America 1919

The front door burst open, and Dennis, flushed and stumbling drunk, walked in without greeting anyone and headed straight to the bedroom to rummage around.

Margaret watched Dennis's condition, her hands trembling as she washed the dishes.

Shortly after, Dennis stormed out, infuriated.

"Where's the money?"

Margaret turned around, her hands braced on the stove, and said with forced calm, "We have no money left at home!"

"Bullshit!"

Dennis, like an angry leopard, swiftly approached and grabbed Margaret by the throat, yelling loudly, "Where's your paycheck?"

Margaret wasn't a traditional housewife in the current American sense; she had her own job, working as an assistant in a boutique clothing store on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

Her monthly wage was 45 US dollars!

Margaret, gripped by the throat by Dennis, turned red-faced and gasped, "That's for paying the rent, buying winter clothes, and coal!"

The house wasn't theirs; they rented it for ten US dollars a month.

Atlantic City is a city with cold winters and warm summers, and without heating, one simply could not survive the winter.

At this point, Margaret was struggling to breathe. Seeing her like this, Dennis shoved her away. Margaret fell to the ground, looking up at Dennis with a mix of defiance and injury.

"Damn it, I slave away every day to earn money, and this is how you manage the house for me? I don't care, give me the money now, or I'll kill you!"

Facing Dennis in this state was something Margaret was both familiar with and fearful of. Familiar, because scenes like this were played out several times a month in this household; fearful because each time they occurred, she was the one who suffered.

Although Dennis's monthly wage was more than Margaret's, almost all of it went to the casinos of Atlantic City, and a large part of her own wages also ended up in the casinos because of Dennis.

But Margaret still wanted to hold on, unwilling to hand over her paycheck to Dennis.

It was this thought that led to the repetitive domestic scenes in the Schroeder household.

By the time Dennis left the Schroeder home, pleased with himself and clutching Margaret's wages, Margaret was left with a bruised face, obviously unable to go to work.

After cleaning her blood-stained face with the cold water from home, Margaret stepped outside, intending to use the public telephone to call in sick to the clothing store.

Walking with her head down and body faltering, she didn't want anyone to see her current state.

And because of this, she accidentally bumped into a man while walking.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it wasn't on purpose!"

Margaret quickly raised her head to apologize to the man.

A tall man, handsome and distinguished, stood before her.

"It's alright... Miss, do you need help?" Donnie initially smiled, but upon seeing Margaret's condition, asked with concern.

Margaret hastily looked down again and said, "No, thank you!"

Then she hurried past Donnie to the public phone booth to make a call to the clothing store.

But at that moment, Donnie showed excessive enthusiasm, following close to Margaret and saying, "Miss, you really don't look well. I'm Donnie Block from the Atlantic City Mutual Aid and Fellowship Association. If there's anything troubling you, you can share it with us?"

"Mutual Aid and Fellowship Association?"

Curious about the association name Donnie had fabricated, Margaret paused; she and Dennis were not originally from Atlantic City.... Actually, there weren't many natives in the whole of Atlantic City. The United States is a country of immigrants, and Atlantic City is a city of them.

Yet they had lived in Atlantic City for several years and had never heard of a Mutual Aid and Fellowship Association before!

"Yes, our association has just been founded!" Donnie continued to weave his lies, saying, "Although Atlantic City may seem flourishing, we've found that there are still many people who need help and care. That's why we established this association, aiming to assist everyone in Atlantic City who needs help."

"Mr. Block, you're good people, God will bless you!" Margaret said devoutly.

Donnie exaggerated, "God loves everyone!"

Margaret, now drawn to Donnie's attitude, stopped and asked, "Mr. Block, what does your Mutual Aid and Fellowship Association do exactly?"

Donnie laughed awkwardly and said, "It's funny to say, our association has just been established, and actually, there's still a lot we don't quite understand. I heard from a friend that there's a WCTU officer living here, Miss Margaret Schroeder. I heard she's a very enthusiastic woman, so I specifically came to seek her advice this time.

Unfortunately, this district is just too big, and I still haven't found Miss Schroeder!"

