PARTISAN REVIEW
"I'll find my OW,l1 job 1" Studs said swiftly and breathlessly,
as he jumped to his feet.
"For once you do what I say 1 In the morning, you start
turning over a new leaf. . .. And, yes, you might as well stay
in tOnIght so's to get a good night's sleep. You'll need it in the
morning."
"I'm my own boss 1"
"vVhy, you goddamn little
"
A red flush from the slap he got appeared on Studs' left
cheek. Uncontrolled tears welled forth. He wanted to hit back.
He was afraid of his father. He sniffled without will.
The old man dropped back to his rocker, held his head in
his hands. Studs looked at him, imagined himself smashing the
old bastard's face till it bled and swelled. He stood impotently.
"You heard me 1 Tomorrow 1 Now get the hell out of my
sight before I give you the trimming you deserve, you dirty
little whelp 1"
"Patrick!
~That's
happened?" the old lady said, coming to
the entry way, as Studs, still bawling, turned to go.
"William! ...
William!"
"I'm leaving here 1" Studs said, brushing past her.
"Did you hit him?" the mother demanded.
"And I'll hit again. After all I done for him, the dirty
little ingrate, defying me! All right, go on, get out, and don't
come back. I don't ever want to see you again 1"
"Patrick Lonig l n! How dare you 1 Striking my son, my
own flesh and blood! Ordering my precious first-born baby
out of my home!"
"Mary, you don't know what you're talking about. Don't
tell me what I'm to do in my home! And don't be wastin' your
sympathy. What he needs is to get the tar kicked out of him.
And if he wants to live here, he'll do what I tell him!"
In his room. Studs was proud of himself for having defied
the old man. Glad, too, that his father and mother were having
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