Summary

In the section “Gray Mercedes,” just before midnight August “Augie" Odenkirk joined the line of job seekers standing in line at the City Center waiting for a job fair to open the following morning. Janice Cray, the woman in line ahead of her, had her baby, Patti, with her. The baby began to cry at about 3 a.m. and Augie directed Janice to use his sleeping bag so she could have some privacy to feed the baby and change her diaper.

The sky began to lighten at about 5 a.m. The line of people saw a janitor walk through the City Center and a small cheer was heard. People began to talk. Augie decided that when Janice woke up he would suggest they say they were a couple so she would not seem as irresponsible for having the baby with her. He watched...