,P>T #a1 ,*APT] #e 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALB]T ,CAMUS 

,TEXT 3 

,V 

,R,A,Y,M,O,N,D RANG ME UP AT ! (FICE4 ,HE SAID ?AT A FRI5D ( HIS -- TO :OM HE'D 
SPOK5 AB\T ME -- 9VIT$ ME TO SP5D NEXT ,SUNDAY AT HIS LITTLE SEASIDE BUNGAL[ 
JU/ \TSIDE ,ALGI]S4 ,I TOLD HIM ,I'D HAVE BE5 DELI<T$2 ONLY ,I HAD PROMIS$ TO SP5D 
,SUNDAY ) A GIRL4 ,RAYMOND PROMPTLY REPLI$ ?AT %E C\LD COME1 TOO4 ,9 FACT1 HIS 
FRI5D'S WIFE W\LD BE V]Y PLEAS$ NOT TO BE ! ONLY WOMAN 9 A P>TY ( M54 

,I'D HAVE LIK$ TO HANG UP AT ONCE1 AS MY EMPLOY] DOESN'T APPROVE ( MY US+ ! 
(FICE PHONE = PRIVATE CALLS4 ,BUT ,RAYMOND ASK$ ME TO HOLD ON2 HE HAD SOME?+ 
ELSE TO TELL ME1 & ?AT WAS :Y HE'D RUNG ME UP1 ?\< HE C\LD HAVE WAIT$ TILL 
! EV5+ TO PASS ON ! 9VITATION4 

0,IT'S LIKE ?IS10 HE SAID4 0,I'VE BE5 %AD[$ ALL ! MORN+ BY SOME ,>ABS4 ,ONE 
( !M'S ! BRO!R ( ?AT GIRL ,I HAD ! R[ )4 ,IF Y\ SEE HIM HANG+ R\ND ! 
H\SE :5 Y\ COME BACK1 PASS ME ! WORD40 

,I PROMIS$ TO DO SO4 

,JU/ !N MY EMPLOY] S5T = ME4 ,= A MOM5T ,I FELT UNEASY1 AS ,I EXPECT$ HE 
WAS GO+ TO TELL ME TO /ICK TO MY WORK & NOT WA/E TIME *ATT]+ ) FRI5DS 
OV] ! PHONE4 ,H[EV]1 IT WAS NO?+ ( ! K9D4 ,HE WANT$ TO DISCUSS A PROJECT 
HE HAD 9 VIEW1 ?\< SO F> HE'D COME TO NO DECISION4 ,IT WAS TO OP5 A BRAN* AT 
,P>IS1 SO AS TO BE ABLE TO DEAL ) ! BIG COMPANIES ON ! SPOT1 )\T PO/AL 
DELAYS1 & HE WANT$ TO KN[ IF ,I'D LIKE A PO/ !RE4 

0,Y\'RE A Y\NG MAN10 HE SAID1 0& ,I'M PRETTY SURE Y\'D 5JOY LIV+ 9 ,P>IS4 
,&1 ( C\RSE1 Y\ C\LD TRAVEL AB\T ,FRANCE = SOME MON?S 9 ! YE>40 

,I TOLD HIM ,I WAS QUITE PREP>$ TO GO2 BUT REALLY ,I DIDN'T C>E MU* ONE WAY OR ! 
O!R4 

,HE !N ASK$ IF A 0*ANGE ( LIFE10 AS HE CALL$ IT1 DIDN'T APPEAL TO ME1 & ,I 
ANSW]$ ?AT ONE NEV] *ANG$ HIS WAY ( LIFE2 ONE LIFE WAS AS GOOD AS ANO!R1 & 
MY PRES5T ONE SUIT$ ME QUITE WELL4 

,AT ?IS HE LOOK$ RA!R HURT1 & TOLD ME ?AT ,I ALWAYS %ILLY-%ALLI$1 & ?AT ,I 
LACK$ AMBITION -- A GRAVE DEFECT1 TO HIS M9D1 :5 ONE WAS 9 BUS9ESS4 

