american tragedy

Chapter 7

Chapter 15
All this made Clyde like a runaway horse, dreaming wildly.His ideas of a life of luxury were mainly extreme, false, eccentric fantasies.This hungry heart has always had no other way but to satisfy its hunger by fantasies.

He went back to the grocery store and did his old job as usual.After get off work he went home to eat and sleep, but before Monday afternoon he walked with dignity.No matter what you do, you are always absent-minded.The boss at the grocery store reminded him several times to "wake up".After get off work, he didn't go home directly, but walked north to the intersection of No. 14th Street and Baltimore Street where the big hotel was located, looking at the building.At each of the three gates there stood a gatekeeper in a long maroon coat with many buttons.Inside, it was still brightly lit, and the diner and American-style wine room in the basement around one corner were still open.

After carefully looking at the restaurant, he came here according to Mr. Squires' instructions.He was almost forgotten.But help was needed, and I thought Clyde might be able to do it, so I took him into the little office under the stairs, and began to ask him where he was from and where he lived, and what he had done, with a superior air and an air of indifference. things, where he worked, and what his father did for a living.This was a problem for Clyde, for he had pride and was afraid to say that his parents ran the missions and preached in the streets.So he changed the story by saying that his father touted (which was sometimes true) for a washing machine and clothes-winch company, and preached on Sundays.His mention of this religious matter did not offend the foreman in the slightest, for he was a deeply family-minded and conservative man.He asked Clyde if he could get a certificate of service from the old shop.Clyde said yes.

Mr. Squires then explained to him that the rules of this restaurant are very strict. In the past, many young men saw the ostentation here and were exposed to the extravagant life that they were not used to (although Mr. Squires did not use these words), He lost his mind and went astray.Those waiters who don't know how to love themselves after earning a little money, he often has to fire them as a last resort.The waiters under him must be obedient, know the rules, act quickly, and be polite to everyone.They must pay attention to their appearance and clothing, keep them neat and tidy, go to work on time, and must not be vague at all. They must cheer up and do their jobs well every day.Any waiter who thinks he's earning a little money can flirt with someone, or talk back, or go out dancing at night so that he can't get to work on time the next day, or is listless, can't get up quickly, and doesn't have a happy face, Then he can't stay here long.This kind of person is going to be fired, and soon.Mr. Squires will not tolerate casual nonsense.This must be explained clearly at the beginning and always remembered.

Clyde kept nodding his assent, and added eagerly "Yes, sir," and "No, sir," finally assuring him that he would never do what Mr. Squires had just said. those extremely evil and outrageous acts.He also said that such restless thoughts were far apart from his thoughts and temperament.Then Mr. Squires said that the restaurant's rules, at any time, only pay each service employee fifteen dollars a month, and also provide meals at the table for the servants in the basement.But no matter which waiter, as long as he does something for the guest, carry the purse, bring a pot of water, or do something else, the guest will give him a tip, and it is often very generous, maybe a dime, Maybe fifteen cents or twenty-five cents, sometimes more.For Clyde, this news was really an astonishing and happy event.

According to Mr. Squires, these tips add up to an average of about four to six dollars a day, no less, and sometimes more.Only now did Clyde understand that this kind of progress was really amazing.When he heard that there was so much money, his heart skipped a beat, and he could hardly believe it was true.Moreover, there is still a salary of fifteen dollars a month, and food is also provided.Mr. Squires also said that the beautiful uniforms worn by the waiters did not cost money.However, uniforms cannot be worn outside, nor are they allowed to be taken outside.Mr. Squires went on to say that his working hours were like this, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from six o'clock in the morning to noon, and then he had a six-hour break, and then worked from six o'clock in the afternoon to midnight.On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, he only needs to work from noon to six in the afternoon, so that he can have an afternoon or evening at his own disposal every day.However, meals are always outside working hours.Every time 10 minutes before the scheduled working time, you have to put on your uniform, line up on time, and wait for the foreman to check.

As for the few other things Mr. Squires was thinking about, he didn't say anything.He knew that was exactly what someone would say for him.He didn't mention it, just went on, "I think you'd like to go to work now, don't you?" .

He replied, "Yes, sir, yes, sir."

"Excellent!" Then he stood up and opened the door that had been closed when they had entered. "Oscar!" He called out to the waiter in front of him on the stool the waiter was sitting on, and immediately a tall, slightly fat young man in a tight and neat uniform responded quickly. "Take this lad, your name is Clyde Griffiths, eh? Take him to the dress room on the twelfth floor, and see if Jacob can find him a uniform that fits him. If If you can’t find it, ask him to change it tomorrow. I think it’s about the same as what Sylsby wore.”

Then he turned back to the person in front of the desk looking at him, "Anyway, I'll let you try it first." "Ask a guy to teach him tonight, or teach him when he goes to work He's fine too. Go, Oscar." He ordered the waiter leading Clyde.When Clyde and Oscar went to the elevator and disappeared, he went on to say to his assistant: "He is still an amateur in this field, but I think he is okay." He wrote down Clyde's name. On the payroll, just walk away.

