She/pps called/vbd then/rb to/to say/vb she/pps had/hvd a/at baby-sitter/nn for/in that/dt night/nn ./. ``/`` Shirley/np appreciated/vbd the/at chance/nn to/to make/vb some/dti money/nn ./. Such/abl a/at nice/jj little/jj thing/nn --/-- lives/vbz right/ql in/in the/at building/nn ''/'' ./. ``/`` That's/dt+bez swell/jj ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd sweetly/rb ./. I/ppss could/md get/vb along/rb without/in that/dt three/cd dollars/nns ./. In/in some/dti ways/nns it/pps was/bedz worth/jj being/beg out/in the/at money/nn --/-- just/rb knowing/vbg I/ppss was/bedz no/at longer/jjr obligated/vbd to/in Nadine/np !/. !/. It/pps was/bedz past/in midnight/nn and/cc we/ppss were/bed in/in bed/nn when/wrb the/at phone/nn rang/vbd ./. I/ppss stumbled/vbd through/in the/at hall/nn ,/, wondering/vbg who/wps would/md be/be calling/vbg at/in this/dt hour/nn ./. I/ppss answered/vbd to/to find/vb Nadine/np at/in the/at other/ap end/nn ./. ``/`` You/ppss scared/vbd me/ppo half/abn to/in death/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd shakily/rb ./. ``/`` What's/wdt+bez wrong/jj ''/'' ?/. ?/. ``/`` Janice/np ,/, nobody/pn answers/vbz at/in the/at apartment/nn ''/'' !/. !/. Her/pp$ voice/nn came/vbd shrill/jj ./. ``/`` I'm/ppss+bem absolutely/ql frantic/jj !/. !/. That/dt stupid/jj girl/nn might/md have/hv gone/vbn off/rp and/cc left/vbd Francie/np ''/'' !/. !/. ``/`` Oh/uh ,/, she/pps wouldn't/md* do/do that/dt ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./. ``/`` She's/pps+hvz probably/rb fallen/vbn asleep/rb and/cc doesn't/doz* hear/vb the/at phone/nn ./. But/cc if/cs you're/ppss+ber worried/vbn you/ppss can/md go/vb home/nr and/cc check/vb ''/'' --/-- ``/`` I/ppss can't/md* leave/vb the/at party/nn !/. !/. We're/ppss+ber at/in Ken/np Thom's/np$ apartment/nn ,/, and/cc when/wrb one/cd couple/nn leaves/vbz early/rb everything/pn falls/vbz flat/rb !/. !/. Old/jj Mr./np Thom/np is/bez already/rb down/in on/in Wally/np ,/, and/cc we/ppss simply/rb can't/md* afford/vb to/to get/vb Ken/np mad/jj at/in us/ppo ''/'' --/-- I/ppss was/bedz all/ql set/vbn for/in what/wdt came/vbd next/ap ./. ``/`` Janice/np ,/, could/md you/ppss possibly/rb go/vb over/rp and/cc make/vb sure/jj everything's/pn+bez all/ql right/jj ?/. ?/. I'll/ppss+md call/vb you/ppo there/rb in/in ten/cd minutes/nns ''/'' --/-- ``/`` I/ppss can't/md* make/vb it/ppo in/in ten/cd minutes/nns ''/'' --/-- Wondering/vbg ,/, as/cs I/ppss said/vbd it/ppo ,/, why/wrb I/ppss should/md make/vb it/ppo at/in all/abn ./. Why/wrb should/md I/ppss go/vb over/rp at/in midnight/nn to/to check/vb on/in Francie/np ,/, when/wrb her/pp$ parents/nns didn't/dod* care/vb enough/ap to/to leave/vb a/at party/nn ?/. ?/. ``/`` Fifteen/cd minutes/nns ,/, then/rb !/. !