When the narrator was walking, he saw an old friend who worked for the same group he worked for selling toys illegally, and the authorities were able to see what Clifton was doing . Since what Clifton was doing was illegal, the authorities tried to catch him, but Clifton started running and pushed the authorities' buttons, so the narrator describes the cruel situation he just witnessed: "He fell to his knees, like a man saying his prayers just as a burly man with a brimmed hat came out of the newsstand and shouted a protest The policeman was now standing and looking at Clifton as if surprised, with his gun in his hand" (Ellison 436). After Clifton was killed, the narrator wanted to help his friend; however, he was not allowed to do so, which affected him. Not only was this scene brutal for anyone to see, but watching someone you knew die in front of you is even worse. The officers did not allow the narrator to attempt to do anything in an attempt to save his friend's life, and this caused a large scene. Being in this situation can make people feel guilty for not being able to do anything because the narrator actually had the chance to try to help someone close to him, Clifton, but was not allowed