ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER
25
I found myself with my back up against the wall I left everything and
ran off to Warsaw. I found my way to Chazkele and he was the
leader of all the toughs in the city. As I told you: I'm from the prov–
inces , not from Warsaw. The Warsaw wise guys used to needle us
newcomers and call us yokels, or Litvack swine. In Warsaw if you
were born on the other side of the city line, you're already a Lithua–
nian. Here comes the guard with his lamp, a fire in his guts!"
A guard brought in a kerosene lamp with a blackened globe. A
reddish glow spread over everyone's face. When the guard saw
Itche the Blind sitting with the other inmates he shook his head as if
to say : This is beneath you.
Itche the Blind began to blink with his good eye. He spoke to
the guard: "Stach, we don't need the lamp . It gives no light, only
smoke. "
"Mr. Itche , I'm not the boss here," the guard answered. "I'm
just following orders."
"Here's a cigarette," Itche said, "but don't tell the other guards.
They'll descend upon me like locusts."
"Thanks , I appreciate it."
"We're having a little chat to help us forget the stench from the
can," Itche the Blind said as if trying to excuse himself.
"Yes, I understand. I have to follow the rules. How does the
saying go? 'The small fry are hanged and the big ones are thanked.'"
• •
•
The guard left and Itche the Blind continued, "Chazkele
talked to me for about a half an hour. I told him that I couldn't find a
decent night's lodging and he sent me to Red Reitzele. He said, 'Tell
her Chazkele sent you and she'll open up doors for you. She likes
young men, not old.' In my first half hour with him he gave me more
wise counsel than the biggest lawyer could deliver in a year.
If
only I
had listened to him I would still have both my eyes.
"Reitzele lived on Smocza Street, in a large apartment, three
rooms and a kitchen, a new building with gas and a water closet.
How I got the nerve first to approach Chazkele and then to go to
Reitzele's is beyond me . I climbed up the painted steps, knocked,
and a little woman with red hair like fire and green eyes like a cat's
opened up. I stood at the threshold and she looked me up and down
and inspected me as if I were to become her butler. Her teeth were
sparse, but stronger than a dog's . Later on I saw her crack walnuts