,I RETURN$ TO MY WORK4 ,I'D HAVE PREF]R$ NOT TO VEX HIM1 BUT ,I SAW NO REASON = 
0*ANG+ MY LIFE40 ,BY & L>GE IT WASN'T AN UNPLEASANT ONE4 ,AS A /UD5T ,I'D HAD 
PL5TY ( AMBITION ( ! K9D HE MEANT4 ,BUT1 :5 ,I HAD TO DROP MY /UDIES1 ,I V]Y 
SOON REALIZ$ ALL ?AT WAS PRETTY FUTILE4 

,M>IE CAME ?AT EV5+ & ASK$ ME IF ,I'D M>RY H]4 ,I SAID ,I DIDN'T M9D2 IF %E 
WAS KE5 ON IT1 WE'D GET M>RI$4 

,!N %E ASK$ ME AGA9 IF ,I LOV$ H]4 ,I REPLI$1 MU* AS BE=E1 ?AT H] QUE/ION 
MEANT NO?+ OR NEXT TO NO?+ -- BUT ,I SUPPOS$ ,I DIDN'T4 

0,IF ?AT'S H[ Y\ FEEL10 %E SAID1 0:Y M>RY ME80 

,I EXPLA9$ ?AT IT HAD NO IMPORTANCE REALLY1 BUT1 IF IT W\LD GIVE H] PLEASURE1 WE 
C\LD GET M>RI$ RI<T AWAY4 ,I PO9T$ \T ?AT1 ANYH[1 ! SUGGE/ION CAME FROM 
H]2 AS = ME1 ,I'D M]ELY SAID1 0,YES40 

,!N %E REM>K$ ?AT M>RIAGE WAS A S]I\S MATT]4 

,TO :I* ,I ANSW]$3 0,NO40 

,%E KEPT SIL5T AFT] ?AT1 />+ AT ME 9 A CURI\S WAY4 ,!N %E ASK$3 

0,SUPPOSE ANO!R GIRL HAD ASK$ Y\ TO M>RY H] -- ,I MEAN1 A GIRL Y\ LIK$ 9 ! 
SAME WAY AS Y\ LIKE ME -- W\LD Y\ HAVE SAID ',YES' TO H]1 TOO80 

0,NATURALLY40 

,!N %E SAID %E WOND]$ IF %E REALLY LOV$ ME OR NOT4 ,I1 ( C\RSE1 C\LDN'T 
5LI<T5 H] AS TO ?AT4 ,&1 AFT] ANO!R SIL5CE1 %E MURMUR$ SOME?+ AB\T 
MY BE+ 0A QUE] FELL[40 0,& ,I D>ESAY ?AT'S :Y ,I LOVE Y\10 %E ADD$4 0,BUT 
MAYBE ?AT'S :Y ONE DAY ,I'LL COME TO HATE Y\40 

,TO :I* ,I HAD NO?+ TO SAY1 SO ,I SAID NO?+4 

,%E ?\<T = A BIT1 !N />T$ SMIL+ &1 TAK+ MY >M1 REPEAT$ ?AT %E 
WAS 9 E>NE/2 %E REALLY WANT$ TO M>RY ME4 

0,ALL RI<T10 ,I ANSW]$4 0,WE'LL GET M>RI$ :5EV] Y\ LIKE40 ,I !N M5TION$ 
! PROPOSAL MADE BY MY EMPLOY]1 & ,M>IE SAID %E'D LOVE TO GO TO ,P>IS4 

