“Yes, Joel.”
“It’s kind of sudden, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“What makes you go?”
“Bad news, Joel.”
“Be any of your folks dead?”
“It is not death. I haven’t any ‘folks.’ I’m alone in the world. It’s because I’ve lost my property and am too poor to remain in school.”
“That’s too bad,” said the driver in a tone of sympathy. “Where are you goin’?”
“To the city.”
“Are you goin’ to work?”