“You’re a great wit, Coker,” Ben said, scowling. “You’re as funny as a crutch.” He straightened his humped shoulders self-consciously, and filled his lungs with air.
“Well, what about it?” he asked, with a nervous grin. “Am I fit to go?”
“Let’s see,” said Coker deliberately, beginning to look him over. “Feet—pigeon-toed, but good arch.” He looked at Ben’s tan leathers closely.
“What’s the matter, Coker?” said Ben. “Do you need your toes to shoot a gun with?”
“How’re your teeth, son?”
Ben drew back his thin lips and showed two rows of hard white grinders. At the same moment, casually, swiftly, Coker prodded him with a strong yellow finger in the solar plexus. His distended chest collapsed; he bent over, laughing, and coughed dryly. Coker turned away to his desk and picked up his cigar.
“What’s the matter, Coker?” said Ben. “What’s the idea?”
“That’s all, son. I’m through with you,” said Coker.
“Well, what about it?” said Ben nervously.
“What about what?”
“Am I all right?”
“Certainly you’re all right,” said Coker. He turned with burning match. “Who said you weren’t all right?”
Ben stared at him, scowling, with fear-bright eyes.
“Quit your kidding, Coker,” he said. “I’m three times seven, you know. Am I fit to go?”
“What’s the rush?” said Coker. “The war’s not over yet. We may get into it before long. Why not wait a bit?”
“That means I’m not fit,” said Ben. “What’s the matter with me, Coker?”
“Nothing,” said Coker carefully. “You’re a bit thin. A little run down, aren’t you, Ben? You need a little meat on those bones, son. You can’t sit on a stool at the Greasy Spoon, with a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, and get fat.”
“Am I all right or not, Coker?”
Coker’s long death’s-head widened in a yellow grin.
“Yes,” he said. “You’re all right, Ben. You’re one of the most all right people I know.”
Ben read the true answer in Coker’s veined and weary eyes. His own were sick with fear. But he said bitingly:
“Thanks, Coker. You’re a lot of help. I appreciate what you’ve done a lot. As a doctor, you’re a fine first baseman.”
Coker grinned. Ben left the office.
As he went out on the street he met Harry Tugman going down to the paper office.
“What’s the matter, Ben?” said Harry Tugman. “Feeling sick?”
“Yes,” said Ben, scowling at him. “I’ve just had a shot of 606.”
He went up the street to meet Mrs. Pert.
XXVI
In the autumn, at the beginning of his fifteenth year—his last year at Leonard’s—Eugene went to Charleston on a short excursion. He found a substitute for his paper route.
“Come on!” said Max Isaacs, whom he still occasionally saw. “We’re going to have a good time, son.”
“Yeah, man!” said Malvin Bowden, whose mother was conducting the tour. “You can still git beer in Charleston,” he added with a dissipated leer.
“You can go swimmin’ in the ocean at the Isle of Palms,” said Max Isaacs. Then, reverently, he added: “You can go to the Navy Yard an’ see the ships.”
He was waiting until he should be old enough to join the navy. He read the posters greedily. He knew all the navy men at the enlistment office. He had read all the booklets—he was deep in naval lore. He knew to a dollar the earnings of firemen, second class, of radio men, and of all kinds of C.P.O.’s.
His father was a plumber. He did not want to be a plumber. He wanted to join the navy and see the world. In the navy, a man was given good pay and a good education. He learned a trade. He got good food and good clothing. It was all given to him free, for nothing.
“H’m!” said Eliza, with a bantering smile. “Why, say, boy, what do you want to do that for? You’re my baby!”
It had been years since he was. She smiled tremulously.
“Yes’m,” said Eugene. “Can I go? It’s only for five days. I’ve got the money.” He thrust his hand into his pocket, feeling.
“I tell you what!” said Eliza, working her lips, smiling. “You may wish you had that money before this winter’s over. You’re going to need new shoes and a warm overcoat when the cold weather comes. You must be mighty rich. I wish I could afford to go running off on a trip like that.”
“Oh, my God!” said Ben, with a short laugh. He tossed his cigarette into one of the first fires of the year.
“I want to tell you, son,” said Eliza, becoming grave, “you’ve got to learn the value of a dollar or you’ll never have a roof to call your own. I want you to have a good time, boy, but you musn’t squander your money.”
“Yes’m,” said Eugene.
“For heaven’s sake!” Ben cried. “It’s the kid’s own money. Let him do what he likes with it. If he wants to throw it out the damned window, it’s his own business.”
She clasped her hands thoughtfully upon her waist and stared away, pursing her lips.
“Well, I reckon it’ll be all right,” she said. “Mrs. Bowden will take good care of you.”
It was his first journey to a strange place alone. Eliza packed an old valise carefully, and stowed away a box of sandwiches and eggs. He went away at night. As he