,:5 ,I TOLD H] ,I'D LIV$ 9 ,P>IS = A :ILE1 %E ASK$ ME :AT IT WAS LIKE4 

0,A D+Y SORT ( T[N1 TO MY M9D4 ,MASSES ( PIGEONS & D>K C\RTY>DS4 ,& 
! PEOPLE HAVE WA%$-\T1 :ITE FACES40 

,!N WE W5T = A WALK ALL ! WAY ACROSS ! T[N BY ! MA9 /REETS4 ,! 
WOM5 W]E GOOD-LOOK]S1 & ,I ASK$ ,M>IE IF %E1 TOO1 NOTIC$ ?IS4 ,%E SAID1 
0,YES10 & ?AT %E SAW :AT ,I MEANT4 ,AFT] ?AT WE SAID NO?+ = SOME M9UTES4 
,H[EV]1 AS ,I DIDN'T WANT H] TO LEAVE ME1 ,I SUGGE/$ WE %\LD D9E TOGE!R AT 
,CELE/E'S4 ,%E'D HAVE LOV$ TO D9E ) ME1 %E SAID1 ONLY %E WAS BOOK$ UP = 
! EV5+4 ,WE W]E NE> MY PLACE1 & ,I SAID1 0,AU REVOIR1 !N40 

,%E LOOK$ ME 9 ! EYES4 

0,DON'T Y\ WANT TO KN[ :AT ,I'M DO+ ?IS EV5+80 

,I DID WANT TO KN[1 BUT ,I HADN'T ?\<T ( ASK+ H]1 & ,I GUESS$ %E WAS 
MAK+ A GRIEVANCE ( IT4 ,I MU/ HAVE LOOK$ EMB>RASS$1 = SUDD5LY %E />T$ 
LAU<+ & B5T T[>D ME1 P\T+ H] LIPS = A KISS4 

,I W5T BY MYSELF TO ,CELE/E'S4 ,:5 ,I HAD JU/ />T$ MY D9N] AN ODD-LOOK+ 
LITTLE WOMAN CAME 9 & ASK$ IF %E MI<T SIT AT MY TABLE4 ,( C\RSE %E MI<T4 ,%E 
HAD A *UBBY FACE LIKE A RIPE APPLE1 BRI<T EYES1 & MOV$ 9 A CURI\SLY J]KY WAY1 
AS IF %E W]E ON WIRES4 ,AFT] TAK+ (F H] CLOSEFITT+ JACKET %E SAT D[N & 
/>T$ /UDY+ ! BILL ( F>E ) A SORT ( RAPT ATT5TION4 ,!N %E CALL$ ,CELE/E 
& GAVE H] ORD]1 V]Y FA/ BUT QUITE DI/9CTLY2 ONE DIDN'T LOSE A WORD4 ,:ILE 
WAIT+ = ! HORS D'OEUVRE %E OP5$ H] BAG1 TOOK \T A SLIP ( PAP] & A 
P5CIL1 & ADD$ UP ! BILL 9 ADVANCE4 ,DIV+ 9TO H] BAG AGA91 %E PRODUC$ A 
PURSE & TOOK FROM IT ! EXACT SUM1 PLUS A SMALL TIP1 & PLAC$ IT ON ! CLO? 9 
FRONT ( H]4 

,JU/ !N ! WAIT] BR\<T ! HORS D'OEUVRE1 :I* %E PROCE$$ TO WOLF D[N 
VORACI\SLY4 ,:ILE WAIT+ = ! NEXT C\RSE1 %E PRODUC$ ANO!R P5CIL1 ?IS 
TIME A BLUE ONE1 FROM H] BAG1 & ! RADIO MAGAZ9E = ! COM+ WEEK1 & 
/>T$ MAK+ TICKS AGA9/ ALMO/ ALL ! ITEMS ( ! DAILY PROGRAMS4 ,!RE W]E A 
DOZ5 PAGES 9 ! MAGAZ9E1 & %E CONT9U$ /UDY+ !M CLOSELY ?R\<\T 
! MEAL4 ,:5 ,I'D F9I%$ M9E %E WAS /ILL TICK+ (F ITEMS ) ! SAME 
METICUL\S ATT5TION4 ,!N %E ROSE1 PUT ON H] JACKET AGA9 ) ! SAME ABRUPT1 
ROBOT-LIKE GE/URES1 & WALK$ BRISKLY \T ( ! RE/AURANT4 

