The Naked and the Dead - Norman Mailer [310]
In 1941, when he is eighteen, he sees Lefty Rizzo again at a ball game, and they sit down together. Lefty is putting on weight already, looks prosperous. With his mustache he looks eight years older than twenty-two.
Ay, Polack, what the hell you been doin' with yourself?
Play in' the percentages.
Lefty laughs. Still the same old Polack, boy, are you a card. Why the hell ain't ya been around to see me? I coulda fixed ya up with something.
Never got around to it, that's a fact. (But it is more than this. His code, never formulated, has been at work. When a pal has hit it, y' don't touch him unless he asks ya.)
Well, I can use ya.
Whah Novikoff, ya lousy Russian. Let's see ya hit somethin' besides air. Polack sits down after shouting, cocks his feet up on the seat in front of him. What was that ya said?
I can use ya.
Polack makes a face, purses his lips. Maybe we can do business, he says in dialect.
He buys a car, using for the down payment his savings from the first two months' work. He drives around at night after supper going to the candy stores and barbershops to collect the numbers receipts. When he is done he rides over to Lefty's house and drops the receipts and cash, goes back to the new furnished apartment he has rented for himself. For this he gets a hundred dollars a week.
One night something a little different occurs.
Hey, Al, how ya doin'? He stops at the cigar counter, picks out a two-for-35-cents brand. (Rolling it in his mouth) Whadeya say?
Al, a middle-aged man, comes out to him with a bag of change. Hey, Polack, there's a guy here wants his payoff. His number came in.
Polack shrugs. Why don' ya tell the lucky gentleman that Fred'll be around tomorrow with the money?
I told him, he don't believe me. There he is. (A thin seedy guy with a red pointed nose.)
What's the story, Jack? Polack says.
Now, listen, I don't want to make any trouble, mister, I ain't lookin' for a fight, but my number came through, I just want to get my money.
Well, now hold on, Jackson, let's take a breat'. He winks at the owner. You don' wanta be gettin' your balls in an uproar.
Listen, mister, all I want is the money. 572 it paid off, didn't it? Look here's the ticket. (A couple of kids who have come in for candy are watching, and Polack grasps him by the arm.)
Let's get in here and we'll talk it over. (He slams the door behind them.) Okay, ya won, Jack, and tomorrow the payoff comes. We got one guy to collect and one guy to pay off. It's a big outfit, Jackson, we got more than your ticket to worry about.
How do I know anybody's gonna come around?
How much ya put down?
Three cents.
You're gettin' twenty-one bucks, huh? Wha' do ya t'ink, you're gonna bankrupp us? He laughs. You'll get your money, Jack.
(The hand on his forearm.) I'd like it tonight, mister, I'm dying for a drink.
Polack sighs. Look, Jack, here's a buck. Tomorrow when ya get paid y' can give it to Fred.
The man takes it, stares at it dubiously. You're levelin' with me, mister.
Yeah, Jack, yeah. (He shrugs off the arm, goes out through the store to his car.) As he drives to the next place, he shakes his head. A deep contempt brews in him.
Small potatoes. Dumb bastard wins twenty-one bucks, an' he t'inks we're gonna stay up nights to get out o' payin' him. Jesus. It's a pretty small grifter who fugs around for twenty-one bucks.
Hello, Momma, how're ya doin', how's Casimir's sweetheart?
His mother stares suspiciously through the slit in the door, then opens it widely as she recognizes him.
I haven't seen you in a month, Son, she says in Polish.
Coupla weeks, a mont', what difference it make? I'm around, ain't I? Here's some candy for ya. (At the doubtful look on her face, he frowns.) Ain't ya got your teet' fixed yet?
She shrugs. I bought a little something else.
For Crisake, Ma, when the hell ya gonna do it?
I bought some material for dresses.
Mary again, huh?
An unmarried girl needs clothes.
Aaaah. (Mary has