american tragedy

Chapter 73

Chapter 234
However, in this case, Clyde could not get much help.Because, apart from Ricky, Whigan, and a few mild-mannered, if rather distant, junior department heads, he had no one else to look for.Moreover, all these people now regard him as a person of high status, so it is inconvenient to get too close to him for any reason.As for the society people with whom he was now so zealously mingling, it was impossible for him to seek information from them, even in the most ingenious way.The young people in this circle lived the absurd lives that are inevitable for young people, which he or someone like him could not afford.His relationship with them was far from being intimate, and he would never think of asking them for any information.

As soon as he left Roberta, a safe thought occurred to him: Don't ask Lycurgus for advice from a grocer or a doctor or anyone, especially a doctor.He thinks all the doctors here, as elsewhere, are so callous, and, probably, charge high prices for such immorality, and have bad attitudes, and go to some nearby city, preferably Sri Lanka. Nakdast to go.Because the place there is relatively large and close, you can go there to find out what can be done to deal with this kind of situation.He had to figure out a way.

It must also be decided immediately.Therefore, on the way to Stark's house, without knowing what medicine to inquire about, he decided to go to Schnackdart tomorrow night.But then I thought about it, and in this way, a whole day passed before I could think of a way for Roberta.And any delay, both in her view and in his own, might make her more dangerous.Therefore, he decided to do it at once, find a reason to tell the Stark family, and take a bus to go there before the grocery store in Schnackdart closes.But once there, what to do? What will the grocery store owner think, what kind of air will he put on, what will he say.These troublesome thoughts made him very distressed.If only Ratterer or Hegglund were here! They must know, and they would be willing to help him.Even Higby is good.But now, he was all alone, because Roberta didn't understand anything at all.There was always a way, and if he couldn't get there, he'd come back and write to Rattler in Chicago.But in order not to involve himself in it as much as possible, it might as well be said that it was written for a friend.

As soon as he got to Shnakdat, since no one knew him there, he might as well say (the thought came to him, like an inspiration), that he was a newly married man, why couldn't he say that? Given his age, he could also be said to be newly married.It might as well be said that there is no strength to take care of the children at present, but his wife has passed the date and has not yet come (he remembered hearing Higby use such a word), and he hopes to buy something so that she can hide over this.What's wrong with such an idea? Embarrassing things like this can happen to young couples.Also, the grocer could, and should, have some sympathy for the situation, and be happy to tell him what to do.Why not? It's hardly a true crime.Of course, one person may not be willing, but the third person may be willing.That way, he can get away.From then on, until he knew better than now, he would never fall into this embarrassing situation again.Never! This is horrible!

He arrived at Stark's house with a disturbed, and increasingly disturbed, look on his face.He was very disturbed. He had just finished dinner, but at 09:30, he said that before he got off work, the factory asked him to make a very troublesome report, and he had to write down everything in the middle of a month.The job wasn't done in the factory, and he had to go home and get it out of the Stark house, which was a sign of business dynamism and ambition, and deserved their praise and sympathy.In this way, he took his leave.

But when he arrived in Schnackdart, just as he was about to look around, the last train to Lycurgus was about to leave.He panicked. Does he look like a married young man? People believe it or not? Besides, isn't this kind of contraceptive pill considered very improper? Isn't that what the grocery store owner thinks of it?

He walked up and down the long avenue that was still brightly lit, looking in the windows of this and that grocery store.But for various reasons, it was decided that Jiajia was not suitable.In one, he caught sight of a short, dumpy, dignified, clean-shaven man of about fifty, with spectacled eyes and brown-gray hair, Clyde At first glance, I felt that he would definitely reject a client like him, and would not believe that he was married, or would not say that he had this kind of medicine, and also suspected that he had some improper relationship with some young girl .He looked so dignified, so God-fearing, and so awe-inspiring, and reserved.No, it’s not okay to talk to him.He didn't have the courage to go in and find such a person.

In another grocery store, he saw a small, shriveled, well-groomed, sophisticated-looking man in his mid-thirties, who he thought was a good fit.However, he looked in from the front and saw a young woman in his twenties to 35 years old who was actively taking care of him.What if it was she who came to greet him instead of him, what should I do? It would be very embarrassing and absolutely impossible; otherwise, even if the man greeted him, wouldn't it be possible for her to hear it? In this way, he gave up this idea. family.Then the third, fourth, and fifth houses also gave up for various reasonable reasons-the customers inside, there was a girl, a boy, and a soda bottle at the door. The boss stood by the door, and he looked at him when he looked in. He didn't have time to think about whether he should go in, so he walked over apologetically and so on.