,HAV+ NO?+ BETT] TO DO1 ,I FOLL[$ H] = A %ORT DI/ANCE4 ,KEEP+ ON ! 
CURB ( ! PAVEM5T1 %E WALK$ /RAI<T AHEAD1 NEV] SW]V+ OR LOOK+ BACK1 
& IT WAS EXTRAORD9>Y H[ FA/ %E COV]$ ! GR\ND1 CONSID]+ H] SMALLNESS4 
,9 FACT1 ! PACE WAS TOO MU* = ME1 & ,I SOON LO/ SI<T ( H] & TURN$ BACK 
HOMEW>D4 ,= A MOM5T ! 0LITTLE ROBOT0 7AS ,I ?\<T ( H]7 HAD MU* IMPRESS$ 
ME1 BUT ,I SOON =GOT AB\T H]4 

,AS ,I WAS TURN+ 9 AT MY DOOR ,I RAN 9TO OLD ,SALAMANO4 ,I ASK$ HIM 9TO MY ROOM1 
& HE 9=M$ ME ?AT HIS DOG WAS DEF9ITELY LO/4 ,HE'D BE5 TO ! P\ND TO 
9QUIRE1 BUT IT WASN'T !RE1 & ! /AFF TOLD HIM IT HAD PROBABLY BE5 RUN OV]4 
,:5 HE ASK$ !M :E!R IT WAS ANY USE 9QUIR+ AB\T IT AT ! POLICE /ATION1 
!Y SAID ! POLICE HAD MORE IMPORTANT ?+S TO ATT5D TO ?AN KEEP+ RECORDS ( 
/RAY DOGS RUN OV] 9 ! /REETS4 ,I SUGGE/$ HE %\LD GET ANO!R DOG1 BUT1 
REASONABLY 5\<1 HE PO9T$ \T ?AT HE'D BECOME US$ TO ?IS ONE1 & IT W\LDN'T 
BE ! SAME ?+4 

,I WAS SEAT$ ON MY B$1 ) MY LEGS UP1 & ,SALAMANO ON A *AIR BESIDE ! 
TABLE1 FAC+ ME1 HIS H&S SPREAD ON HIS KNEES4 ,HE HAD KEPT ON HIS BATT]$ FELT HAT 
& WAS MUMBL+ AWAY BEH9D HIS DRAGGL$ YELL[I% MU/A*E4 ,I F\ND HIM RA!R 
BOR+1 BUT ,I HAD NO?+ TO DO & DIDN'T FEEL SLEEPY4 ,SO1 TO KEEP ! CONV]SATION 
GO+1 ,I ASK$ SOME QUE/IONS AB\T HIS DOG -- H[ LONG HE HAD HAD IT & SO =?4 
,HE TOLD ME HE HAD GOT IT SOON AFT] HIS WIFE'S DEA?4 ,HE'D M>RI$ RA!R LATE 9 LIFE4 
,:5 A Y\NG MAN1 HE WANT$ TO GO ON ! /AGE2 DUR+ HIS MILIT>Y S]VICE HE'D 
(T5 PLAY$ 9 ! REGIM5TAL !ATRICALS & ACT$ RA!R WELL1 SO EV]YBODY SAID4 
,H[EV]1 F9ALLY1 HE HAD TAK5 A JOB 9 ! RAILWAY1 & HE DIDN'T REGRET IT1 AS N[ HE 
HAD A SMALL P5SION4 ,HE & HIS WIFE HAD NEV] HIT IT (F V]Y WELL1 BUT !Y'D GOT 
US$ TO EA* O!R1 & :5 %E DI$ HE FELT LONELY4 ,ONE ( HIS MATES ON ! RAILWAY 
:OSE BIT* HAD JU/ HAD PUPS HAD (F]$ HIM ONE1 & HE HAD TAK5 IT1 AS A 
COMPANION4 ,HE'D HAD TO FE$ IT FROM ! BOTTLE AT FIR/4 ,BUT1 AS A DOG'S LIFE IS %ORT] 
?AN A MAN'S1 !Y'D GR[N OLD TOGE!R1 SO TO SPEAK4 

