The Meowmorphosis Read Online Free Page A

The Meowmorphosis
Book: The Meowmorphosis Read Online Free
Author: Franz Kafka
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remember his earlier achievements and to consider that later, after the obstacles have been shoved aside, that person will work all the more eagerly and intensely. I am really so indebted to our chief—you know that perfectly well. On the other hand, I’m concerned for the well-being of my parents and my sister. I’m in a fix here, but I’ll work myself out of it again. Don’t make things more difficult for me than they already are; please, speak up on my behalf in the office! People don’t like traveling salesmen; I know that. People think we earn pots of money and thus lead a fine life. They don’t have any special reason, I know, to think through this prejudice more carefully. But you, sir, you have a better perspective on what’s involved than other people—even, I tell you in total confidence, a better perspective than the chairman himself, who in his capacity as our employer may sometimes make casual misjudgments of an employee. You also know well enough that the traveling salesman, who’soutside the office almost the entire year, can become so easily a victim of gossip, coincidences, and groundless complaints, against which it’s impossible for him to defend himself, since for the most part he doesn’t hear about them at all, unless it’s when he’s finally home after finishing a trip, exhausted, and then feels in his bones the nasty consequences, which he can’t even trace back to their origins. Please, sir, don’t leave without saying something, without telling me you’ll at least concede that I’m at least somewhat right!”

    SHE HELD OUT HER ARMS AND GREGOR LEAPT HAPPILY INTO THEM, PROPELLED BY SOME ANCIENT INSTINCT.
    But at Gregor’s first words the manager had turned away, looking with pursed lips over his twitching shoulders at Gregor. During Gregor’s speech he did not stay still for a moment but kept moving away toward the door, painstakingly slowly, without taking his eyes off Gregor, as if trying to escape some secret ban on leaving the room. He now reached the hall, and given the sudden movement with which he finally pulled his foot out of the living room, one could have believed that he had just burned it. There in the hall, he stretched his right hand out toward the staircase, as if some truly supernatural relief awaited him there.
    Gregor realized that he must not under any circumstances allow the manager to leave in this frame of mind—especially if his position in the firm was not to be placed in the greatest danger. His parents did not understand all this very well. Overthe long years, they had developed the conviction that Gregor was set for life in his firm, and, in addition, they had so many immediate troubles to worry about nowadays that they’d been unable to spare a thought for the future. But Gregor did have such foresight. The manager must be held back, calmed down, convinced, and ultimately won over. The future of Gregor and his family truly depended on it! Oh, if only his sister would show her face! She was clever. She had already giggled while Gregor was still lying quietly on his belly, purring, and Gregor expected this meant he had one ally, at least. The manager, who was fond of the ladies, would certainly let himself be guided by her. She would have closed the door to the apartment and talked the man out of his fright in the hall. But his sister did not come rescue him. Gregor must deal with it himself.
    Forgetting that he still didn’t know much about his present ability to move and that his speech possibly—indeed, probably—had once again not been understood, Gregor pushed back out of his mother’s embrace, intending to approach the manager, who was already holding tight onto the handrail with both hands on the landing in a ridiculous way. But as Gregor looked for something against which he could hold himself upright, with a small yowl he scrabbled and immediately fell down onto his four little legs. Scarcely had this happened when he felt for the first time
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