Chapter 38

Big Sal has a room in the Cat House on 203 East 116^th street just off 3^rd Avenue. I hitch a ride with Doil and he drops me off at the drug store on the corner. Big Sal is sitting with a couple of the girls enjoying a well earned breakfast of eggs and muffins. They greet me like a long lost brother. The waitress brings me coffee and I order two hamburgers and a portion of fries. Then I add a couple of eggs. The smell of fish still clings to me and the girls wrinkle up their noses. I don’t have a change of clothes but I do have a pocket full of notes. A trip to my tailor is called for. My tailor is a small joint run by a Jew from Brooklyn in The Heights. A scruffy little shop stuffed with the larger size of outfits. But first I must feed the inner man.  The girls chatter like sparrows in a Hickory bush. I eat my breakfast whilst they talk about the Johns. I am content here. I feel safe. They are just working girls but I am at home with them. There are no edges on them. What you see is what you get. I ask Big Sal if she minds me sharing her crib for a few days. I take out a wad of C notes and peel off a couple. She is offended that I should think she would want money from me.

‘Fats you are a brother, I work for a living, no charity.’

‘It’s not charity, I am loaded, put it in the bank, give it to a cousin who needs it, or just buy yourself something.’

She takes the money and puts it down her cleavage.

‘Fancy a ride over to Brooklyn I need some new duds.’

She leans over and kisses me on the forehead. I take that as a yes.