In return, he received two small loaves of hard day-old bread. It wasn’t much, but it would be lunch for the day and maybe dinner, too. Passing a shop window, he stopped to look at the merchandise on display. A new pair of shoes, a record player, and a silver-plated shaving kit were among the items offered—not that many, including himself, could afford such luxuries. Taking the main road out of town, he turned onto a dirt road leading to one of the vineyards that littered the countryside. He was always amazed at how high the vines grew, a good fifty feet in some places. He’d learned that it was so the farmer could then plant vegetables beneath them, using every available speck of ground. David sat under one of the many vines, beating Frank to the rendezvous spot, but not by much. Breaking one of the loaves in two, he offered Frank one half before the usual cigarettes could be lit. If David wasn’t careful, he might get hooked on the damn things. Frank took a big bite and scrunched up his face.
