She hustles back to her place on the counter. The stools are full. Girls, officeboys, grayfaced bookkeepers. ‘Chicken sandwich and a cup o caufee.’ ‘Cream cheese and olive oil sandwich and a glass of butter milk.’
‘Chocolate sundae.’
‘Egg sandwich, coffee and doughnuts.’ ‘Cup of boullion.’ ‘Chicken broth.’ ‘Chocolate icecream soda.’ People eat hurriedly without looking at each other, with their eyes on their plates, in their cups. Behind people sitting on stools those waiting nudge nearer. Some eat standing up.
(Dos Passos, Manhattan Transfer, p.283-4)
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