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The waiting area grew colder and emptier as dark fell, and he moved closer to the smoking stove by the clerk’s counter. Soon there would be nothing left to do but knock on church doors and seek lodging for the night. He brooded over other possible avenues but came up
The waiting area grew colder and emptier as dark fell, and he moved closer to the smoking stove by the clerk’s counter. Soon there would be nothing left to do but knock on church doors and seek lodging for the night. He brooded over other possible avenues but came up only with cold alleyways. Well, it was warmer by the stove at least, and he stretched out his legs toward the heat. He surprised himself suddenly with a twitch – he’d been asleep. He looked to the far corner and saw the clerk at the desk beckon at him. “You. Yeah, you.” He had been called. “Yes, sir.” Hands on thighs, optimism rising, he stood. “You been gere all day. Didn’t you sign in ? Don’t you realize we’re closed ?” He looked about and saw that the other benches sat vacant and the hall was empty but for himself and the clerk. The optimism dwindled away. The man was just kicking him out. “Sorry. Sorry. I’ll go.” “No – wait. Turns out you’re lucky. See, I only let you snore because of the rotten weather, but now it seems I’m lucky. You noticed the snow ? Well, someone at Street Cleaning only just looked out the window, and they sent a boy over here with an order for an overnight shoveling1 crew – just in time for closing. So what about it ? Shoveling snow for the city. You want the job ?” It took him a moment to follow. “Snow, a job, shoveling,” he repeated, and then he understood. “Ja, danke, danke,” he said. “Is that a yes ?” You better stop speaking Dutch and learn some English.” “Yes. Yes, sir.” “All right, good. You can start now and go till the regulars show up at six, see ? Anyway, you’ve had tour beauty sleep, and I think I can tell from looking that you ain’t got evening plans.” Beauty sleep ? the stableman wondered. Evening plans ? He wasn’t sure how he should respond. “Or don’t you want a night job ? You want I find some other lug2 ?” “A lug ? No... or, yes. I mean, yes, I’ll do it – and no, no one else.” “You’ll take the job.” “I’ll take it.” “Good. The thing of it is, you’re the only man left. You think you’re man enough to shovel the city alone ?”