Man's Castle Page #4

Hey, you have to give them time to come up.

No special hurry.

What kind of flower you call that?

That tired one there.

That one? That's a xenia.

They're all xenias.

What'll you take for that little

old sleeping one?

Nothing. I don't want to sell any.

Give you a dime for it.

I'd rather keep them if

you don't mind, Bill.

I'd just as soon wait until they

come up a little stronger.

Then you can have all you want.

See you later Ira.

You know if this keeps up Ira, the

neighbors are going to be talking.

Let them talk.

The more time Flossy spends with me,

the less time she'll have to get into trouble.

How about that dandelion wine

you're always brewing?

The more of that dandelion wine

Flossy drinks, the less gin she drinks.

You got weird ideas on reform, ain't you.

What you trying to make a pen-knife out

of a battle-axe for?

Sounds kind of foolish to me.

God chose the foolish things in the world

that he might shame those that are wise.

And He chose the weak things in the world

that he might shame those that are strong.

That's in that bible you got me son.

Corinthians, 1. 26.

Wait.. I'll show it to you.

Quit that singing, will you.

- Why?

What have you got to sing about?

- Can I help it if I feel good.

What about?

- Everything.

Everything. That's Bill.

You're stuck on him, ain't you?

- He's been good to me, Bill has.

Yeah.. he ain't sick of you yet.

But wait. The first thing that

goes wrong, out.. out!

You're talking to someone what's

had dealings, kid.. dealings!

Oh, maybe he won't be that way with me.

You don't know your men, I can see that.

You'll find out.

If Bill does get tired of me I..

I mean if he does..

Oh maybe he won't.

Suppose I get some dough?

- That'll be never.

Is that so?

Say, I cut you in for fifty percent of

that summons money, didn't I?

How'd you like to come in for fifty

percent on another job?

A job where your cut will be five grand

instead of five bucks.

What kind of a job?

- That toy factory I was talking about.

They fired me, didn't they.

Why didn't they fire Ira?

He's always asleep on the job. They took the

bread right out of my mouth didn't they?

They owe me something

and I'm going to collect.

Get this, Bill. They got an old

tin-can they call a safe.

I know the dump backwards.

Every Friday they get in ten grand

for the payroll..

Which stays in the safe until

Saturday noon.

It would be a pushover Bill,

if you went in with me.

Five grand a piece Bill! What do you say?

In the first place, what do I want

with five grand?

And In the second place if I did

want the dough, I'd go out and make it.

And in the third place Bragg..

Trina tells me you been hanging around

while I've been away and she don't like it.

I told her I'd speak to you about it.

There's only one language you

can understand Bragg.

That's it.

Bill.

Did I hurt?

- Not when you don't mean it.

What would you do if I really slugged

you hard?

Bill, you like being with me, don't you?

I ain't so nuts about you.

You're pretty skinny.

Come on, let me go.

You ain't tired of me yet, are you?

- Let me go I tell you, before I sock you.

Let me..

Oh!

Oh Bill!

Darling.

He's awful strong.

Come on, dish up the grub will you.

I'm starving.

Yes sir.

Hi Floss, how's tricks?

Picking up.

Here.

Flossy.. supper's ready.

I'm not hungry thanks Ira.

Hey, what's the idea?

What kind of a thing is this? That's a

fine thing to pull out of a man's soup.

What kind of a mess is this? You can find

anything in here. A pair of old shoes?

Why Bill, that's one of Ira's flowers.

You got it for me!

I found it in the soup I tell you.

- What kind is it?

Don't you really know what flower it is?

No kidding?

Are you dumb. It's a whatchamacallit.

It's an Xavier.

Xenias.

I don't care what kind it is. It's pretty.

Throw it away, it's a measly little one.

- No.

Throw it away, I tell you!

I'll get you a bunch of them. Nice big

ones. That kind ain't even got a smell.

Oh Bill, don't.

Now see here, Bill.

What's that for?

- That's that dime I owe you.

I bought a flower from you. What's the

matter with you? Can't you remember?

I never sold you no flower.

- He got it for me, Ira.

It's awful pretty. Maybe I'll grow some

too, if Bill decides we'll stay here.

Don't worry about that.

Now I can't have you picking

them like this, Bill.

Of course, seeing as you got it for Trina.

But I've got to ask you not to

do it no more.

Oh, come on Ira, take it.

- No.

I ain't in the flower business.

God never meant for flowers to be sold.

Susan said that, and Susan was

close to God.

She was, huh?

Yes, Susan walked hand-in-hand

with God all her life.

If anybody's with him, she is.

Right there in the fold.

Right by his side.

She led a beautiful life,

always a singing of his praises.

Basking in his glory.

Yup.

When you can make wine out of dandelions.

I can believe in it.

Come on Ira. My tongue is hanging out.

I guess it's alright about the flower.

Some more, Bill?

No, I ain't hungry.

What do you keep this thing closed

all the time for?

I thought it might rain or something.

Supposing it does rain? Rain won't

hurt you. It's good for you.

It makes you grow. Open it up.

Bill.

What do you always keep looking

through that hole for?

Why?

When you're dead you get a hunk of earth.

When you're alive you want to hang on

to your hunk of blue.

That's all I got in the world. That's all

anybody's got is that hunk of blue.

Bill, what Ira said, I..

- What?

I've been thinking that..

There couldn't be any heaven much

better than this, could there?

I mean when it's quiet all round and

we're close like now.

You know, I never noticed it before,

but your eyes are sky-colored, sort of..

You got a hunk of blue

in each little glim, ain't you.

But that don't stop me from clouting

you on the chin any minute.

Climb in here.

You're alright. You're a swell kid,

I like you plenty.

Do you Bill?

- Hmm.

But don't get to figuring on

that too much.

Because how much I like a woman

ain't nothing to bet money on.

I'm liable to all steamed up about you

today and washed up tomorrow.

I've been tangled up with a woman before.

Yeah.. I guess you must have

known lots of women.

Nicer ones too, I'll bet. Bigger and

fatter huh?

Fatter, yeah.. but not nicer.

You ain't so bad.

You know, a little more meat on you,

and you'd be lots of woman.

You're okay. You suit me fine now.

Do I Bill?

- Hmm

Maybe you won't tomorrow, see.

So you got to watch yourself

on that account.

Don't get yourself in too deep.

But what if you do sometime

and you can't help it? What then?

That's the way it goes.

Just got to learn to take it

and laugh it off.

You mean Bill that you're going to..

You said I'd have to take it.

No.. not you. I don't mean you.

I mean anybody. Anybody that gets it.

Well..

No, I don't mean you.. yet.

But I'm apt to hand it to you any day.

Who knows?

Suppose I wake up some morning with a

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