store had a door leading directly to the theater lounge, and the attraction of the relationship was too great for Clyde.It would have been fun to work in a grocery store that had such a close relationship with the theater.

And now Clyde has found one of the biggest advantages, which makes him very happy, but sometimes it also makes him feel disappointed, that is: every time there is a matinee, before the show and after the show, there are always groups of girls coming here Come, some come alone, some come together, sitting in front of the counter, laughing and chatting, and combing hair in front of the mirror, putting on some rouge and lipstick, and dressing up.Although Clyde was still young and inexperienced in the world and the opposite sex, he couldn't get enough of these girls' beauty, their fierceness, and their self-satisfied and gentle and lovely air.For the first time in his life, he could be busily washing glasses, filling the ice cream and syrup containers, and arranging the lemonade and orangeade glasses on the trays, while watching the girls up close almost constantly.How wonderful they were! Most of them were well dressed and pretty, with rings and pins on their hats, fur neckers, and pretty shoes, and he used to overhear them talking about interesting things. .Tea parties, dances, banquets, plays I just saw, and places I plan to go to, or talk about the difference between this year's fashion and last year's fashion, and performances in this city or upcoming performances in this city The charm of actors and actresses, mainly about actors.These things have never been heard at home until now.

These beautiful girls were often accompanied by men in evening clothes, smart shirts, top hats, bow ties, sheepskin gloves, and patent leather shoes.This kind of attire, Clyde looked at that time, was really noble, handsome and gorgeous, and extremely comfortable.How nice it would be to be able to wear this kind of clothing so chicly and gracefully! How happy it would be to be able to calmly talk to the girls like these wealthy young men! That would be a real success.In his opinion at the time, unless he could have such a decent dress.Only then will there be beautiful girls to associate with him.These things are obviously necessary.As long as he can have these things and wear this kind of clothing one day, wouldn’t he be able to walk on the road to happiness smoothly? All the joys in the world will be displayed in front of him, with a friendly smile, maybe There was a sneaky handshake, and an arm around a girl's waist, and kisses, engagements, and then, and then . . .

It all came like a flash of revelation.All these years he'd been walking the streets with his parents, holding open-air prayers, or sitting in church, listening to the depressing things of strange, motley people about how Christ had saved them, How God has helped them, by now, he's ready to jump out of that circle.He has to work hard, save money, and become a decent person.This simple and idyllic psychology of ordinary people obviously has all the splendor and magic of metamorphosis, just like the lost, hungry and thirsty wretch in the desert who suddenly found a mirage.

However, after a while, it turned out that he also had some distress in this particular situation: although this kind of work can teach him how to make drinks and earn a steady twelve dollars a week, the hunger and ambition are not all at once. can be satisfied.Because the immediate boss, Albert Sebring, made up his mind to keep his own abilities as much as possible, and keep the most satisfactory work for himself.Moreover, he also had the same idea as the boss, thinking that in addition to helping him take care of the cold drink counter, Clyde should also be ordered by the boss to do various errands and miscellaneous things.This kept Clyde busy during all working hours.

In this way, Clyde couldn't make any development immediately.There was still no way he could dress better.To make matters worse, one thing was always on his mind, that is, he earned very little money, had very few friends, and was lonely from the moment he left home, which was not much better than being at home. .Esta's escape has put a damper on the family's missionary work, and since she never came back, the family, struggling to find other options, is considering packing up and moving to Denver, Colorado.But now Clyde had made up his mind not to go with them.He thought to himself, what good would it be? Going there would be nothing more than a way of preaching, which is not the same as here.

He had always lived at home, in the house behind the mission in the Rue Bickler, but he hated the place.His family has been in Kansas City since he was 11, but over the years he has been too shy to bring his little friends home or nearby.For this reason he always avoided children, and mostly walked and played alone, or with his brothers and sisters.

But he's sixteen now, pretty much on his own terms, should get out, but he doesn't make much money, not enough to live on if he's alone, and he doesn't have any great skills and skills Courage, you can't find anything better.

Later his parents talked about moving to Denver and that he might get a job there, but it never occurred to him that he would not want to.He revealed a little bit of meaning to them, saying that he had better not go, he said that because he likes here, there is no benefit in changing places, now that he has a job, maybe he will find better opportunities in the future.However, when his parents thought of what had happened to Esta and her, they were very worried, worrying whether it was appropriate for him to go on an adventure alone at such a young age.Where would he live if they were gone? With whom would he live? How would his life be affected, and who, like themselves, would be there to help him, guide him, and guide him in that straight line? How about moving forward on the narrow road of life? It is still worth considering.

But now that his family's move to Denver seemed to be getting closer by the day, it seemed more urgent to him.Meanwhile, Mr. Siebeling was soon fired from that grocer for being too courteous to women.Clyde meets a scrawny, cold new boss who doesn't seem to want him as an assistant.So he decided to resign, but not immediately, but to take the opportunity of going out to see if he could find something else to do.One day while he was looking around, it occurred to him that he might as well go to the cold drinks department of the largest grocery store in the city below a large hotel, a twelve-story building, and talk to the manager.In his opinion, this is a place of luxury and comfort.The windows there were always heavily hung with curtains.The gate (in which he had never dared to look in) was a canopy of glass.There is also a marble aisle.Palm trees line the sides.Such a match is very grand.He had often passed the hotel, fascinated by it with childish curiosity, but he did not know what life was like in such a place.There are always many taxis and self-owned cars parked at the gate.

(End of this chapter)