around the room. Everybody gave some money—even Jimmy
Johnston, the man who had taken away Jim's license.
Finally, Jim stopped in front of Joe Gould. "I'm sorry, Joe," he
told his old manager.
"What do you have to be sorry about, Jim?" said Joe. "How
much more do you need?"
"One dollar and fifty cents, I think," whispered Jim. Joe placed
the exact amount in Jim's hat.
When Jim left the club, it was dark outside and streetlights lit
the icy sidewalks. Jim walked past a store that had gone out of
business. His face looked back at him from the dark glass of the
store window. He had seen that look before. It was on the face of
the man in his old suit selling apples on the street corner. It was on
the face of the banker waiting in line for hours at the Newark
relief office.
Jim had never understood how a proud man could sink so low.
Now, with the money in his pocket to get his children back, Jim
knew. He finally understood.
•
The next night, Mae opened the apartment door and turned on
the electric light. Jay and Howard ran inside, followed by Jim, who
was carrying the sleeping Rosy.
Jim was happy to see his family together and home again, but
he felt other emotions, too. He knew now how easily their world
could be destroyed.
He couldn't sleep that night. When the sun finally appeared, he
got up and dressed silently. Before he left for another long day of
work, he stood at the door and looked at his family. A boxer
entered the ring alone. If he was knocked down, he alone could
stand up and continue fighting. Jim was alone now, as he left the
house and went looking for work.
26
Chapter 6 One Fight Only
Spring had come to Newark at last, and the Braddock family had
joined other families at the local church. Once a month the priest,
Father Rorick, organized a birthday party for all the children
whose parents couldn't afford a party.
Jim and Mae watched as their children joined all the others
around a large wooden table with two big cakes. Everybody
starting singing, "Happy birthday to you . . . Happy birthday to
you . . ."
Jim put his hand around Mae, happy that the cast was off at last.
When it was time to sing the names, the different families all sang
a different name.
"Happy birthday, dear Jay," sang the Braddocks. "Happy
birthday to you!"
Howard pulled his father's arm. "It was better when we had our
own cake," he said.
Father Rorick heard him. "Do you know I boxed your father a
long time ago?"
Howard couldn't believe it. He looked at his father in surprise.
"You hit Father Rorick?"
"As often as possible," said Jim with a big smile.
Mae Braddock joined the two men. She looked worried.
"Jimmy . . ." She looked across the road. Mike, Jim's work partner
at the docks, was sitting at the end of a long table. His wife, Sara,
held their baby daughter in her arms and she was shouting at
Mike.
"You're always trying to fix the world!" she shouted. "Why
don't you fix your own family? What kind of father are you? Too
proud to let people know that our daughter can't have her own
birthday cake . . ."
Mike stared back angrily. "Are you joking, Sara?"
27