Doc gazed at his run-down laboratory. “I wish I were out there with him,” he said.
“Who don’t?” said Mack. “Why, them South Sea Island girls will kill him. He ain’t as young as he used to be.”
“I know,” said Doc. “You and I should be out there, Mack, to help protect him from himself. I’m wondering, Mack, should I step across the street and get another pint or should I go to bed?”
“Why don’t you flip a coin?”
“You flip the coin,” said Doc. “I don’t really want to go to bed. If you flip it I’ll know how it’s going to come out.”
Mack flipped, and he was right. Mack said, “I’d just as lief step over for you, Doc. You just set here comfortable—I’ll be right back.” And he was.
2
The Troubled Life of Joseph and Mary
Mack came back with a pint of Old Tennis Shoes and he poured some in Doc’s glass and some in his own.
Doc said, “What kind of a fellow is the new owner over there—Mexican, isn’t he?”
“Nice fellow,” said Mack. “Classy dresser. Name of Joseph and Mary Rivas. Smart as a whip, but kind of unfortunate, Doc—unfortunate and funny. You know how it is, when a pimp falls in love it don’t make any difference how much he suffers—it’s funny. And Joseph and Mary’s kind of like that.”
“Tell me about him,” said Doc.
“I been studying him,” said Mack. “He told me some stuff and I put two and two together. He’s smart. You know, Doc, there’s a kind of smartness that cuts its own throat. Haven’t you knew people that was so busy being smart they never had time to do nothing else? Well, Joseph and Mary is kind of like that.”