/. Please/uh ,/, Janice/np ./. I'll/ppss+md be/be glad/jj to/to pay/vb you/ppo ''/'' --/-- So/ql sure/jj that/dt money/nn could/md do/do anything/pn !/. !/. ``/`` All/ql right/rb ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./. I'd/ppss+md do/do it/ppo ./. Not/* for/in the/at dollar/nn or/cc so/rb Nadine/np would/md give/vb me/ppo ./. But/cc because/cs there/ex was/bedz the/at chance/nn that/cs something/pn had/hvd gone/vbn wrong/jj at/in the/at apartment/nn ,/, and/cc if/cs I/ppss didn't/dod* go/vb over/rp ,/, who/wps would/md ?/. ?/. Chris/np was/bedz sound/jj asleep/rb ,/, and/cc I/ppss didn't/dod* see/vb any/dti sense/nn in/in waking/vbg him/ppo ./. I/ppss dressed/vbd in/in the/at kitchen/nn ,/, then/rb left/vbd a/at note/nn on/in the/at table/nn telling/vbg him/ppo what/wdt had/hvd happened/vbn ./. I/ppss drove/vbd off/rp through/in the/at cool/jj darkness/nn to/in Nadine's/np$ apartment/nn and/cc rang/vbd the/at bell/nn ,/, and/cc in/in a/at few/ap seconds/nns a/at young/jj girl/nn opened/vbd the/at door/nn ./. Her/pp$ face/nn was/bedz flushed/vbn from/in sleep/nn ./. ``/`` It's/pps+bez all/ql right/rb ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ,/, as/cs she/pps started/vbd to/to look/vb scared/vbn ./. ``/`` Mrs./np Roberts/np had/hvd called/vbn ,/, and/cc couldn't/md* wake/vb you/ppo ./. I/ppss just/rb came/vbd over/rp to/to make/vb sure/jj everything/pn was/bedz all/ql right/rb ''/'' ./. ``/`` I'm/ppss+bem --/-- hard/jj to/to wake/vb up/rp ''/'' ,/, she/pps faltered/vbd ./. She/pps didn't/dod* look/vb over/in thirteen/cd ./. And/cc Nadine/np insisted/vbd that/cs her/pp$ sitters/nns be/be reliable/jj !/. !/. ``/`` I/ppss have/hv to/to get/vb up/rp early/rb for/in church/nn tomorrow/nr ''/'' ,/, she/pps went/vbd on/rp ./. ``/`` I/ppss didn't/dod* know/vb it/pps was/bedz going/vbg to/to be/be this/dt late/jj ''/'' !/. !/. The/at phone/nn started/vbd ringing/vbg ./. ``/`` That's/dt+bez Mrs./np Roberts/np again/rb ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./. ``/`` I'll/ppss+md answer/vb it/ppo ''/'' ./. I/ppss crossed/vbd the/at beautifully/rb furnished/vbn living/nn room/nn to/in the/at pale/jj yellow/jj phone/nn ./. I/ppss told/vbd Nadine/np everything/pn was/bedz fine/jj ,/, and/cc that/cs I'd/ppss+md be/be getting/vbg on/in home/nr ./. ``/`` Janice/np ,/, would/md you/ppss mind/vb staying/vbg ''/'' ?/. ?/. There/ex was/bedz a/at ragged/jj edge/nn to/in her/pp$ voice/nn now/rb ,/, as/cs if/cs she'd/pps+hvd been/ben crying/vbg ./. ``/`` Wally's/np+bez drunk/jj --/-- I'll/ppss+md get/vb him/ppo out/in of/in here/rb as/ql soon/rb as/cs I/ppss possibly/rb can/md ,/, but/cc I/ppss don't/do* want/vb Shirley/np to/to see/vb him/ppo like/cs this/dt ./. You/ppss know/vb how/wrb gossip/nn of/in that/dt sort/nn spreads/vbz through/in an/at apartment/nn building/nn ''/'' --/-- Not/* a/at word/nn of/in thanks/nns for/in what/wdt I'd/ppss+hvd already/rb done/vbn ./. The/at receiver/nn clicked/vbd in/in my/pp$ ear/nn ./. She/pps didn't/dod* even/vb give/vb me/ppo a/at chance/nn to/to refuse/vb ./. Well/uh ,/, there/ex wasn't/bedz* any/dti law/nn that/wps said/vbd I/ppss had/hvd to/to stay/vb !