U.S.A_ - John Dos Passos [545]
silver in the pocket, greenbacks in the wal et, drafts, certified checks, plenty restaurants in L. A.)
The young man waits on the side of the road; the
plane has gone; thumb moves in a smal arc when a
car tears hissing past. Eyes seek the driver's eyes. A hundred miles down the road. Head swims, bel y
tightens, wants crawl over his skin like ants:
went to school, books said opportunity, ads prom-ised speed, own your home, shine bigger than your neighbor, the radiocrooner whispered girls, ghosts of platinum girls coaxed from the screen, mil ions in win-nings were chalked up on the boards in the offices, pay-checks were for hands wil ing to work, the cleared desk of an executive with three telephones on it;
waits with swimming head, needs knot the bel y,
idle hands numb, beside the speeding traffic.
A hundred miles down the road.
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