IÆve been at Aunt LindaÆs for a bit over a week now. Uncle Willy was on the road but came home three days ago. I am having a fun time tossing around baseballs and playing with Happy and Biff in the yard, but I am beginning to be a bit concerned about the whole family. Willy has been very depressed it seems. He is always complaining about money or the lack of it. He complains he has spent his whole life in service of his company but now they consider him without value. I overheard him tell Linda that he got into an argument at work with his boss, Howard. He became upset because he could not pay for his insurance. He told Aunt Linda that he said to Howard, ôI put thirty-four years into this firmàYou canÆt eat the orange and throw the peel awayùa man is not a piece of fruit,ö (Miller, p. 82).
It seems the Lomans cannot catch a break these days. If it isnÆt WillyÆs insurance or his automobile, it seems something around the house is always in need of repair. He was quite angry when he found out his Hastings refrigerator was on the blink. He complained that his neighbor had much better sense to buy a brand name General Electric refrigerator that lasts and lasts. Aunt Linda didnÆt know I was in the hallway, but while there I heard Willy complaining. He said: ôOnce in my life I would like to own something before itÆs broken! IÆm always in a race with the junkyard! I just finished paying for the car and itÆs on its last legs. The refrigerator consumes belts like a goddam maniac. They time those things. They time them so when you finally paid for them, theyÆre used up,ö (Miller, p. 73).
WillyÆs even been borrowing some money from his friend and letting Linda think it is his pay. I know you taught me not to eavesdrop but it seems I am always in the right place at the right time to overhear these things. He is angry he can never seem to be free and clear. He has been taking this ou
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