joe and ratso sit near the rear of the bus. ratso's teeth chatter, wrapped in the blanket.
joe and ratso have reversed places, putting ratso by the window. joe watches a middle-aged couple try on their new straw hats, unaware that joe is watching them.
joe and ratso have moved to the seat farthest back, wider than the others. joe blocks the view of the other passengers as he helps ratso into a new pair of corduroy pants and a florida shirt. in the middle of the operation, ratso dozes off. joe shakes his head, scowling, annoyed, but continues, lifting ratso enough to slide the pants around his waist. ratso awakens as joe zips the fly.
ratso's eyes squint in a dazed half-sleep. joe leans across to pull down the shade. he hesitates a moment, watching.
joe sits stiffly, very frightened, as the bus starts on. then he glances at ratso, frowning, reaches out an arm and puts it around ratso, settling back, staring straight ahead.