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PARTISAN REVIEW
and fell to his knees. I had the stupid impulse to shout at him as if he
were a stubborn c)1ild, to explain to him that it was all a mistake, that
nobody could be hurt; but he had collapsed in a heap, moaning quietly
to himself.
No one else had even noticed the sideshow, so I bent to pick him
up, feeling only annoyance that he had come so inopportunely between
me and the climax of my story; but his gray face scared me and his
audible, shallow breathing. I did not want him to die; I did not want
anyone to die; I did not want to believe in death-not just yet, not
till the ironies were all worked out.
"Reach into my side pocket, boy, and give me the little box." His
eyes stared at me glassily, but with a trace still of the old mockery.
"Brace me against the tree and leave me alone. It's nothing, I have a
little attack like this every six weeks." I gave him the box and he
swallowed two tablets quickly, forcing them past his trembling, spit–
flecked lips. "And stop staring at me like a peasant-I have no intention
of dying tonight. The odds are better on you." He seemed a little stronger
already, though he still pressed both hands against his chest. "I hope
she was worth it, boy!"
Feeling guilty, I left him there, supported by the tree trunk; but
when I looked around he shook his head pityingly, and began to sing
to a tune of his own contriving, " 'What shall I do for pretty girls now
myoid bawd is dead!'"
The crowd had moved off, but I could hear voices from the base–
ment apartment next to the Somers', and I rushed down the steps to
find Hank just hurling Judith into the middle of the room. "This
is
my wife, everybody-though it's hard to tell!" He was making a real
effort to speak distinctly, but his voice had grown very thick, and the
whites of his eyes seemed yellow in the absolute pallor of his face.
"Judy likes Jews, don't you, Judy?"
"You're drunk, Hank! Go to bed."
"I'm going to bed, Judy, but first gotta find you a nicelil Jew.
No
use being lonely lossa Jews around. Where did all the goddam Jews
go?"
He looked about wildly, and Herb Ginsburg stepped out of the
group against the furthest wall.
"Cut it out, Hank," he said in his mild, piping voice, "you'll just
be sorry in the morning."
"Here's nicelil Jew for you," Hank cried triumphantly, grabbing
Herb by the arm and pushing him up against Judith. "Howdyou like
this one-you like Jews so goddam much?" He pushed Herb away from
him in sudden anger. "Hate your Jew face and your Jew heart. What–
chagonnado about it!"