Later, now that he had given up so many homes, he decided that he had to ask, otherwise, he would fail and go back, and the car money and time were all wasted.He went back to a smaller grocery store in a side street, where he had just seen a small pharmacist idle, went in and said with a pretentious air: "I want to know One thing. I don't know if you have anything... Well, it's like this. I just got married, and my wife is not here after the date, but I don't have the strength to take care of the children now. If there is any way, there is something to call She knocked it off?"

He still looked fresh and confident, though he was also a little uneasy, and thought the grocer must think he was lying.In fact, he didn't know that the person who was talking to him was a devout believer who believed that this was the will of the Creator. "Because I don't believe it, but there may be other houses in the city that have this kind of stuff. I don't know for sure." He spoke seriously, with the tone and look of a moralist who believes in conviction. I am right.

Clyde immediately concluded that the man was vaguely blaming him, and he was right.The little confidence I had at the beginning of the inquiry was further diminished.But since the merchant didn't reproach him publicly, he even said that another grocer might have something like this.So, after a while, he picked up his energy again.He walked around for a while, looked in the windows of this house and that house for a while, and finally found that there was only one person in the seventh house.He went in, and after explaining as before, the dark, thin, smooth-talking man who greeted him—not the boss—told him mysteriously and casually that there was such a drug.Would he like to buy a box? Six dollars a box (for Clyde had asked for the price) was a formidable sum for a paycheck client.However, since this expenditure was inevitable, and he was so relieved to find it at last, he immediately said that he would buy it.

The guy gave it to him, hinting that it should be "effective", and wrapped it up by hand.When he paid and walked out, he really took a breath.Before this, he was too nervous.Now he was so happy he was jumping for joy.Ah, finally found the medicine, and of course it must be effective.Such an expensive price, even an outrageously expensive price, seems to be enough to prove this point.Besides, under the present situation, doesn't he think the price is quite cheap? Because, in this way, wouldn't he be able to get away easily? But he forgot to ask for other news that might be useful or special After all, this bag of things had already been put into his pocket, and some of the most important and calm aspects of his character were congratulating him on having such good luck in such an emergency.Congratulations to him for being so brave and sophisticated.He went back to Lycurgus at once, and when he got there he went to Roberta's.

Like him, she thought it was a great thing that he had finally got something that they both worried about not being able to find, or that they had but was not easy to find, so she was relieved.In fact, she was once again impressed by his competence; at least so far, she thought he had those qualities.I also feel that under such circumstances, his level of generosity and consideration is much better than what she feared.At least he didn't coldly leave her alone, as she thought he might have done when she was in such a panic.Although he was so cold in the past, this incident alone was enough to assuage her resentment towards him.She hoped so much for these pills that she happily opened the paper packet, read the instructions, and expressed her gratitude to him, and said that she would never forget how good he had been to her this time.But when she opened the paper package, she still had this thought, what if these pills don't work? What should I do? How should she discuss with Clyde how to deal with this situation? However, she She thought to herself that she must feel satisfied for the time being and must be grateful to him, so she immediately took a pill.

However, as soon as she expressed her gratitude, Clyde sensed that this might be a hint of a renewed intimacy between the two of them, and he resumed his attitude in the factory these days.In any case, he will never use that set of sweet talk or pretend affection again.If this medicine is as effective as he hoped for, then, except for very occasional and ordinary contacts in the future, this time must be the last time.Because the danger is too great.

Therefore, he reverted to his earlier attitude. "Well, you should be fine now, anyway, I hope so. It says to take one pill every two hours for a total of eight to ten hours. It says it's okay if a person is a little uncomfortable. You may have to Ask the factory for a day or two off, and if I don't see you in the factory tomorrow, I'll come back tomorrow night and see how things go."

He smiled gently.Roberta was staring at him, and it seemed to him that his present casual manner was very different from his earlier enthusiasm and depth of situation.His previous enthusiasm turned out to be like this now! However, in the current situation, she was still grateful and smiled sincerely.However, seeing him go out and close the door, without showing any kindness, she lay down on the bed again, shaking her head in confusion.What if the medicine didn't work at all? And he still had such a casual, distant attitude towards her.What should I do? Unless the medicine is effective, he may still be so cold and unwilling to help to the end, will he? Is he really going to be like this? He made her like this, and he forced her.He had also clearly assured her that nothing would go wrong.But now, she was lying here alone, worrying about things, and she couldn't ask anyone except him.But he just said that nothing would happen, so he left her and went to find someone else.And all of this is his fault! Is it supposed to be like this?

"Oh, Clyde! Clyde!"

(End of this chapter)