"The Town Square" by Orrie Hitt (Swank, May 1964)

"The Town Square" is one of the few known short stories published by prolific novelist Orrie Hitt, and it appeared in the May 1964 issue of Swank. The story is about Ricky Norden, who grew up in Anderson City where his father raked leaves in Fletcher Park. When Ricky’s high school fling, Dora Jackson, announces she is pregnant and he is the father, he quits school to get a job. After the baby is born, a blood test proves who the real father is, and Ricky promptly punches the man responsible and then hitches up with a traveling carnival as a boxer. Ricky's performance catches the eye of trainer Maxie Lord who sees big potential in Ricky. Maxie's daughter, Sharon, also sees big potential in Ricky, especially his paychecks. But as Maxie continues to pay off fighters to lose, and Sharon's habits get more and more expensive, Ricky realizes that he's being used by both father and daughter, and it's only a matter of time before things come crashing down.

Stylistically, this reads like the outline to a novel, rushing from scene to scene, with only the most essential details necessary. But if one criticizes it for being too fast and brief, perhaps that is because what is sketched is a damned good yarn that would have made an excellent novel. As is, it’s Orrie Hitt noir distilled to its barest, basest, most essential elements: a man is doomed to fail from the beginning, he is exploited by those around him, and he is cursed by his own desires. 

    There's a clock near the park, one of those temperature and time things some building and loans have, and because my watch is in a hock shop it's a help.

    My lunch period is from twelve to one and the boss checks on me every one in a while.

    Sometimes I wish I had an office job but I honestly don't mind the work.

    All I have to do is rake leaves.

    Just like my father did.

    Poor guy.

    Real dumb.

    But, hell, who isn't?