Last Exit to Brooklyn

by Hubert Selby Jr.

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  Sal had been there for a while, having brought a bottle and a bag of potato chips, just in case they got hungry, hahaha. Mike took a couple of quick shots, chasing it with the remainder of the beer, and he was feeling good. Arthur was quietly playing in the crib and Helen didnt bother him anymore about going out and was playing in her room coming out occasionally for a potato chip and Mike smiled at her and patted her head and told her she was a good girl. Sal had a few bucks and they figured theyd hit a few joints tonight and see what they could pick up. After the first few. shots they didnt drink too fast, not wanting to get too high, it was too early yet, so they sat at the table sipping their whisky, listening to the radio, waiting for Irene to come home so she could take care of the kids; and waiting for night to come when they would go out and have a ball and get some ass. Yeah!

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  PROJECT NEWSLETTER

  EVICTIONS The following is a list of evictions from the

  Project during the last two months:

  Morals 7

  Dirty Housekeeping 3

  Non Payment of Rent 2

  Criminal 9

  Disturbing the Peace 4

  Miscellaneous 8

  Be sure you do not break any of the Rules. We

  want this Project to be a safe and Happy place

  in which to live. Only you can help.

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  THE LESSON

  A couple of the kids were sparring with each other, the others standing around forming a ring. They hit with open hands and each time one scored all the kids yelled. One of the kids fathers looked out the window and saw them and rushed from the building yelling at the other kids to leave his son alone and yelling at his son for fighting. The kids stared at him for a moment, not moving, then the other kids said they wasnt fighting, they was just foolin around. He was teachin Harold how to fight. The father grabbed his son by the arm and yanked him to his side and slapped his head, telling him he had been warned about fighting and hanging out with those crummy kids. Dont you know we could be evicted if you get in trouble? He pointed his finger at the other kid and told him to leave his son alone, that if he caught him hitting his son again hed take a strap to him. Harold stood pinned to his fathers side afraid to look at him and ashamed to look at his friends. His father continued yelling at the other kid and the kid told him again that they wasnt fightin, that he was just teachin him how to box. The father continued waving his finger in the boys face and told him he didnt have to teach his Harold how to fight. I/ll teach him how to fight. I/ll teach him how to kill, thats what I/ll do. Im not going to have my son hit by lousy kids like you. If he wants to learn how to fight I/ll showim. He started shaking Harold by the arm and told him if ever those kids bothered him again to pick up a stick and bash in their heads. Or a rock. The kids just stared at him until he stopped and, dragging Harold by the arm, left. When the door closed behind him another kid took Harolds place and the exhibition continued.

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  Abraham sat through the movies and the cartoons, continually looking at his watch until he got involved in the movie. One of the movies had a real bad cat who was shoot-in up everybody and Abraham was greatly impressed by the way he had everybody in the town shittin green until that bad bastard from Texas got on his ass and burndim. Ol Abe knew that cat couldnt fuck around with that Texas stud. He chuckled when the guy got his lumps at the end. When he left the theater he walked quickly to the garage to pick up his Cadillac. He looked it all over inside and out-and smiled when he saw the big black body shining and the whitewalls gleaming. He paid the bill and gave the stud a buck tip and jumped in and drove off. He drove around for a while, just cruising around the streets, listening to the purr of the motor, feeling the steering wheel in his hands, digging the sounds on the radio. Even while driving he could see the whitewalls and the bigass fins in the back and he felt good. Real great. He drove past MELS BAR and stopped, honked the horn and waved to the guys inside, then slowly drove home. He parked the car, but didnt leave at once. He sat behind the wheel diggin the few cats who were still washing their cars. He stepped forth from his Cadillac and went home to lie down and rest for the night.

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  WOMENS CHORUS III

  The women finished their shopping, took the beer home and returned to their bench. Mrs. Olson, who had had a stroke 2 years ago when her husband died, came out and as she hobbled by the women watched her and laughed. She leaned forward slightly as she walked and dragged her right foot. She was unable to lower her right arm and it was bent at the elbow and stretched across her chest, her hand partially closed and jerking up and down. The women loved to watch her, wondering if she picked up chewing gum and dog shit with her right foot. She oughtta wear steel toe shoes. She probably got that way from jerking her husband off. Laughter. Maybe thats what killedim. One of the women looked up at a window on the fourth floor then called the others and pointed to a baby that had crawled out the window and was kneeling on the ledge. The women watched the baby as it crawled around on the ledge and window sill. Maybe he thinks hes a bird. Hey, ya gonna fly? Laughter. Others looked up and someone screamed and someone else yelled get back, O my God, O my God. Ada covered her lace with her hands. The women continued to laugh and wonder when it would fall. People ran frantically in circles under the window; someone ran up the stairs and banged on the door, but no one answered. They banged again and listened at the door for a sound, hearing something, a murmuring, yet still no answer. They ran back down stairs and people asked if anyone was home? are you sure no one was in? Heard something . . . maybe kids ... I dont know . . . what can we do ... O my God . . . Hes moving ... I cant look . . . call the cops . . . The people continued running in circles, some running to the street looking for a police car; someone else had called the Office and the women stopped laughing now that there were so many people around, but still looked anxiously, waiting for the small body to slowly slip over the edge of the ledge and fall down, down . . . then plop on the ground or in a hedge; and Ada looked at the window with every screech from the crowd, covering her eyes quickly after each peek; and the baby rocked back and forth on the ledge and seemed to be toppling and two men ran under the window to try to catch it and others raised their arms (the women still hoping for a little more excitement) and yelled go back—O my God—go back, and the baby leaned forward a little more and seemed to be looking down at the crowd and hysterical screechings came from them and the baby leaned back and the crowd sighed and someone yelled for the cops, theyre never here when you need them—O why dont they hurry; and someone ran back upstairs and pounded on the door and yelled, still no answer; and someone suggested lowering a rope from the window above and have someone lowered; then 2 Housing Authority Policemen came running up and yelled to the 2 men under the window to stay there and they ran up the stairs and opened the door with a pass key, rushing past the 3 children huddled by the door and into the room where the baby knelt on the ledge, and stopped a few feet from the window, then carefully and silently tiptoed the last few feet trying not to draw the babys attention fearing it might turn and fall, holding their breaths as one inched his arms out the window and grabbed the baby by the arms and quickly jerked him inside . . . held him for a moment . . . closed the window (the crowd still staring (the women annoyed that it was all over and that the kid didnt fall) then slowly lowering their eyes as the window was closed then slowly walking away). Then the policemen carried the baby to the living room and sat down, taking off their hats and wiping their foreheads. Christ, that was a close one, his body starting to tremble. The other nodded. The baby started to cry so they put him on the floor and he crawled over to his brothers and sister. The children stared, frightened, as the cops and the policemen smiled at them and asked them where their mommy was. They continued to stare at the cops and said nothing. Then one tottered over t
o them and asked if they really was policemen? and they said yes and the boy laughed. They asked him where his mommy was and he said out. Wheres your daddy. The youngster laughed and said mommy says hes drunk and he clapped his hands, laughing, and his sister added quickly that her daddy was gonna get a job on the boats and bring home lots of food and get a t v. The other 2 boys said nothing, continuing to stare at the policemen. I guess we/d better take them down to the office and call Welfare, eh Jim. I guessso. I/ll see if I can get some clothes on them. He asked the children where their clothes were and they showed him, saying nothing and remaining silent as they were being dressed. As they were about to leave the oldest boy, about 5 years old, asked them not to tell their mommy what happened. She said not to let nobody in and if she see somebody came in she/ll beatus. The cops reassured the children, left a note stating where the children would be, and left.

