This story ends with the protagonist lamenting having sold his books and then apparently dying after polishing a shiny penny he earlier found in a gutter.
In this story, the protagonist remembers a sick Italian named Mollica who wanted to see California before he died. This story's brief prologue is called "Sleep" and includes such images as Eliot baking bread and "Mr. Chaplin weeeping." The protagonist consumes bread, coffee, and cigarettes for every meal until he runs out of bread, forcing him to contemplate asking an old man feeding pigeons for bread crumbs. At one point, the protagonist goes to the Y.M.C.A. to compose an (*) Application for Permission to Live. This story ends with the protagonist lamenting having sold his books and then apparently dying after polishing a shiny penny he earlier found in a gutter. Its title is the Depression-era tune the protagonist's mind hums at several points. For 10 points, name this William Saroyan short story whose title refers to a song about a circus performer.
In this story, the protagonist remembers a sick Italian named Mollica who wanted to see California before he died.
"The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze"