But I wouldn't get her fired.
Kendall finally finished eating-I'd just been dragging my breakfast out, waiting for him-and we got started. I hadn't thought much about what courses I would take. I didn't know the score on those things, naturally, and I'd just supposed that you wouldn't have much say-so about your studies.
Kendall said it wouldn't be that way.
'That would be somewhat the case if you were a regular member of the freshman class or if you were majoring in a specific subject. But since you'll be classified as a special student-you're attending as a matter of self-improvement and for, I assume, the prestige value of college study-you have a great deal of latitude as to subjects. Now if you wouldn't- uh-if you would like my suggestions-'
'I certainly would,' I said.
'Something, then, which would not point up any shortcomings in your past schooling. Something that is not predicated upon earlier studies in the same field… English literature. One can appreciate Pope without ever having read a line of Dryden. Political Science-more a matter of common sense than doctrinaire. History-merely another branch of literature… How does that sound to you, Mr. Bigelow?'
'Well-it sounds pretty-'
'Impressive? Impressive is the word.' He chuckled, pleased with himself. 'With such a course, no one could doubt your seriousness as a student.'
Impressive wasn't the word I'd been thinking of. I'd been about to say it sounded pretty damned tough.
'Whatever you say,' I said. 'If you think I can get by in those things.'
'You can and shall… with perhaps some slight assistance from me. You may depend upon it, Mr. Bigelow, I would not suggest subjects for you in which you could not-uh-get by.'
I nodded, I didn't think I'd have much trouble getting by either.
With someone like Kendall to steer me-someone who knew the ropes-I couldn't miss.
I imagine I could have got the enrollment over in thirty minutes, and! did get my registration over and my fees paid in about that time. But Kendall wasn't through when that was done. He introduced me to the president and the chancellor and the dean of men-and they were all polite and respectful to him. Then, he took me around and introduced me to each of the instructors I'd have.
When noon came we still had one more guy to see, so we ate in the school cafeteria and looked him up after lunch. By the time we got through with him it was two o'clock, and Kendall said there wasn't much point in starting any classes that day.
'Let's see, now'-he glanced at his watch as we left the campus-'why don't you use the rest of the afternoon to pick up any books or supplies you need? Then, after dinner, around six-thirty, say… Would that be agreeable, Mr. Bigelow? I was thinking we might set your working shift at, loosely, six-thirty to eleven.'
'Couldn't I come in earlier than that?' I said. 'I won't need more than an hour or so to do my shopping, and after today I'll be out of my class at three. I'd like to come in earlier, Mr. Kendall. For a while, anyway.'
I sounded plenty sincere-like maybe Dick Doordie, fighting through to fortune-and that's just how I felt. Until Ruthie cooled off, I had to have some place to hang out.
'Well-uh-of course, there wouldn't be any more money for you, but…'
'I don't care about that,' I said. 'I just like to be doing something, learning something.'
He turned his head slowly and looked at me, and for a moment I thought he was going to ask who the hell I was kidding. And when he finally got around to speaking, he seemed so pleased he was all choked up.
'Mr. Bigelow, I-I can't tell you how glad I am that you came to Peardale. My only regret is that we could not have met-that the circumstances of our association could not have been-uh-'
He broke off, blowing his nose, and we walked a block before he said anything more.
'Well, we must take things as we find them, eh? We must look on the bright side. You are industrious, you have fortitude, the will-to-do, and now you are doing all that can be done to round out your education… A powerful triumvirate, my s-Mr. Bigelow, flawed and shadowed as it may be. When you consider someone like poor Ruth, whose sole assets virtually are ambition and a quick mind-and handicapped as she is they are doubtful assets indeed-your own situation seems one of great good fortune.'
'I'm not complaining,' I said. 'You say Ruth's pretty smart?'
'Brilliant. Far from worldly-wise, of course, but an exceptionally keen intelligence. An honor student at the college. she's very well thought of there, incidentally. If you should encounter some difficulty with the curriculum, I'm sure she'd be glad to-'
'I wouldn't want to bother her,' I said. 'She gets embarrassed so easily. I don't want to pester you either, of course, but if I do have any trouble I'd rather talk it over with you. I feel more-well, more at home with you.'
'Hem!' He swelled up like a poisoned pup. 'Splendid- uh-that is to say, excellent! A pleasure, Mr. Bigelow.'
We separated down near the middle of town. He headed for the bakery, and I picked up my school supplies, taking a fast gander at Jake's barber shop as I passed it. It was a two-chair joint, but a cloth was draped over the front chair. Jake was dozing in the rear one, his head drooped forward on his chest.
I finished my buying, and had some coffee in a drugstore. Going out the door, I ran head on into Sheriff Summers.
'Howdy there, son.' He stood back from me a little. 'Thought you'd be in school today.'
'I've been there most of the day,' I said. 'Mr. Kendall went with me to see that I got off on the right foot, and we met so many of his friends I was all day in registering.'
'Well, well. Kendall went with you, eh? Didn't think nothin' short of a three-ring circus could get him away from that bakery.'
'I'm on my way to work there now,' I said. 'I've just been picking up some things I need at school.'
'Swell. Good boy.' He clapped me on the back. 'Uh-kinda hopin' I might run into you. Bessie's been-I mean, how about eatin' with us this Sunday?'
'Well'-I hesitated-'I… If you're sure it wouldn't be any trouble for you, sheriff.'
'Nothin' like it,' he said heartily. 'Tickled to death to have you. How'd it be if we meet you at church and go right from there?'
I said that would be fine.
'We'll be lookin' forward to it, then. I'm doggone glad you're gettin' lined up so well, son, after that-after all that mess at the beginning. Just keep up the good work, huh?'
'Thank you,' I said. 'I certainly intend to, sheriff.'
I passed Jake's shop again on the way to the bakery. And there he was, standing right up against the glass, staring straight out at me.
I could feel him watching me all the way up the street.
I put my books in my locker at the bakery, and changed clothes. I went up the stairs, whistling, feeling about as happy as a guy like me could feel. I knew I had plenty to worry about, and it wasn't any time to be getting cocky and careless. But the way things had gone today-getting squared away at school and the sheriff warming up to me and,.. and everything-I just couldn't worry much.
Kendall spotted me the moment I hit the floor, and he was all business now.
'Come along, Mr. Bigelow,' he said, herding me toward the stockroom. 'I'll get you started off, and then I'll have to leave you.'
We entered the stockroom, the main one, and he handed me the batch cards. There were fourteen of them-cardboard oblongs a little wider than a cigarette package and about three times the length. Each one listed
