noon
`` Aw , shut up . '' Ernie did not like his foreman , but neither did he like the prospect of losing his job . He could n't afford to be out of work . The noon whistle blew as he was finishing the last of the extra assemblies . Ernie tossed his tools down and left the line . * * * * * The sight of the food in the cafeteria reminded him all over again that he was spending too much money . His stomach had felt queasy .