Margaret revealed an exaggerated expression and looked at Donnie incredulously, saying, "I am Margaret!"

"My God, truly God's blessing!" Donnie also showed a delighted expression, as if he couldn't help himself, he took both of Margaret's hands, "I didn't expect to be so lucky!"

Curious, Margaret asked, "May I know which friend of yours introduced me to you, Mr. Block?"

Donnie casually mentioned a fictitious name, which left Margaret somewhat perplexed, but considering there were so many people in the WCTU, and she didn't necessarily know them all, she accepted Donnie's explanation.

"Mr. Block, I'm very sorry, but I still have a phone call to make, so I...."

Margaret said apologetically.

Donnie immediately nodded, wearing an apologetic smile, and acknowledged, "That's my oversight, Miss Schroeder, you go ahead and make your call, I will wait for you outside!"

"Thank you!" Margaret said humbly, and then she entered the public telephone booth and dialed the number for the dress shop.

At that moment, she couldn't help but look outside the phone booth at Donnie Block. As an employee of the dress shop, Margaret could naturally tell that Donnie's clothes weren't exactly top-notch, but they seemed to give off a very natural vibe on him, as if he was born to wear any clothes he put on.

At the same time, she noticed the spring-breeze-like smile on Donnie's face and the crossed hands in front of him as he stood there without any hint of impatience. To every passerby who focused their attention on him, Donnie Block would offer a sunny smile.

When a little girl selling flowers passed by with a timid gaze, making a brave attempt to sell a flower from her basket to him, Donnie Block would receive it with a smile, gently pay for the flower, and tenderly ruffle the girl's hair while doing so.

This is a gentleman!

Margaret couldn't help but think.

"Hello, hello, hello, that person."

While Margaret was observing Donnie, the voice from the phone brought her back to reality. She quickly identified herself and explained the situation about needing to take time off.

The person on the other end of the line did not make things difficult for Margaret but did mention that Margaret's pay for that day would be deducted.

After finishing her call, Margaret exited the phone booth and spoke softly to Donnie, "Mr. Block, I've finished my phone call!"

Donnie presented the flower he had just bought from the little flower seller to Margaret and said earnestly, "To thank you, Miss Schroeder, for your help!"

Margaret felt moved in her heart. How long had it been since she had last received flowers from someone?

Two years?

Three years?

Or five years?

She could not remember anymore.

"Thank you, Mr. Block!" Margaret expressed her gratitude.

Now that the two had a good start, things became much easier. Donnie suggested they have a detailed discussion about how to run an association well, under the guise of seeking advice. However, he also subtly indicated that he was considering Margaret's current situation, and ultimately the two ended up at Margaret's home to discuss the so-called affair of running a caring and friendly association.

"I'm sorry, the neighbor's child came over to play this morning and made a mess of the place!"

Margaret, who had left the house earlier, hadn't had the chance to tidy up the messy room resulting from her own beating, and naturally, she had no way to tell Donnie the truth and instead blamed the disarray on the neighbor's child.

"Miss Schroeder must be a very caring person!"

Having guessed the situation in front of him, Donnie did not expose Margaret's embarrassment.

After brewing a cup of coffee for Donnie, Margaret sat opposite him and began to explain in detail the requirements for starting an association.

Donnie pretended to listen to Margaret's words attentively, nodding from time to time to show that he understood what she was saying.

"I am very grateful for today, Miss Schroeder. However, I am new to Atlantic City and not very familiar with the place, so I might need to seek your help from time to time in the future. I hope you won't refuse when the time comes!"

"It would be my honor to assist you, Mr. Block!" Margaret didn't refuse Donnie's request.

Afterward, Donnie stood up to take his leave.

Margaret saw him to the door and watched as Donnie walked away, her eyes becoming somewhat vacant.

In the following two or three days, Donnie did indeed meet with Margaret every day to discuss how to manage a caring and friendly association, and because of this, their relationship deepened.

By this time, they were already addressing each other as 'Margaret' and 'Donnie'!

And it was at this time that Atlantic City, and indeed the entire United States, was about to face the onset of the real Prohibition era!