/. !/. But/cc then/rb I/ppss looked/vbd at/in Shirley/np and/cc thought/vbd that/cs I/ppss might/md as/ql well/rb --/-- the/at child/nn needed/vbd her/pp$ sleep/nn ,/, and/cc Heaven/nn-tl knew/vbd what/wdt kind/nn of/in a/at mess/nn it/pps would/md be/be ,/, with/in Wally/np coming/vbg home/nr drunk/jj ./. So/cs I/ppss told/vbd her/ppo Mrs./np Roberts/np would/md pay/vb her/ppo in/in the/at morning/nn ,/, and/cc she/pps scooted/vbd off/rp to/in her/pp$ own/jj apartment/nn ./. After/cs I/ppss looked/vbd in/rp at/in Francie/np ,/, I/ppss went/vbd into/in the/at living/nn room/nn and/cc waited/vbd ./. I/ppss must/md have/hv dozed/vbn off/rp ,/, because/cs I/ppss came/vbd to/in with/in a/at start/nn at/in the/at sound/nn of/in voices/nns ./. Nadine's/np$ ,/, shrill/jj with/in anger/nn --/-- Wally's/np$ loud/jj and/cc thick/jj --/-- As/cs I/ppss went/vbd to/in the/at door/nn I/ppss heard/vbd the/at clock/nn strike/nn two/cd ./. I/ppss opened/vbd the/at door/nn ,/, and/cc Wally/np stumbled/vbd in/rp --/-- fast/rb --/-- as/cs if/cs Nadine/np had/hvd pushed/vbn him/ppo ./. I/ppss had/hvd always/rb thought/vbn she/pps was/bedz so/ql beautiful/jj ./. But/cc now/rb she/pps looked/vbd ugly/jj ./. Her/pp$ skin/nn was/bedz stretched/vbn so/ql tight/jj that/cs her/pp$ cheekbones/nns stuck/vbd out/rp ,/, and/cc if/cs looks/nns could/md kill/vb ,/, Wally/np would/md have/hv been/ben dead/jj ./. ``/`` Pack/vb your/pp$ clothes/nns ''/'' ,/, she/pps hissed/vbd ./. ``/`` Pack/vb --/-- and/cc get/vb out/rp ''/'' !/. !/. ``/`` You're/ppss+ber crazy/jj ''/'' ,/, Wally/np said/vbd thickly/rb ./. He/pps lurched/vbd and/cc stumbled/vbd to/in the/at davenport/nn and/cc sank/vbd down/rp on/in it/ppo ,/, and/cc was/bedz instantly/rb asleep/rb ./. Nadine/np strode/vbd over/rp to/in him/ppo ,/, and/cc her/pp$ pointed/vbn nails/nns raked/vbd across/in his/pp$ face/nn ./. I/ppss grabbed/vbd her/pp$ arm/nn and/cc she/pps turned/vbd on/in me/ppo and/cc for/in a/at scared/vbn second/od I/ppss thought/vbd that/cs maybe/rb Wally/np was/bedz right/jj ,/, and/cc she/pps was/bedz crazy/jj ./. ``/`` You/ppss stay/vb out/in of/in this/dt ''/'' ,/, she/pps spat/vbd at/in me/ppo ./. ``/`` He's/pps+hvz ruined/vbn us/ppo --/-- do/do you/ppo hear/vb me/ppo --/-- he's/pps+hvz ruined/vbn us/ppo !/. !/. He/pps insulted/vbd Ken/np Thom/np ''/'' !/. !/. Her/pp$ eyes/nns were/bed wild/jj ./. ``/`` He/pps told/vbd Ken/np to/in his/pp$ face/nn that/cs he/pps doesn't/doz* have/hv what/wdt it/pps takes/vbz to/to get/vb a/at woman/nn !