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  MARY STARED AT JOEYS HEAD WHEN VINNIE TOOK THE BOYS HAT OFF. SEE, NOW HE LOOKS LIKE A BOY. NOT LIKE SOME GODDAMN SISSY. MARY LOOKED AT JOEYS HEAD. YOU SONOFA-BITCH. LOOK WHAT YADID. WHATTA YAMEAN WHAT I DID. I DIDNT DO NOTHIN. I TOOKIM FOR A HAIRCUT. WHATSZAMATTA, YOU DONT LIKE THE HAIRCUT? YA SONOFABITCH, YA CUT ALL HIS HAIR OFF. ALL THE NICE CURLS HE HAD, YA CUTEM ALL OFF. HE LOOKS LIKE HES GOTTA BALDY. AW SHUT YAMOUT. YEAH? HE AINT GONNA TAKE NO MORE HAIRCUTS, joey went to his room. YA STAY AWAY FROM ME YA SONOFABITCH. YA TINK SO, EH? I/LL BREAK YA FUCKIN LEGS. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. I/LL KILLYA. MEEE, SHES REALLY ASKIN FORIT. YEAH? YOULL SEE. YOULL SEE. JUST TRY. I/LL CUTCH YAFUCKIN COCK OFF. WHOSE COCK YOULL CUT OFF, EH? WHOSE? YA CRAZY FUCK I/LL BREAK YA FUCKIN LEGS. VINNIE SHOOK HIS HAND IN MARYS FACE THEN TURNED AWAY AND SLAPPED HIS FOREHEAD, MARONE AME, WHATTA IDIOT, AND WENT OUT TO THE KITCHEN AND HEATED THE COFFEE. MARY WENT INTO THE KIDS ROOM AND PICKED JOEY UP, HOLDING HIM AT ARMS LENGTH FROM HER AND A LITTLE OVER HER HEAD, TURNING HIM TO LOOK AT ONE SIDE THEN THE OTHER. WHAT THEY DO TA MY JOEY? THEY CUT ALL YA PRETTY CURLS OFF JOEY? YA FATHAS A STUPID. ALL THOSE NICE CURLS AND YA LOOKED SO CUTE. JOEY STARTED TO SQUIRM AND SQUINT SO MARY DROPPED HIM TO HIS FEET. I got a lollypop from the man. WHATTAYA MEAN LOL-LYPOP? WHAT MAN? What cut my hair. I cried and he gave me a lollypop. SHE STORMED OUT TO THE KITCHEN. WHATTA YAMEAN GIVIN THE KID A LOLLYPOP, EH? WHATTA YAMEAN? WHATS AMATTA WITH A LOLLYPOP? MEEE, YA THINK IT WAS GONNA KILLIM OR SOMETHIN. I TOLDYA I DONT WANT THE KID TA HAVE NO LOLLYPOPS. WHATTA YA MEAN? WHATTA YAMEAN NO LOLLYPOPS? ALL THE KIDS GOT LOLLYPOPS. WHY HE CANT HAVE ONE? I SAID. A KID CAN CHOKE TA DEAT ON A LOLLYPOP YA STUPID BASTAD. DONT YAKNOW NOTHIN? EVERYDAY SOME KID DIES FROM A LOLLYPOP. WHATTA YAWANT FROM ME? THE KID WAS CRYIN SO THE GUY GIVEIM A LOLLYPOP. HE DIDNT DIE DID HE? THE KID CRIED. THE KID CRIED. IF YADIDNT TAKEIM TA THE BARBAS HE WOULDNTA CRIED. HE DIDNT WANT NO HAIRCUT. WHY DONT YALEAVE THE KID ALONE? WHY DONT YASHUT UP, YEAH? THE KID TOOK A HAIRCUT O K. NOW HE DONT LOOK LIKE NO CREEP. AND YA GIVEIM A LOLLYPOP LIKE A REAL JERK. SUPPOSE HE HADDA DIED, EH? SUPPOSE HE DIED? WHAT KINDDA DIED. MEEE. THIS FUCKIN BITCH IS CRAZY. HOWS HE GONNA DIE FROM A LOLLYPOP? HE COULD SUCK IT RIGHT DOWN HIS THROAT AND ITD GET CAUGHT, YA FUCKIN STUPID. MARONE AME, SHAKING HIS HAND IN FRONT OF HIM. YA SOME FUCKIN NUT. YEAH? YA TINK SO, EH? JUST DONT COME TA BED THATS ALL. YA STAY OUT HERE TANIGHT. I/LL SLEEP IN THE FUCKIN BED AND DONT YA TRY TA TELL ME NOTHIN. joey and his brother played with plastic trains, tooting and whisding as loud as they wanted. They were having a fine lime. YEAH? JUST TRY IT. I/LL BREAK YA LEGS. I SWEAR TA JESUS. I/LL BREAK YA FUCKIN LEGS.

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  BABYS BURNED BODY BARED

  The burned remains of an infant, judged to be about 10 days old, was found in the incinerator of one of the Citys Housing Projects today. George Hamilton, 27, of 37-08 Lapidary Avenue, a porter in the Project, was cleaning out the ashes of the incinerator when he came across the remains. He immediately notified the authorities. The police investigating the incident think that the body must have been dropped in the incinerator sometime during the night. The Housing Authority expressed the opinion that the baby did not belong to any of the tenants in the Project. The Police are canvassing the neighborhood and the Project, but as yet no additional information has been released by any of the Authorities involved. This is the second body of a baby found in the Project this month.

