away. They were bringing back gangs of fans from the local soccer stadium. They

were crowded onto the run­ ning boards and hanging from the handrails. The

street­ cars that followed brought back the players, whom I recognized by their

little athletic bags. They were shout­ ing and singing at the tops of their

lungs that their team would never die. Several of them waved to me. One of them

even yelled up to me, "We beat 'em!" And I nodded, as if to say "Yes. " From

then on there was a steady stream of cars.

 

The sky changed again. Above the rooftops the sky had taken on a reddish glow,

and with evening coming on the streets came to life. People were straggling back

from their walks. I recognized the distinguished little man among the others.

Children were either crying or lagging behind. Almost all at once moviegoers

spilled out of the neighborhood theaters into the street. The young men among

them were gesturing more excitedly than usual and I thought they must have seen

an ad­ venture film. The ones who had gone to the movies in town came back a

little later. They looked more serious. They were still laughing, but only now

and then, and they seemed tired and dreamy. But they hung around anyway, walking

up and down the sidewalk across the street. The local girls, bareheaded, were

walking arm inarm. The young men had made sure they would have to bump right

into them and then they would make cracks. The girls giggled and turned their

heads away. Several of the girls, whom I knew, waved to me.

 

Then the street lamps came on all of a sudden and made the first stars appearing

in the night sky grow dim. I felt my eyes getting tired from watching the street

filled with so many people and lights. The street lamps were making the pavement