/. !/. And/cc the/at other/ap people/nns there/rb were/bed listening/vbg !/. !/. We're/ppss+ber ruined/vbn and/cc he's/pps+bez going/vbg to/to get/vb out/rp if/cs I/ppss have/hv to/to throw/vb him/ppo down/in the/at stairs/nns ''/'' --/-- ``/`` you'd/ppss+hvd better/rbr simmer/vb down/rp ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd nervously/rb ./. I/ppss was/bedz plenty/rb scared/vbn ./. In/in the/at state/nn she/pps was/bedz in/in ,/, she/pps could/md actually/rb kill/vb him/ppo !/. !/. ``/`` Now/rb you/ppss just/rb take/vb it/ppo easy/rb ,/, and/cc I'll/ppss+md make/vb you/ppo some/dti tea/nn ''/'' --/-- ``/`` Tea/nn ,/, ''/'' Nadine/np screeched/vbd ./. ``/`` How/wrb can/md you/ppss be/be so/ql damn/jj stupid/jj ?/. ?/. Wally's/np+hvz lost/vbn his/pp$ job/nn !/. !/. Ken/np will/md never/rb forgive/vb him/ppo --/-- never/rb !/. !/. And/cc we/ppss don't/do* have/hv any/dti money/nn --/-- we/ppss don't/do* have/hv a/at dime/nn !/. !/. All/abn we/ppss own/vb is/bez Francie's/np$ bedroom/nn set/nn and/cc the/at televison-record/nn player/nn and/cc we/ppss even/rb owe/vb on/in them/ppo ./. And/cc we'll/ppss+md be/be poor/jj and/cc have/hv to/to live/vb in/in a/at grubby/jj little/ap house/nn like/cs yours/pp$$ --/-- and/cc all/abn because/cs of/in that/dt ''/'' --/-- I/ppss clamped/vbd my/pp$ hand/nn over/in her/pp$ mouth/nn to/to stop/vb the/at stream/nn of/in filth/nn ./. ``/`` Stop/vb that/dt !/. !/. You'll/ppss+md wake/vb up/rp the/at whole/jj building/nn ./. Wally/np can't/md* go/vb any/dti place/nn at/in this/dt hour/nn ''/'' --/-- ``/`` Well/rb then/rb ,/, I'll/ppss+md get/vb out/rp ''/'' --/-- But/cc she/pps looked/vbd uncertain/jj ./. She/pps was/bedz coming/vbg to/to her/pp$ senses/nns enough/qlp to/to realize/vb that/cs you/ppss don't/do* go/vb traipsing/vbg off/rp anywhere/rb at/in two/cd in/in the/at morning/nn ./. ``/`` You/ppss go/vb to/in bed/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd curtly/rb ./. ``/`` In/in the/at morning/nn you/ppss and/cc Wally/np can/md talk/vb things/nns out/rp ''/'' --/-- She/pps collapsed/vbd against/in me/ppo ,/, as/cs if/cs everything/pn inside/in her/ppo snapped/vbd ./. I/ppss got/vbd her/ppo into/in bed/nn ,/, and/cc sat/vbd with/in her/ppo until/cs she/pps had/hvd sobbed/vbn herself/ppl out/rp ./. It/pps was/bedz three/cd o'clock/rb before/cs I/ppss figured/vbd it/pps was/bedz all/ql right/jj to/to go/vb ./. I/ppss left/vbd her/ppo ,/, a/at limp/jj bundle/nn of/in self-pity/nn ,/, shivering/vbg with/in terror/nn because/cs her/pp$ bubble/nn had/hvd burst/vbn around/in her/ppo ./. Wally/np was/bedz snoring/vbg on/in the/at davenport/nn ./. I/ppss had/hvd done/vbn all/abn I/ppss could/md ./. I/ppss had/hvd done/vbn all/abn I/ppss was/bedz going/vbg to/to do/do ./. Whether/cs or/cc not/* Wally/np lost/vbd