Joe answered "Is the waitin' common in this job?"

His new job, chosen on the spur of the moment had caused some concern in the new branch of Blacke family. Pearl expressed fears for his safety, but Joe had yet to feel the heat of real danger. He had made arguments that he would be helping others, ultimately more rewarding path than the life behind a desk that her father had promised him. Such an offer was unlikely to be extended again given their recent rash decision to marry.

Instead he had climbed many ladders, reeled many hoses, and polished much brass. Recent excitement had been rescuing a fat fisher child wedged tightly in a barrel. Yet he knew how to wait, having done his share of it on the railway.