0,HE WAS A CANTANK]\S BRUTE10 ,SALAMANO SAID4 0,N[ & !N WE HAD SOME 
PROP] SET-TOS1 HE & ,I4 ,BUT HE WAS A GOOD MUTT ALL ! SAME40 

,I SAID HE LOOK$ WELL BR$1 & ?AT EVID5TLY PLEAS$ ! OLD MAN4 

0,AH1 BUT Y\ %\LD HAVE SE5 HIM BE=E HIS ILLNESS60 HE SAID4 0,HE HAD A 
WOND]FUL COAT2 9 FACT1 ?AT WAS HIS BE/ PO9T1 REALLY4 ,I TRI$ H>D TO CURE HIM2 EV]Y 
MORTAL NI<T AFT] HE GOT ?AT SK9 DISEASE ,I RUBB$ AN O9TM5T 94 ,BUT HIS REAL 
TR\BLE WAS OLD AGE1 & !RE'S NO CUR+ ?AT40 

,JU/ !N ,I YAWN$1 & ! OLD MAN SAID HE'D BETT] MAKE A MOVE4 ,I TOLD HIM HE 
C\LD /AY1 & ?AT ,I WAS SORRY AB\T :AT HAD HAPP5$ TO HIS DOG4 ,HE ?ANK$ ME1 
& M5TION$ ?AT MY MO!R HAD BE5 V]Y FOND ( HIS DOG4 ,HE REF]R$ TO H] AS 
0Y\R POOR MO!R10 & WAS AFRAID ,I MU/ BE FEEL+ H] DEA? T]RIBLY4 ,:5 ,I SAID 
NO?+ HE ADD$ HA/ILY & ) A RA!R EMB>RASS$ AIR ?AT SOME ( ! PEOPLE 9 
! /REET SAID NA/Y ?+S AB\T ME BECAUSE ,I'D S5T MY MO!R TO ! ,HOME4 ,BUT 
HE1 ( C\RSE1 KNEW BETT]2 HE KNEW H[ DEVOT$ TO MY MO!R ,I HAD ALWAYS BE54 

,I ANSW]$ -- :Y1 ,I /ILL DON'T KN[ -- ?AT IT SURPRIS$ ME TO LE>N ,I'D PRODUC$ 
SU* A BAD IMPRESSION4 ,AS ,I C\LDN'T AF=D TO KEEP H] H]E1 IT SEEM$ ! OBVI\S 
?+ TO DO1 TO S5D H] TO A HOME4 0,9 ANY CASE10 ,I ADD$1 0= YE>S %E'D NEV] HAD 
A WORD TO SAY TO ME1 & ,I C\LD SEE %E WAS MOP+1 ) NO ONE TO TALK TO40 

0,YES10 HE SAID1 0& AT A HOME ONE MAKES FRI5DS1 ANYH[40 

,HE GOT UP1 SAY+ IT WAS HI< TIME = HIM TO BE 9 B$1 & ADD$ ?AT LIFE WAS 
GO+ TO BE A BIT ( A PROBLEM = HIM1 UND] ! NEW CONDITIONS4 ,= ! FIR/ TIME 
S9CE ,I'D KN[N HIM HE HELD \T HIS H& TO ME -- RA!R %YLY1 ,I ?\<T -- & ,I 
C\LD FEEL ! SCALES ON HIS SK94 ,JU/ AS HE WAS GO+ \T ( ! DOOR1 HE TURN$ &1 
SMIL+ A LITTLE1 SAID3 

0,LET'S HOPE ! DOGS WON'T B>K AGA9 TONI<T4 ,I ALWAYS ?9K IT'S M9E ,I HE>4 4440 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
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