his/pp$ job/nn was/bedz no/at concern/nn of/in mine/pp$$ ./. I/ppss drove/vbd home/nr ,/, found/vbd Chris/np still/rb asleep/rb ./. I/ppss snuggled/vbd up/rp close/rb to/in him/ppo --/-- loving/vbg him/ppo --/-- thankful/jj for/in a/at man/nn like/cs him/ppo ./. Thankful/jj I/ppss wasn't/bedz* Nadine/np ./. I/ppss kept/vbd on/in being/beg thankful/jj ./. In/in the/at afternoon/nn Nadine/np and/cc Wally/np came/vbd over/rp with/in Francie/np ./. Wally/np sat/vbd in/in our/pp$ big/jj chair/nn ,/, his/pp$ hands/nns between/in his/pp$ knees/nns ,/, looking/vbg ready/jj to/to cry/vb ./. ``/`` I'd/ppss+hvd had/hvn all/abn this/dt trouble/nn with/in the/at old/jj man/nn ,/, that's/dt+bez why/wrb I/ppss drank/vbd so/ql much/ap ./. I/ppss --/-- got/vbd fired/vbn yesterday/nr for/in not/* attending/vbg to/in business/nn ''/'' --/-- Old/jj Mr./np Thom/np himself/ppl had/hvd stopped/vbn at/in the/at service/nn station/nn for/in a/at grease/nn job/nn ,/, Wally/np confessed/vbd ,/, and/cc couldn't/md* get/vb one/pn because/cs there/ex were/bed cars/nns on/in the/at pits/nns waiting/vbg to/to be/be repaired/vbn ./. Seems/vbz that/cs the/at kid/nn Wally/np had/hvd hired/vbn had/hvd a/at repair/nn business/nn of/in his/pp$ own/jj going/vbg on/in the/at side/nn ./. Mr./np Thom/np had/hvd gotten/vbn Wally/np on/in the/at phone/nn ,/, and/cc fired/vbd him/ppo ./. ``/`` I/ppss thought/vbd I'd/ppss+md smooth/vb things/nns over/rp through/in Ken/np ''/'' ,/, Wally/np said/vbd miserably/rb ./. ``/`` But/cc Ken/np got/vbd coy/jj and/cc wouldn't/md* make/vb any/dti promises/nns ./. And/cc I/ppss was/bedz plastered/vbn and/cc I/ppss blew/vbd my/pp$ stack/nn ''/'' --/-- ``/`` And/cc told/vbd him/ppo right/rb to/in his/pp$ face/nn he'd/pps+hvd never/rb slept/vbn with/in a/at woman/nn ''/'' !/. !/. I/ppss tried/vbd to/to quiet/vb Nadine/np because/cs the/at children/nns were/bed there/rb ./. But/cc she/pps was/bedz beyond/in caring/vbg what/wdt she/pps said/vbd ./. ``/`` Things/nns may/md smooth/vb over/rp yet/rb ''/'' ,/, Chris/np said/vbd ,/, his/pp$ nice/jj lean/jj face/nn grave/jj with/in honest/jj concern/nn ./. But/cc I/ppss couldn't/md* help/vb thinking/vbg that/cs Nadine/np and/cc Wally/np were/bed getting/vbg just/rb what/wdt they/ppss deserved/vbd ./. Now/rb maybe/rb they'd/ppss+md realize/vb that/cs life/nn can/md be/be tough/jj ./. When/wrb A/at bubble/nn breaks/vbz ,/, there's/ex+bez nothing/pn ./. Little/ap by/in little/ap ,/, during/in the/at week/nn ,/, Chris/np and/cc I/ppss discovered/vbd the/at crazy/jj unbelievable/jj way/nn Nadine/np and/cc Wally/np had/hvd lived/vbn ./. They/ppss had/hvd not/* only/rb spent/vbn every/at cent/nn --/-- they/ppss were/bed in/in debt/nn up/in to/in their/pp$ necks/nns ,/, owing/vbg on/in everything/pn they/ppss owned/vbd ./. On/in top/nn of/in