The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1954-01-20
A Short Story.
SHORT CUT
O BY ROGER SPLINTER

Iclpo w HldhS ny III Illc ldCI IlldI
l never get out now; I'm stuck be-
hind a desk. In the old days I rode
the fire-wagons and listened to peo-
pie sob their stories in the Metropo-
Titan Police Station here in Tokyo.
listened to the stories that never
made headlines because the basic
tragedies of Tokyo's teeming thou
sands are so common they never
make headlines.
Now, I'm a rewrite man. I'll stay
rewrite man. I get stories of
course. vicariously. but the old per-
sonal contact is gone. SO. I lis
ten to the Old Man give out assign
ments wistfully, chew my pencil
and work. There's plenty going on
to observe. though. Take the Leech,
for instance
The Leech is my name for the
perSonable young fellow by the
name of Hiroshi who started to
campaign for a job late last winter
l looked up one day and saw him
fidgeting in front of the old man
who was deep in pile of press re-
leases about Panmunjon and some
hazy ideas about his editorial for
the day.
What can do for you" the Old
Man said and 1 was surprised at the
mildneSs. His usual tone is a cross
between an asthmatic truck and a
cement mixer. Together with his
gently granite phiz with the straight
mouth, he bowls most job seekers
over.
I'D like job" the young fellow
said. standing straight and looking
the Old Man in the eye
'Hrmph." commented the Old
Man and read his releases for a full
10 minutes. When he looked up "a
gain. the young fellow was still
there and I could see the young
ster's smile.
Il suppose most job applicants
would have left by now the young
fellow said
YES" the Old Man said flatly
Maybe they're smarter than you -
"Or less patient" the young fell
low said softly.
The Old Mans eyes opened a lit
tie and I thought I saw the granite
crack a bit
"Alright-alright" he said I'VE
do need copyboy We can start
you at 5000 yen a month Come in
in the morning" He started to read
his releases.
The young fellow didn't bulge
He waited until the Old Man look
ed up again. Il think I'm quail
fled to do harder work than that, 1
write pretty well. I'd like to
| prove 1t on an actual assignment "
The Old Man surprised me again
Go find story and let me see it."
he grumphed but. it was a gentle
grumph. comparatively speaking
The young fellow grinned and left
That night. just about my quitting
time. there he was again, rumpled,
weary looking, but sort of trium-
plant. He didn't wait this time.
He walked up to the Old Mans
desk and thrust a sheaf of paper
under the forbidden visage.
The Old Man never looked I'D.
which lends credence to the office
theory that he has eyes in the top
of his head He read the copy I
could tell Then he tilted his head
Good story but poorly handled.
Rewrite it
That was unfair. That's my job
II the facts were straight and the
stuff good, the Old Man should've
kept it. For some reason he was
inconsistent. Usually he never gave
a beginner a break He gave this
kind break and now he was max
ing it rough. Inconsistent
The young fellow seemed fluster-
ed for the first time. Il was the
best writer in my class" he said
bit ENORMOUSLY.
Which hasn't anything to do
with my Standards rasped the Old
Man and his voice was at its Earring
best Il said reWrite it Then get
me another. He started to work
again and the young fellow turned
away, ! caught his eye and made a
friendly grin to tell him that we all
weren't oast-iron He grinned
back but he had worried look
About 300 re-writes later he was
back. This time he dropped by my
desk and stuck out his hand
"Hroshi Azuma." he said with
smile Handsome kid ] thought
Personality plus Plenty Of get-up-
and-go. He might crack the clta-
del at that. IT thought I'd better
tell you who I am" he said being
you're going to see a lot of me-" He
walked to the Old Mans desk "Sir
here are three more stories. They