Wednesday, December 25, 2013
horses are going to eat a lot of oats this week with my hundred dollar
bill.” Things grew to worse proportions; the rain roared. Diane
originally lived in the place first, so she told Henri to pack up and
get out. He started packing. I pictured myself all alone in this rainy
shack with that shrew. I tried to intervene. Henri pushed Diane. She
made a jump for the gun. Henri gave me the gun and told me to hide it;
there was a clip of eight shells in it. Diane began screaming, and
finally she put on her raincoat and went out in the mud to get a cop,
and what a cop!---if it wasn’t our old friend San Quentin. Luckily he
wasn’t home. She came back all wet. I hid in my corner with my head
between my knees. Gad what was I doing three thousand miles from home?
Why had I come here? Where was my slow boat to China? “And yet another
thing you dirty cuntlapper” yelled Diane “tonight was the last time I’ll
ever make your filthy brains and eggs, and your filthy lamb curry, so
you can fill your filthy belly and get fat and sassy right before my
eyes.” “It’s all right,” Henri said quietly, “it’s perfectly all right.
When I took up with you I didn’t expect roses and moonshine and I’m not
surprised this night and this day. I tried to do a few things for
you---I tried my best for both of you---you’ve both let me down. I’m
terribly, terribly disappointed in both of you” he continued in absolute
sincerity “I thought something would come of us together, something
fine and lasting; I tried; I flew to Hollywood; I got Jack a job; I
bought you beautiful dresses; I tried to introduce you to the finest
people in San Francisco. You refused, you both refused to follow the
slightest wish I had. I asked for nothing in return. Now I ask for one
last favor and then I’ll never ask a favor again. My father is coming to
San Francisco next Saturday night. All I ask is that you come with me
and try to look as though everything is the way I’ve written him…in
other words, you, Diane, you are my woman; and you Jack, you are my
friend. I’ve arranged to borrow a hundred dollars for Saturday night.
I’m going to see that my father has a good time and can go away without
any reason in the world to worry about me.” This surprised me. Henri’s
father was a distinguished French professor in Columbia University and a
member of the Legion of Honor in France.
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