Together (2)

They were on the train, alone, in their own private berth. In Charlevoix, they got up to mischief. They stole some things. They hid them. Dickie talked about the University of Michigan, and they agreed to go together. Dickie invited Babe to Charlevoix for the Summer and Babe accepted. Dickie had a boat. Mr. Loeb even had a boathouse built for him. But in the Fall, Nathan got sick. Repeatedly. He wasn’t able to get to Michigan for the start of classes. But Dickie was there. Mother was sick again as well. More complications from the Bright’s Disease. He and Dickie were going to room together. He hated being sick. When he finally arrived in Michigan, the Dean was sarcastic. He told him to go home to his cradle. Nathan ignored the comment.

He went for his physical. His blood pressure was unusually high.

Dickie seemed to be avoiding him.

He confronted him. "What’s going on?"

There was some talk about them. It was awful. Rumors. Letters. Dickie was trying to get into Zeta Beta Tau,. Max Shrayer  from his U High days was pledging him. But there was a problem. The President of the Fraternity had received a letter. Someone, they both knew who, had claimed things. Dickie denied them, of course. But they couldn’t be seen alone together.

That’s what Allen said; Dickie’s brother. He’d gotten a letter, too.

But they wouldn’t stop being friends. They’d be careful. They’d be secretive. Nobody would know.

And then Nathan’s mother died.

He went home for the funeral.

God died at the funeral. He was never resurrected.

When he went back to Michigan he was alone. He was led on by a frat. They decided not to pledge him. He spent time with a small group of self satisfied individuals. He studied ornithology. He did school work for friends. He wrote reports for books he hadn't read. Just because.

 He wasn't supposed to do anything. He was in mourning. He wasn't supposed to play cards. But Dad lifted that eventually.

Whenever Dickie and he wanted to do anything, they bought along a chaperone. It was Allen's advice. Never be seen alone together.

Sometimes they went to cat houses with other guys. He didn't like it. But he had to. It was like that. The secret was to pretend the situation was entirely different. Sometimes he pretended that the girl was tied to a table, that he was raping her. Sometimes he pretended it wasn't a girl at all.

Continue to page three of Together

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