THE FOX AND THE GRAPE
657
a grape. You are squeezed, or, let's say, you squeeze yourself, to pro–
duce some wine. But then, you're finished, you're finished, you're
not a grape any more."
J. J. leaned back, satisfied he had made his point. At first Mary
had tried to listen to J.
J.,
tilting her head like a schoolgirl, but she
soon became bored, then irritated, and her eyes began to wander
around the room. "You sure can talk more than any man," she
said in a tired voice; "reminds me of myoid man who used to
lecture me, then went out and got drunk and beat up myoid lady,
who died of t.b., God bless her. But he never called me a grape. I've
been called plenty of things, but not that. Say, it's cute, I'll have to
remember it."
J.
J.
knew he was beaten, but he could not let go what he
thought was his advantage and tried another tack. "You know,"
he said, "people who have to work for a living can help themselves
by joining organizations, knowing whom to vote for, and in Germany,
girls, that is prostitutes"-he stumbled over the word-"used to get
together and even picket."
Mary interrupted him. "I'm not interested in politics," she said.
"Politics is for men."
J.
J.
felt hot and tired. "Can I use your john?" he asked. "Sure,"
she said, "it's free, but you got to jiggle it or it won't work."
When he c.ame back, she said impatiently, "Well, what do you
want to do? You're not going to pay me just for talking, and it's
getting late. Don't you like me?" She confidently stuck her massive
bosom out again, but her face looked worried, as she asked, "Ain't
I your type, honey? It's the first time anyone in pants has turned me
down."
J.
J.'s legs began to run, and his head felt feverish, as he thought
of getting into bed with her. It occurred to him she might think he
was queer if he didn't.
"Sure, I like you," he muttered perfunctorily. "But how do I
know you don't have a disease, a venereal disease."
"What do you want, a written guarantee?" she snapped. "You
think I was born yesterday. I keep myself clean, and I saw the doctor
last week."
"But anything could have happened since then," he said with an
air of scientific authority.
