johnny came up out of the subway.
it was christmas time.
christmas was in the air. shoppers filled the street. santa was standing beside his big black kettle, talking to a couple of fast talking floozies.
johnny took the gun out of his pocket and dropped it in the kettle. the floozies kept talking and santa kept listening. johnny crossed in the middle of the street. a cab just missed him and the driver let out a stream of profanities that would have made atilla the hun blush.
a guy in a panama hat was walking down the middle of the street. johnny started to walk around him and the guy grabbed his arm.
"hey pal, how do i get to 53rd and broadway?"
"i don't know", said johnny, "keep walking down broadway. i guess. but i'm a stranger here."
the man in the panama roared with fake laughter. "same old johnny! johnny smith! always something to hide. where you been hiding, johnny? gee, i haven't seen you in months. what's the problem, don't you recognize an old pal?"
johnny looked up and looked the guy in the eye. "months? i been away six years, pete. didn't anyone tell you there’s a war on?"
"ha ha, so you do know me! is there a war on, johnny? i thought it was over but what do i know? i used to see the sailors and soldiers around but they never came into my shop, you know? they had their own hats, what did they need me for? say, you could use a nice hat yourself, come on over sometime. i'll give you a heck of a deal." pete clapped johnny on the shoulder.
just then there was a commotion across the street around santa's kettle.
pete took his hand off johnny’s shoulder. “i wonder what’s going on,” he said.
“why don’t you go over and see?” johnny asked him.
“i think i just will. that’s the way i am, always wanting to see what’s going on. how about you, you want to see what’s going on?”
“i already know what’s going on.”
“ha,ha! same old johnny! hasn’t changed a bit. well, take care of yourself, johnny, it was nice talking to you.”
“it was nice talking to you too, pete.” johnny said.
pete went over to see what was going on.
johnny moved on down the street. he heard shouting behind him, but he didn’t look back.
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