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  WOMENS CHORUS IV

  The women sat back on the bench after the baby had been taken safely from the ledge. It was fun while it lasted. Sure was a shame the cops had ta come so soon. Maybe he really woulda flyed. Laughter. Wait till the cops get on her ass, leavin the kids alone like that. I guess theyll reporter to Relief. Yeah, itll server right. I hope they kicker off. Boy, theyre really gettin tough on Relief now. We had anotha inspector around yesterday. She looked at the beer bottles and wanted ta know what they was doin here. Yeah, they got some nerve. I toler some friends boughtem. They usually come at the beginnin of the month and I get rid of all those things. Yeah, theyre always nosen around. How come they come back so soon? The inspector said someone had reported Charlie was workin. Thank krist he was off yesterday. Aint he workin steady? What for? 2 days a weeks enough. With Relief we make out good. The guy dont take no social security or nothin, so they cant check up. Yeah, Henry gets a couple a days a week like that too. I hope no investigator comes around when hes workin. Charlie work today? No. Hes upstairs sleepin. Gettin plenty a rest for tanight, eh? Laughter. Yeah I/ll give Henry a couple a beers and he/ll be good for a while. Try puttin some Geritol in his beer. I hear it puts the bone back in. The women continued talking until they decided to go home and fix supper. They parted at the entrance to the building hoping each other was lucky tonight then went to their apartments and put the beer in the refrigerator, piled the dishes from the day in the sink and started supper.

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  Ada remained on the bench as long as it was in the sunshine. There were a few people walking about and a few children still played, but all the other benches were vacant. She sat alone. A few people had said hello and smiled, though none had sat and talked with her. Yet it hadnt been too lonely a day. There were people around, and children, and the sun was bright and warm. Sometimes on days like this while the sun was still shining and the cool evening breeze was just starting to blow she and Hymie would stand in front of the store and watch the sun go down behind the building and watch the people rushing home from work . . . and the cars and trucks along the avenue . . . and it used to smell so nice and fresh, like sheets that had been on the line all day, and then she would go inside and fix supper and Hymie would eat his soup and smile . . . God bless poor Hymie.

  The sun had gone down behind the building and the street lamps had been turned on. The breeze was cooler. Soon it would be dark. Ada got up and slowly left her bench and climbed the stairs to her apartment. She hung up her coat, closed all the windows then stood by her window. There were still a few children in the playground and she watched them, but soon the entire playground was in shadows and they too left. Cars and trucks passed along the avenue, but she ignored them and just watched the buses stop at the corner and people get off and rush home. She couldnt see the sun set, but she knew what it looked like and she imagined the purples, pinks, reds, laying on each other and mixing, just as she used to see it and as it looked in the picture puzzle she had of a ship on the ocean with the sun setting, the puzzle she put together and took apart, and put together again time after time after time all through the long cold heartless winters . . . and even sometimes in the spring when it rained for days and even looking from her window afforded no comfort. It was getting dark fast now and it seemed very cold outside, the trees barely visible from their shadows, the birds seeming to be jumping for warmth. There was nothing much to see now, just an occasional person rushing home, the cars and trucks which she ignored, and the waving ovals of light cast by the street lamps. She left her window and went to the kitchen. She fixed her supper and sat down at the table, still consci
ous of the empty chair opposite her. So long hes dead now and still it seems like yesterday we would sit and Hy-mie would put a big piece of sweet butter on an onion roll. She smiled remembering how much Hymie had loved onion rolls, and the way he would spread the butter. God bless him, hes happy now. No more suffering for him . . . only for me. She ate slowly and lightly then sat for a few minutes remembering how Hymie and Ira used to kid her because she took so long to eat. I could eat two times before youre finished Momma. Thats what Ira would say. I could eat two times. And all the cookies they sent Ira while he was in the Army. So many cookies. How many did he ever eat? Maybe he was dead a long time and we sent cookies. And he always wrote and said thanks Momma for the cookies . . . Such a good boy, God bless my Ira . . . She went into the bedroom, turned down the bed cover, laid out her nightgown and Hymies pajamas and went into the living room to listen to the radio for just a little while before going to bed.