An Enlightened Self

In the morning Pim introduces Jack to the boss, and all is set; Jack can start right away. He does the same sort of thing as at the mink farmer's new house. He carries lumber, shovels dirt, digs ditches, fetches nails, strapping, tar paper, sealant, insulation. Whatever anyone needs done or moved or brought from one place to another. It's hot, but Jack likes the work. Nice and mindless, so he can think about more important things.

Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, ontogeny, phylogeny, genetic drift. How did it, how does it, how could it, all happen?

Pim meets a local girl, and starts to hang around with her. Her parents don't like him; he's too old for her. But Sharon is friendly and personable. A bit chubby for Jack's taste, but Pim is not so particular. Towards the end of their stay the three of them take to going to a park, and Pim and his girlfriend make love in a shed while Jack reads a book in the shade of a tree, and keeps an eye out for anyone coming. He feels a bit guilty, this girl being so young, but it's not for him to tell Pim what to do.

She's so warm and open with Jack too… he wonders if she would… But that would be a betrayal all around.

The last week before Jack has to be back at school there's a small circus in town. And Jack finds out something else about himself; he's a sucker for a long shot. He loses all of his money at one of the gambling booths.