Anarchy in New Enlgand Read Online Free PDF Page B

customers started leaving an arbitration agency it was doomed to the snowball effect. He would be forced out of business, and worst of all start burning through his savings. Unless Mr. Barry wanted to be doomed to a retirement of playing golf at pay-per-game courses and drinking merely $90 per bottle scotch he had to do something. But what to do, that was the problem!
    "Well I'm not going to get any work done with myself all in a frenzy like this!" h e thought to himself, and he got up to head out to lunch at Hillside. At least at Hillside he could consort with the movers and the shakers, and forget his current problems. There's nothing like a $500 lunch to clear the mind!
    On his way out of the building Mr. Barry saw a familiar and unwelcome face at the bottom of the steps to the sidewalk. It was the drug addict, Trix, who would make rounds a couple times a week in this part of town, because he could always manage to squeeze a few bucks out of the folks who found it worth it to slip him a few dollars in exchange for leaving them alone.
    "I just need $5 to get back uptown," Trix said to Barry as he descended the stairs.
    "Like hell ," Mr. Barry thought to himself as he prepared to ignore Trix and brush past him, possibly hurling a witty insult at him... if he could think of one in time. But just as he opened his mouth to snarl something nasty at Trix, a client yelled his name from a half block down the sidewalk.
    "Mr. Barry! How are you? Leaving early to enjoy the fresh air?"
    Uhg . It was one of those good customers who barely cost him a dime or a minute of time, just paid to have an arbiter on retainer for his businesses. He had to be nice to him, it would be too easy to patronize someone else, and Barry knew the only reason he stayed with BA was that he had been with them for two decades. They always saw each other at the charity events, so the client wrongly assumed Barry to be considerate of his fellow man.
    "Oh, hello!" Mr. Barry greeted the client with the same fake smile he wore on the call with Molly. "And here you are young man. Get yourself something to eat," Barry continued, handing Trix a dollar, hoping his client would mistake it for $5.
    "Thanks," Trix said without expression, looking disappointed with the amount in his hand, as he walked away down the sidewalk, but Barry had misjudged his client.
    "You know, you shouldn't give those types money, nope, they'll just use it on drugs, you know? It’s better to walk with them to a shop and get them a sandwich or something. Actually..." the client dug in his pocket, "I know you'll be interested in this, being the charitable guy you are. Here's a card for my new project. I'm working with a couple of advertisers to promote a clinic that helps people kick their drug habits," he handed Barry a card. "If you just call this number you can donate money in someone's name that will go towards their treatment if they show up, then the ball's in their court, you know? If they don't go for treatment within a couple months, it helps someone else. But I'm sure you'll see him again, that's the one they call Trix isn't he?"
    "Uh, yes, I believe so..."
    "Well then you can let him know next time. He's somewhat of a regular around here, right? Doesn't hurt anyone, but it's still sad to see young people killing themselves like that. Anyway I've got to run, business to attend to, you know how it is. Enjoy this weather!"
    "Ah yes, I will... and uh, thanks for the..." Barry looked at the card in his hand and turned it over and back ."..card." He nodded and flashed an extra closed mouth smile to make up for the hesitation.
    "You bet!"
    Mr. Barry made sure his client had turned the corner before he threw the card in the trash. As if he would waste money on some dope fiend when he had his own problems to deal with. He again daydreamed of the governments he knew from books, that would simply lock up those type in jail for doing drugs. Everyone in society would chip in to pay for it, and it