J R

— Oh… he looked up from the handkerchief’s contents and wadded it back. — What did you learn there, how to be this forest ranger?

— This what?

— I mean like now this is all you do is teach?

— No, no I have my own work.

— What, like you said before you’re going in the city on business? I mean what business you in.

— Look I’m not in, what…?

The conductor’s punch tapped the rim of the seat ahead. — These kids all with you?

— Yes they, here get your tickets out…

— You got them.

— Didn’t she give you them, Mrs Joubert? Like she kept them so we wouldn’t lose them.

— But she, no, no you mean nobody has a ticket? But does, did any of you bring any money?

— Six, seven… the punch counted over their heads, — eight…

— That’s all you’ve got hey? a dollar? Wait a second… the handkerchief wad surfaced again bringing with it a tangle of bills, paper scraps, a pencil stub — five, six, seven how much do you need hey… the bills came up damp and separate, — that’s nine is that, no you take the change that makes it easier to figure when you pay me back, okay?

— Well thank you yes but, but is all that yours?

— What this money? Sure why, you want one more to make it ten even? A single came off freed in a wad of its own — I mean that makes it easier to figure up the interest and all, you know?

— Yes but, all what I…

— No I just mean the interest like, I mean that’s what we’re having now these percents could you move your knee a second? I mean this here portforlio the zipper never hardly worked right even when I first got it you know? he tugged at the battered thing — holy shit look at that it’s already ripping, I mean that’s why I need this here professional carrying case you know…? he got it opened on his lap extended now with both feet dug into the hinge of the seat ahead, — see? I mean like here it costs thirty-four million dollars to equip this armored division and it costs like ten million dollars to equip this here infantry division see so what you have to find out is…

— Yes well look I don’t know anything about armored div…

— No that’s okay see it’s just about equipping them like you’re equipping anything just to figure up these different percents, I mean here’s this Mister A with this here business which he owns thirty percent of it see it doesn’t matter what business it’s just this here business, see so anyway it says he sells this forty percent of his thirty percent for fifteen hun wait, thousand I mean, fifteen thousand one hundred twenty dollars so you have to find out how much is the whole thing worth see?

— Fine yes, now I…

— No but see I wanted to ask you…

— Look if you need help with this you should talk to, to Mrs Joubert or…

— No that’s Glancy, I mean this is just our math homework where you wanted to know about these percents see but I got this other real stuff which wait a second… he tugged at the heap, — holy…

— Here be careful you’re spilling the whole…

— I know boy this train it’s like you’re riding some rolycoaster how it stops could you pull that corner sticking out there?

— What this, fingerprint and identi…

— No that’s just crap for trading see I had this thing about import export where you get to wait hey could you hold this stuff a second till I, see this here proxy thing we got today I wanted to find out where it says what’s that wait…

— Unretouched pages in swinging color, finger licking good look will you get all this off my…

— Wait no his crap’s always getting mixed up with mine there’s this thing where I wanted to ask you here, look.

— Well what, what is it what’s…

— No well see it’s just these here opportunities I pasted up see where it says we act as your…

— Look will you just get all this off my lap? I just said I couldn’t help you I don’t…

— Okay don’t get mad I was only…

— I’m not mad I’m, I’m just tired I’ve been…

— No but see I thought like where ljust helped you out on these here tickets you’d maybe…

— All right! but, thank you look thank you for the loan I appreciate it but what makes you think I know anything about these, this girdle and bra business or a coin op laundry and dry cleaner I don’t even…

— But you said before you have your own business.

— My work, I said I have my own work.

— I know. What is it.

— Composing.

— What?

— Music. Composing music.

— Oh. You mean teaching it like?

— Writing it.

— You mean like making it up?

— Yes.

— Oh. The train drained to another standstill and he came forward over the heap on his lap to add another to the succession of knots in the sneaker’s lace. — Are those the only shoes you’ve got hey? Mister Bast?

The foot propped in the far hinge dropped from sight. — Why.

— Nothing I just wondered, see I got this thing where you send away for this here selling outfit which…

— Look J R would you mind I’m, I just want to close my eyes for a minute.