The Last Gentleman

that Son Junior would go away. In every such situation, he had noticed, there is always one person who makes things worse.
    David left quickly. Dull in some ways, he was as quick as any Negro to know when white people had white troubles. Rita drew Jamie down in David’s chair.
    â€œI can’t wait for the game,” cried Kitty. “You coming to see me work, Jimbo?” In the past month she had metamorphosed from ballerina to cheerleader. “We’re number one! We’re number one!” she would chant and set her white skirt swirling about her legs so cunningly that the engineer almost fell out of the grandstand, overcome by pride and love.
    â€œNo, it’s not the game,” said Rita, gazing steadfastly away but patting Jamie’s arm with hard steady pats. Kitty’s gambit didn’t work, she was saying. But hers didn’t either.
    â€œJamie and I are planning to go down to the Coast this weekend,” said the engineer.
    Everyone looked at Jamie, but he could not bring himself to say anything.
    â€œYou don’t mean this weekend,” cried Kitty.
    â€œI’m going,” said Jamie in a loud voice, all squeaks and horns.
    â€œI’m with you, Tiger,” said Rita, still patting.
    Damn, don’t pat him, thought the engineer.
    Rita ran a hand through Jamie’s hair (like my mother, thought the engineer in a sudden déjà vu, ruffling my hair for the photographer so it would look “English” and not slicked down). “Val was here today and she upset him with some of her—ideas.”
    â€œIt’s not that,” said Jamie, losing control of his voice again.
    â€œI think he really wants to go down to Tyree County and clear things up and I don’t blame him.”
    â€œI don’t.”
    â€œYou said you did.”
    â€œThat was before.”
    â€œDon’t misunderstand me,” said Rita, speaking for some reason to the engineer. “I think Val is doing a magnificent job down there. I happen to know a little about such things, having worked with Indian kids, who are just as bad off. No, my hat’s off to her. But to come up here cold, so to speak, after making herself scarce for the past year as far as Jamie is concerned and to seriously propose to this guy here who despite the fact that he is a wretch and a no-good-bum”—she ruffled Jamie’s hair—“nevertheless pulled down first place in the National Science competition—that a rather stupid Irishman in a black skirt pour water over his head while uttering words in a dead language (and uttering them in atrocious ecclesiastical Latin besides)—excuse me, but I think the whole affair is exceedingly curious. Though I’m frank to say I don’t know why it upsets you. But listen now: if you want to go down there, Tiger, I’ll drive the car for you and hold the ewer or whatever it is.”
    â€œI am not going there,” said Jamie through his teeth. “And if I were, that would not be the reason.” The engineer sighed with relief. Jamie’s anger had got the better of his tears.
    â€œI’m Baptist and DeMolay myself,” said Son Junior, twirling his keys glumly. He had not quite got the straight of it but did perceive that the subject of religion had come up.
    â€œThat’s not the point,” cried Jamie, in anguish again. “I’m not interested in either—”
    Mr. Vaught, who couldn’t stay put anywhere for long and so made a regular tour of the house, shuttling back and forth between the pantry and the living room, where Mrs. Vaught and Myra Thigpen usually sat, happened at that moment to be circling the wall of the pantry.
    â€œWe all headed for the same place and I don’t think the good Lord cares how we get there,” he cried, shot his cuff, and went on his way.
    â€œThe Bible says call no man father,” said Lamar Thigpen sternly, looking around for the adversary.
    Sutter, whom the engineer had not for one second lost sight of sighed and poured another glass of dark brown bourbon.
    Jamie groaned and the engineer reflected that there were no clear issues any more. Arguments are spoiled. Clownishness always intervenes.
    Rita waited until the Thigpens drifted away and then pulled the card players closer. “If you want to know what sets my teeth on edge and I strongly suspect Jamie here might be similarly affected”—she spoke in a low