"So how do you like the job?" I asked the wizened janitor who looked pleased
with himself in his green and gold livery by the revolving door. He had just
called a taxi for me and we started chatting.
"It's great! I help people during the day and get to write at night."
"You write?"
"Oh Yeah. The best way to spend one's time."
"How good are you?"
"Oh. I don't know. I don't want to brag, but some of my stuff did get published,
under others' names."
"You mean pen names?"
"Some. Yes. You see we have a good sellection of vodka and our hotel is popular
among alcoholic writers. They work an early morning shift and many are drunk
like a skunk by supper. So I sneak up to their rooms and write manuscripts for
them."
"You do?!"
"Yes. You know Mr. Dylan Thomas? I wrote 'Do not go gentle into that good night'
for him. His first draft was 'Don't go Jennifer. Don't say good night.'"