Meanwhile Clyde, under the tutelage of his new mentor, was listening to a mass of teachings he had never heard before.

"If you've never done anything like this, don't be afraid," began the young man.Clyde later found out that his surname was Hegglund, and he was from Jersey City, New Jersey. He always spoke with a foreign accent and gestured gesticulatingly.He was a tall, vigorous man, with sandy hair, a yellow spot on his face, and a good-natured, articulate man.They entered the elevator marked Employees and Servants Only. "It's not hard at all. I didn't know a damn thing about this kind of thing before I first started doing it in Faro three years ago. You just have to watch what other people do, you know?" You get it, don't you?"

Clyde was much more educated than the people who taught him. He heard him say "what" and "don't understand fart", and "other" and "Langer" and so on.I am very disapproving.At such times, however, he was so grateful for any kindness shown to him, that he could forgive him for anything, for the sake of the earnestness of the man who had kindly advised him.

"No matter what that person does, you have to watch carefully first, understand, it counts only when you learn it, understand. That's it. When the bell rings, if you sit in front of the stool, it's your turn, understand? You Jump up right away, hurry over. People here like you to be quick, you know. No matter what time you see someone coming in with a purse, or coming out of the elevator, if you happen to be sitting in front of the stool, hurry up Get up, whether the foreman rings the bell, or calls 'someone', sometimes he is too busy or not paying attention, you have to do it automatically, you know, be careful, because you can't get the bag , you won’t get a tip, understand. No matter what, as long as you have a purse, or something else, we have to go and get it for him, unless they don’t let you take it, understand.”

"But if someone comes in, you have to stand by the desk and wait until the room is booked," he kept talking as they rode the elevator. "Almost everyone has to book a room. The manager will give you a key, then you just need to turn on the lights in the bathroom and toilet (if there is such a device), let people know where they are, understand Right. If it’s during the day, you roll up the curtains and put them down at night, and check to see if there are any towels in the room. If not, tell the maid. If they don’t give you a tip at this time, you have to leave Yes, but usually not a problem, unless you meet a miser, then you just have to wait a while, make an excuse, understand, touch the key to open the door on purpose, or push the transom on the door, understand .That way, as long as people know what they're doing, they'll give you a tip. If they don't, then you're out of luck, that's all, see. Get back on the stool, fast. There's no trick to it, It's just that you have to be fast at any time, you know. Come and go, don't let people chase you, this is the most important thing."

"They gave you a uniform. After you go to work, don't forget to give the foreman one dollar each time before you leave. You know, two dollars for two shifts a day, and one dollar for one shift, understand? It’s the rule here. We work together here, that’s how it is, you have to do it if you want to keep your job. But that’s the only filial piety, except for this, the rest of the money belongs to you.”

Clyde understood.

He thought to himself that some of his twenty-four or thirty-two dollars must be given to others, but that's nothing! Isn't there still twelve to fifteen dollars left, or even more? And there are meals and uniforms. Oh, good heavens! This is heaven! It's the richest.

Hegglund the Jersey man accompanied him up to the twelfth floor and into a room where a wizened little old man with gray hair was on duty.He immediately produced a suit of suits that fitted Clyde well.Clyde tried on a few more hats, and one fit nicely, and it fell over one ear, so pretty, but Hegglund said, "You'll have to cut your hair, it's too long." Ryder had already figured it out.With the new hat on, his hair certainly wasn't in great shape.Having tried on the uniform, he went downstairs to report to Mr. Whipple, Mr. Squires' assistant, who said, "Very well, the uniform fits you well, so you start at six. Five-thirty." Report, uniform at 45:[-]. Come here for inspection."

At this time, Hegglund ordered him to take off his uniform and take it to the locker room in the basement, and asked the administrator for a locker.Clyde complied.Then he walked out in a hurry, cut his hair first, and then hurried home to report the good news.

He's going to be a waiter at the Green Davidson Hotel soon.He's going to put on his uniform.He still can't say how much he will earn.So he didn't tell his mother the truth at first, but he estimated that it was always more than eleven or twelve dollars at the beginning.Because now it suddenly occurred to him that he would be financially independent soon. Although he could not support his family yet, he was finally able to make a living.If he told the actual amount of wages, the family would ask him for money, and he didn't want to make this trouble.But he won't eat at home anymore, which is exactly what he wishes for.Besides, he was going to spend a lot of time in this hotel, running around, and if he didn't want to go home early, he didn't have to go back before twelve o'clock at night, he could still wear good clothes, and maybe he could hand in some interesting things. friend.My fellow, that was such a joy!

Now he can do some chores, and a clever and wonderful idea came to his mind: and he would not have to go home at night, he could live in a lively place in the city; Want to see, how beautiful!

Just thinking about it filled him with astonishment, almost ecstasy.He had to see how much benefit he could get in this mystical paradise.

(End of this chapter)