everything/pn else/rb they/ppss were/bed two/cd months/nns behind/rb on/in their/pp$ apartment/nn rent/nn ,/, and/cc the/at day/nn Wally/np received/vbd written/vbn notice/nn that/cs he/pps was/bedz fired/vbn ,/, they/ppss were/bed evicted/vbn ./. Worst/jjt of/in all/abn ,/, Wally/np had/hvd no/at training/nn for/in any/dti kind/nn of/in work/nn ./. He/pps had/hvd fallen/vbn into/in a/at soft/jj job/nn ,/, and/cc now/rb the/at job/nn was/bedz gone/vbn and/cc he/pps was/bedz stranded/vbn ./. Chris/np fretted/vbd ./. ``/`` I/ppss wish/vb we/ppss were/bed in/in a/at position/nn to/to offer/vb a/at little/ap money/nn to/to tide/vb them/ppo over/rp ''/'' ./. I/ppss said/vbd I/ppss wished/vbd we/ppss were/bed ,/, too/rb ./. It/pps was/bedz easy/jj enough/qlp to/to say/vb it/ppo ,/, because/cs of/in course/nn we/ppss couldn't/md* spare/vb a/at cent/nn ./. But/cc Chris/np brightened/vbd up/rp like/cs a/at candle/nn ./. ``/`` I'm/ppss+bem glad/jj you/ppss feel/vb that/dt way/nn ,/, honey/nn ./. There/ex is/bez one/cd big/jj way/nn we/ppss can/md help/vb them/ppo ./. We/ppss can/md let/vb them/ppo move/vb in/in with/in us/ppo ''/'' --/-- Something/pn I/ppss had/hvd simply/rb never/rb thought/vbn of/in ./. Something/pn so/ql incredible/jj --/-- I/ppss just/rb stared/vbd at/in him/ppo ./. It/pps was/bedz incredible/jj --/-- He/pps gave/vbd me/ppo an/at embarrassed/vbn ,/, pleading/vbg look/nn ./. ``/`` I/ppss know/vb we'd/ppss+md be/be pretty/ql crowded/vbn ./. But/cc it/pps would/md only/rb be/be for/in a/at couple/nn of/in weeks/nns --/-- until/cs they/ppss get/vb straightened/vbn out/rp ''/'' ./. Straightened/vbn out/rp --/-- They'd/ppss+hvd had/hvn years/nns of/in making/vbg all/abn that/dt money/nn !/. !/. ``/`` I/ppss won't/md* do/do it/ppo ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd flatly/rb ./. ``/`` Nadine/np was/bedz always/rb too/ql good/jj to/to live/vb in/in a/at little/ap house/nn like/cs this/dt !/. !/. Well/uh ,/, now/rb she/pps can/md sleep/vb in/in the/at street/nn for/cs all/abn I/ppss care/vb ''/'' !/. !/. ``/`` That/dt isn't/bez* like/cs you/ppss ,/, Janice/np ''/'' ,/, Chris/np said/vbd uncomfortably/rb ./. Then/rb I/ppss felt/vbd uncomfortable/jj ,/, too/rb ./. I/ppss didn't/dod* want/vb to/to be/be like/cs that/dt ,/, mean/jj and/cc bitter/jj ./. But/cc ,/, darn/vb it/ppo all/abn ,/, why/wrb should/md we/ppss help/vb a/at couple/nn of/in spoiled/vbn snobs/nns who/wps had/hvd looked/vbn down/in their/pp$ noses/nns at/in us/ppo ?/. ?