hat I

@@@@@ Of course you can always depend on the mines to shut down It's good for a week; there's hunting for jack rabbit and a ball game or two, but it loses its edgeThere's more time to be in the house, and it's all bedrooms except for the kitchenHis kid brothers are always making noises, and Alice is sullen as she nurses her bastardWhen he was working it was easier, but now he's with them all the time I'm getting out of this town, he says at last What? No, by God, no, his mother says(A short squat woman who has never lost her Swedish accent I can't take it any more, I'm gonna rot my life away, Eric's old enough to work in the mines if they ever open You're not going to tell me! he shoutsWhat the hell does a man get out of it, some food for his belly? Soon Eric works in the mines He slaps his cup against the saucerTo hell with that, get tied down with a marriageThe idea is not wholly unpleasant, and he rejects it furiously I'm getting out of here, I ain't gonna waste my life in back of a drill, waiting for a goddam tunnel to collapse on me His sister comes into the kitchenYou lousy kid, you're only eighteen, where do you talk of getting away? Stay out of this, he shouts I'm not going to stay out, it's my business more than ma'sThat's all you men are good for, you get us in trouble and then you skip outWell, you can't do it! she screams What's the matter? There'll always be some grub for ya Maybe I want to get out, maybe I'm sick to death of hanging around here without a man who'll marry me That was your lookoutYou're not going to stop me, goddammit You're just like that louse that skipped out on me, if there's anything that's worthless it's a man who won't stick around to face the mu