Bent over her bin all day, Annie labored toward six o’clock while in the front room, on the roll-top desk, the men played craps. They threw the dice back and forth, swearing at each other, the smell of cigar smoke drifting back to the bins. Annie stooped beneath the day’s torpor.

“Those Jews!” said Laurita.

“Annie, chica, ask them when they’re gonna pay us by the sack. They’ll listen to you,” said Natalie.

She tried.

“That’s all right, kid,” one of the men said. “Soon as we get straight with the airplane people, get all this worked out, get the contract, you fellows will go on straight piecework. Takes time—you get me? We got practically not two bucks between us. Understand, we’re trying to get this thing set up for all of us, but we got to pull in our belts until the good times come. When they start making planes for the war, you’ll see. You got to remember, we’re not one of your rich outfits with plenty of capital.” She went back to her bin and listened to the dice hitting the wood. Suddenly she’d shouted, “When are you going to pay us enough to live on? Don’t give me any story about contracts!”

The three men came to the door, their heads all held at the same angle of indignation.

“Out,” said one to Annie. “You’re just out.”

She began to laugh. “Crooks,” she screamed. Around her the girls were silent. She glanced at them. They had drawn back their chairs. Their eyes glistened. She could hear their accelerated breathing.

“I’ve been fired,” she said gaily, weakly.

Laurita stood up, then the others.

“We’ll all go,” said the girl. There were distressed murmurs from the others. They needed the money; they couldn’t quit.

“I’ll go,” Annie said, pulling back her chair. “But you don’t have to. Thanks anyhow.”

She wasn’t angry any more. After she left, there would be no sign she’d ever been in that room. There was nothing to take from it except her old black pocketbook. As she walked toward the front where the three men were standing in a line like an ushering service, one of them stuffed a five-dollar bill in her hand, unclenching her fingers and closing them around the money.

“I’m going to the union,” Annie said softly.

“Ha! The union,” said the one who’d given her the money.

“What does she know,” said another. “The stupid!”

Max was standing over her looking down.

“You’re all right?”

“I was remembering that place,” she said. She sat up slowly, as though afraid she’d empty out.

“This will be over,” Max said. She looked up at him. They remained that way for what seemed a long time, simply looking at each other. Then he went back and sat down.