The Broken Teaglass Read Online Free PDF Page B

slang words. But we also read for slight variations in how older words are being used. Or general usage issues. Or abbreviations.Anything that looks like it could be useful. You’ll find more to underline as time goes on. You’ll become more free to underline whatever strikes you.”
    “Should I look things up as I go?” I asked.
    “To begin, you can do that, if you wish. It might give you a feel for what we’ve already got in our books. But typically, you won’t be doing that. It goes too slow that way, and it’s unnecessary. Citations are there to help us to determine if our definitions are still accurate and up-to-date, not just to determine what we’re missing.”
    Dan cleared his throat.
    “It’s really one of the more fun parts of the job,” he continued. “Aside from defining, of course. You ought to know, though. It’s addictive behavior. We’ve got this one retired editor who still marks everything he reads. A pretty sad case. He comes in every once in a while to drop off his handwritten cits. Takes them off the TV and radio too. Half of his cits are quoted from late-night talk radio.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “I don’t think I could make that up.” Dan shook his head. “I shouldn’t speak of it so lightly, actually. That could easily be my own fate, I suppose.”
    I glanced down at his hands as he handed me a stapled list. No wedding ring. I don’t know why I’d assumed he was married.
    “Take a look at this list of periodicals,” he told me. “We subscribe to all of these, and you should feel free to add something if there’s a magazine you think would make a good addition. Some periodicals are read by a few editors, some only by one. People tend to catch different things. You have any idea what you’d like to read?”
    “Rolling Stone?”
I said.
    “Sure,” he said, circling it. “Two other editors read that, but I’ll put you on the list.”
    “Time?”
    “I’m afraid you’ll have to get in line for that. Three people already read it. I just kicked someone else off it and put Mona on for a while. She asked for that about six months ago.”
    I noticed that
Motorcyclist
didn’t have any initials next to it.
    “Anyone read that?” I said, pointing.
    “No, actually. The editor who read that retired a few months ago. His subscriptions have been piling up. I’d be quite happy to give you that one.”
    “Sure, put me down for
Motorcyclist
, then.”
    “And can I start sending motorcycle terms to you? Are you a motorcyclist?”
    “Um. No, I’m not. It just caught my eye. I’m just interested in it as a, uh, layman.”
    “I see,” Dan murmured. “Well. We’ll start with those. You can think about what other magazines you’d like and tell me over the next few weeks.”
    I suppressed a groan when I saw Tom sitting on the porch as I drove up. Almost every day when I came home, he was there. He’d blow smoke rings and nod as he questioned me about the secrets of the dictionary trade. When he was satisfied with my answers, he usually offered me a drink.
    “There he is,” he said as I climbed the porch steps. “Billy the Kid.”
    “I don’t feel like a kid. Not after a day at that office.”
    “Mmm.” Tom nodded. “You know, you’ve got circles under your eyes. You worn out?”
    “Yeah. A little tired.”
    “What did they have you do today?”
    “I read a bunch of magazines.”
    He snorted. “Yeah, right. Sounds like a tough day. Did I tell you yet that I applied to work there once?”
    “No.”
    “Yeah. Well, I did. But they didn’t want anything to do with me. Didn’t even call me for an interview.”
    “I wouldn’t take it personally,” I said. “They probably were just being sticklers. Probably didn’t call you because you don’t have your degree.”
    “I don’t need to be consoled, man. It’s all shit.”
    “It is,” I agreed.
    Tom was staring out into the street.
    “Shit,” he said again, slowly.
    “What’s the matter?” I