A.Word.A.Day drabble – 5/25/10: bagman

A.Word.A.Day drabble – 5/25/10: bagman. Trying to keep it happy and sexy, but it’s Just. Not. Cooperating.


A Word A Day by Anu Garg

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bagman
PRONUNCIATION: (BAG-man, BAG-muhn)

MEANING:
noun:
1. One who collects or distributes money from illicit activities, for example, in a protection racket.
2. UK: A traveling salesman.
3. Canada: A political fundraiser.
4. Australia: A tramp; swagman.
5. Golf: A caddie hired to carry a golf player's clubs.
ETYMOLOGY:
From the literal senses of the words bag and man.
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He comes in every Tuesday and orders the number 78, which doesn’t exist. And every Tuesday, my parents fill a take-out bag with protection money and hand it over, their faces expressionless. His face is just as blank as he gives them a five-dollar bill and takes the bag.

This is the Tuesday that I lose patience. I follow him out of the restaurant and into an alley.

“Hey! Filthy piece of mob shit!”

He turns and reaches behind him. I tense, but he’s holding his wallet. He adds a wad of cash to the bag, smiles, and walks away.