"Jimmy in work was just saying about layoffs at our place."

Ralph resettled into his easy chair, put his feet up on the hassock like a king.

"Huh? Did you say somethin'?"

The news had moved on to another company. Another crowd of angry workers. Another hepped-up young underpaid journalist sticking his mic into faces that looked worried or mad or stunned.

"Hey look at this, Alice. Detroit."