Free The Assistant by Bernard Malamud

down at night about an hour after you closed the store. In the morning, when they delivered the milk and rolls, I sneaked up through the hall, opened the door and took what I needed for breakfast. That’s practically all I ate all day. After you came down and got busy with some customer or a salesman, I left by the hallway with the empty milk bottle under my coat. Later I threw it away in a lot. That’s all there is to it. Tonight I took a chance and came in while you were still in the back of the store, because I have a cold and don’t feel too good.”
    â€œHow can you sleep in such a cold and drafty cellar?”
    â€œI slept in worse.”
    â€œAre you hungry now?”
    â€œI’m always hungry.”
    â€œCome upstairs.”
    Morris picked up his hatchet, and Frank, blowing his nose in his damp handkerchief, followed him up the stairs.
    Morris lit a light in the store and made two fat liverwurst sandwiches with mustard, and in the back heated up a can of bean soup. Frank sat at the table in his coat, his hat lying at his feet. He ate with great hunger, his hand trembling as he brought the spoon to his mouth. The grocer had to look away.

    As the man was finishing his meal, with coffee and cup cakes, Ida came down in felt slippers and bathrobe.
    â€œWhat happened?” she asked in fright, when she saw Frank Alpine.
    â€œHe’s hungry,” Morris said.
    She guessed at once. “He stole the milk!”
    â€œHe was hungry,” explained Morris. “He slept in the cellar.”
    â€œI was practically starving,” said Frank.
    â€œWhy didn’t you look for a job?” Ida asked.
    â€œI looked all over.”
    After, Ida said to Frank, “When you finish, please go someplace else.” She turned to her husband. “Morris, tell him to go someplace else. We are poor people.”
    â€œThis he knows.”
    â€œI’ll go away,” Frank said, “as the lady wishes.”
    â€œTonight is already too late,” Morris said. “Who wants he should walk all night in the streets?”
    â€œI don’t want him here.” She was tense.
    â€œWhere you want him to go?”
    Frank set his coffee cup on the saucer and listened with interest.
    â€œThis ain’t my business,” Ida answered.
    â€œDon’t anybody worry,” said Frank. “I’ll leave in ten minutes’ time. You got a cigarette, Morris?”
    The grocer went to the bureau and took out of the drawer a crumpled pack of cigarettes.
    â€œIt’s stale,” he apologized.
    â€œDon’t make any difference.” Frank lit a stale cigarette, inhaling with pleasure.
    â€œI’ll go after a short while,” he said to Ida.
    â€œI don’t like trouble,” she explained.
    â€œI won’t make any. I might look like a bum in these clothes, but I am not. All my life I lived with good people.”
    â€œLet him stay here tonight on the couch,” Morris said to Ida.

    â€œNo. Give him better a dollar he should go someplace else.”
    â€œThe cellar would be fine,” Frank remarked.
    â€œIt’s too damp. Also rats.”
    â€œIf you let me stay there one more night I promise I will get out the first thing in the morning. You don’t have to be afraid to trust me. I am an honest man.”
    â€œYou can sleep here,” Morris said.
    â€œMorris, you crazy,” shouted Ida.
    â€œI’ll work it off for you,” Frank said. “Whatever I cost you I’ll pay you back. Anything you want me to do, I’ll do it.”
    â€œWe will see,” Morris said.
    â€œNo,” insisted Ida.
    But Morris won out, and they went up, leaving Frank in the back, the gas radiator left lit.
    â€œHe will clean out the store,” Ida said wrathfully.
    â€œWhere is his truck?” Morris asked, smiling. Seriously he said, “He’s a poor boy. I feel sorry for him.”
    They went to bed. Ida slept badly.