Historical Narrative: Beacon in a Sea of Darkness

The day started as usual.   I got out of bed. My eyes sore from lack of sleep.   My feet hit the cold floor, sending a shudder through my spine.   It's a shame.   In the winter, the weatherman will tell you that tomorrow will be a warm one, but warm for winter in New York is still blisteringly cold (Weather 53).



I looked at the clock.   7:50 AM.   No time for breakfast.   I had to get to work.   In this business, either you were there on time to take someone's case or he went to another detective.   I grabbed my coat and started running down the apartment stairs, trying to wave down a taxi.   My landlord tried to nab me and complain about my late rent, but I had not time to trifle with him.   I jumped into the first taxi I saw and told the driver to take me to the corner of 7th and Elm.



Whin I got to the office, Rose, my secretary, was on the phone talking to her fiance ("Miss" 30).   Her husband to be was a real sweet talker, but he was a Communist, which made my blood hot.   Such a shame, a fine broad going to waste like that.   She whispered goodbye to him and hung up the phone.



"Any calls for me while I was out, Rose?"



"No, Sam, the morning's been pretty quiet so far," she replied.   "Here's the morning paper as you requested.   The coffee should be hot and ready in just a few minutes."



"You're a doll, you know that, Rose?   I swear my morning would be a nightmare if it weren't for you.   I've got a couple of tickets to the next Yankees game if you'd like to go out.   I hear Mantle and Rizzuto are hitting pretty well" (Effrat 34).



"Mr. Brock!   Thank you very much, but I'm engaged.   I can't go off on a weekend dating spree right before I get married.   What would others think?   They'd call me a floozy for sure!"



"Well, I thought it was worth a try.   Give me a holler if you change your mind.   I'll be in my office if anything comes up."   I walked into my office, about to shut the door, when I stopped myself.   "Rose, what do you see in that guy anyway?   Did he... [continues]

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