/. But/cc ,/, in/in the/at end/nn ,/, we/ppss did/dod ./. It/pps just/rb seemed/vbd as/cs if/cs there/ex was/bedz nothing/pn else/rb to/to do/do ./. The/at finance/nn company/nn took/vbd all/abn their/pp$ furniture/nn --/-- and/cc they/ppss didn't/dod* have/hv a/at cent/nn to/in their/pp$ name/nn ./. Then/jj Wally/np got/vbd sick/jj ./. To/in my/pp$ way/nn of/in thinking/vbg ,/, he/pps was/bedz scared/vbn sick/jj ./. His/pp$ luck/nn had/hvd failed/vbn him/ppo ,/, and/cc it/pps was/bedz easier/rbr to/to crawl/vb off/rp into/in bed/nn than/cs to/to get/vb out/rp and/cc fight/vb the/at world/nn ./. Chris/np made/vbd trip/nn after/in trip/nn in/in our/pp$ old/jj car/nn ,/, moving/vbg the/at clothes/nns and/cc dishes/nns and/cc the/at stock/nn of/in groceries/nns Nadine/np had/hvd bought/vbn on/in special/nn ./. At/in least/ap we'll/ppss+md eat/vb ,/, I/ppss thought/vbd grimly/rb as/cs I/ppss put/vbd all/abn the/at food/nn away/rb ./. While/cs I/ppss worked/vbd ,/, Nadine/np sat/vbd and/cc cried/vbd ./. When/wrb she/pps wasn't/bedz* crying/vbg ,/, she/pps was/bedz in/in our/pp$ bedroom/nn fighting/vbg with/in Wally/np ./. ``/`` Virus/nn infection/nn nothing/pn ''/'' ,/, she'd/pps+md scream/vb at/in him/ppo ./. ``/`` You're/ppss+ber too/ql lazy/jj to/to go/vb out/rp and/cc look/vb for/in another/dt job/nn ./. You're/ppss+ber just/rb a/at no-good/jj bum/nn ''/'' !/. !/. It/pps was/bedz a/at mess/nn ,/, all/ql right/rb ./. But/cc it/pps couldn't/md* go/vb on/rp forever/rb --/-- A/at couple/nn of/in weeks/nns ,/, Chris/np had/hvd said/vbn ./. I/ppss figured/vbd I/ppss could/md stand/vb practically/rb anything/pn for/in a/at couple/nn of/in weeks/nns ./. But/cc the/at two/cd weeks/nns dragged/vbd into/in three/cd ,/, and/cc they/ppss were/bed still/rb with/in us/ppo ./. Nadine's/np$ constant/jj nagging/nn had/hvd finally/rb gotten/vbn Wally/np out/in of/in bed/nn ./. He/pps set/vbd out/rp every/at morning/nn looking/vbg for/in work/nn ,/, and/cc come/vb home/nr around/in noon/nn ,/, full/jj of/in alibis/nns and/cc excuses/nns ./. Wendell/np Thom/np had/hvd black-balled/vbn him/ppo ./. Nobody/pn would/md even/rb take/vb his/pp$ application/nn ./. ``/`` You/ppss can/md get/vb something/pn ,/, ''/'' Nadine/np would/md snap/vb ./. ``/`` You/ppss can/md get/vb a/at job/nn working/vbg in/in a/at grocery/nn store/nn ,/, if/cs nothing/pn else/rb ''/'' ./. ``/`` The/at high/jj school/nn kids/nns have/hv got/vbn everything/pn sewed/vbn up/rp ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, a/at whine/nn in/in his/pp$ voice/nn ./. ``/`` Those/dts damn/jj punks/nns --/-- taking/vbg work/nn away/rb from/in men/nns who/wps need/vb it/ppo ''/'' ./. ``/`` By/in fall/nn they'll/ppss+md be/be back/rb in/in school/nn ''/'' ,/, I'd/ppss+md say/vb ,/, trying/vbg to/to sound/vb encouraging/jj ./. But/cc this/dt was/bedz only/rb the/at middle/nn of/in July/np ./. And/cc I/ppss couldn't/md* take/vb six/cd more/ap weeks/nns of/in this/dt ./. I/ppss mentioned/vbd it/ppo to/in Chris/np one/cd stifling/vbg hot/jj night/nn ,/, when/wrb I/ppss had/hvd slipped/vbn outside/rb for/in a/at breath/nn of/in fresh/jj air/nn ./.