The Part Time People Read Online Free PDF Page A

about himself. He wondered what they said. He didn't think it would be anything bad, because he'd been doing his job without any problems so far. He was doing the best he could, just like he'd said he would.
     
    Gwen didn't talk too much, and she didn't make him feel uncomfortable anymore. Also he had not seen any crazy people since about a week, and that was good. He was being extra careful now. When he walked around the streets, he didn't let his eyes wander, he kept his focus on his destination. He knew that if he didn't see them, he wouldn't get any ideas. But usually he had to look, just in case it might be him. You never know he thought. It could be any one of them.
     
    Gwen greeted Joe as he walked in,
     
    “Morning Joe, are you awake yet? Mike and David stepped out for some coffee, I told them to bring you back a cup.”
     
    Joe smiled.
     
    “I drank an entire pot this morning. I’m pretty wired.”
     
    “Well you probably don’t need any more then, I could sure use some though.” Gwen said. “I was up all night worrying about Martin.”
     
    “Did you see him again?” Joe asked.
     
    “Yes, last Saturday. He was waiting in the subway. He knew when I was going to be there, like I always am, you know?”
     
    “Did he say anything to you?” Joe sounded concerned.
     
    “No, he just kind of smirked the way he always does, like he was saying, ‘I know where you are and I can find you anytime I want.’ I swear I don't know what to do.”
     
    “You should call the cops again. He's not supposed to do that.”
     
    Gwen sighed, “They can't do anything. It's a free country, remember what he said? ‘I can go anywhere I god damned please and there isn't anything that anyone can do about it’ And he's right. The cops can't do a thing.”
     
    “What about David?” Joe asked, “How is he?”
     
    “Okay so far.” Gwen said, “I mean he hardly says a thing and he looks like he’s scared to death of everything, but maybe he's just shy, you know, he's just a kid. But I will tell you, Joe, if he turns out to be another Martin, I am going to quit this job, and you won't be able to stop me this time.”
     
    “I don't think I'd try.” Joe said, “You have every right to want to quit. Imagine that guy following you around like that. I wish I'd never laid my eyes on him.”
     
    "I wish you’d never hired him.” Gwen said. "That's the problem from the start. You shouldn't hire these lunatics."
     
    "Sometimes I think DeBarrie's is a magnet for them, I can’t control who decides to turn in an application." Joe sounded upset.
     
    David made it through the day all right, but he had the next few days off and he wanted to stay out of sight. Joe had given him an advance and David found a room in a small hotel near the city park. He had a window view but he always kept his blinds shut. He had bought a couple of mystery books and enough food to let him stay inside his room until Thursday afternoon. Things were going too well, and he didn't want to mess it up in any way. He knew that if he went outside and took a long walk in the sun, he'd look around too much, he'd see too much, and he wanted to keep his balance intact. He knew himself too well. He knew how he would act in every circumstance. If anyone came up to him and asked him any question, he'd begin to stutter and he wouldn’t be able to stop.
     
    He felt better when he was inside. It hadn't always been like this for him. Over the past few years he had changed in many ways. But it wasn’t his fault, he was always watching out for him. Someday he hoped that it would end, and he figured that he would slowly turn back into who he was before. He was counting on that happening, but he was having trouble remembering what he used to feel like. If it didn't end, he thought, he would just have to make it through. It's just a matter of learning what to do and where to go, and what to avoid. Adaptation is the key, he thought, survival of the fittest. It was