Executioner's Song, The - Norman Mailer [53]
"I don't know if that was the right thing for you to do," she said. "You stay away from Annette."
Later, Vern said to Gary: "I don't want to see anything out of the way."
Next evening, Annette said to Toni, "Mama, we didn't do anything wrong. I gave Gary the plaque, and he gave me a kiss on the cheek." "Well, why did you walk down the street with him?"
"Because a big red bug-the biggest beetle I ever saw was flying by. We just went looking at it."
"And you held hands."
"I like him, Mama."
"Did he touch you anywhere? Did he give you anything more than an affectionate kiss?"
"No, Mama." Annette gave Toni a look like she was nuts to ask.
When Toni and her husband talked about it, Howard said, "Gary wouldn't try anything in front of the shoe shop right on the sidewalk. Honey, I don't believe there's anything to it. Let's just watch, and be kind of cautious."
Monday, Vern told Pete that Gary was saying he would punch him out real good. Pete should watch it. Vern said, "If Gary comes in, and wants a scrap, I don't want it in the store. You go back and fight it out." Pete, however, didn't believe in strife. He had heard all about Gary's trip up to Idaho and the man he put in the hospital.
Back when Gary was taking up Vern's concrete curbing with the sledgehammer and the crowbar, Pete Galovan had been watching from his window, and was impressed with the amount of labor Gary put out in two days. So, Pete, at first opportunity, had invited him then to a church dance.
Pete, as Brenda later told Gary, was more religious than anyone under God. It was like he had come out of the shell a little wobbly. He had a tendency to take people around the neck and get them to pray with him. Since he was also an immense fellow, six-three, heavy, a little blown out around the middle, and had a big dough-faced friendly expression that looked right at you through his eye glasses, you could hardly say no easily. But when he invited Gary to the dance, he was told immediately to get lost.
Pete didn't want to fight him now. He had too many responsibilities. Pete was doing jobs for Vern to take care of his rent, and also working at three other places. He was employed by the Provo School District to maintain the swimming pool, he was a part-time bus driver, and he cleaned carpets on the side. He was also trying to get back in the good graces of the Mormon Church. That all made calls on his time. Moreover, he was doing his best to help his ex-wife Elizabeth with the finances of raising seven kids from her first marriage.
Needless to say, he was tired, and that wasn't even mentioning the continuing toll of his various nervous breakdowns, which had required hospitalization in the past for lithium treatment. Just thinking about getting into trouble with Gary stiffened up Pete's muscles and back.
On Monday, Pete was working in the shop during the late afternoon when Vern said, "Here he comes."
Gary looked just the way Pete had pictured him-all steamed up. The ugliest expression you could expect.
Gary said, "I don't like what you told Ida about me. I want an apology."
Pete answered, "I'm sorry if I upset you, but my ex-wife has girls that age, and I feel-"
"Did you see me do anything?" Gary interrupted.
"I didn't see you do anything," Pete said, "but the appearance left no doubt in my mind what you were thinking." If that is too strong, he added, "I apologize for what I said to Ida. Maybe should have kept my mouth shut. I apologize for talking too much. But your interest in the girl still didn't look right to me." Pete just couldn't step all the way down when he wanted to be honest.
"All right," Gary said. "I want to fight."
Vern was right there. "Out back," he said. There was a customer in the store.
Pete sure hadn't wanted to get into this. Walking to the rear alley a step or two ahead of Gary, he tried to get himself psyched up by remembering his old feats