Executioner's Song, The - Norman Mailer [63]
Marie was already in bed, but she got up and made a cup of coffee. The McGraths, however, did not want to play poker. Not after midnight. Spencer kept himself from saying, "It's a little rude to come by this late."
In fact, they were used to seeing Gary drunk. There had been a couple of times he came over at odd hours. Once he really needed calming down. Started to talk about what he would do to a fellow named Pete Galovan.
Another time Gary had dropped in when Spence and Marie were having a barbecue in the backyard. He was so drunk he couldn't lift the latch on the gate. Spence had to go over, and bring him in, give him some chow. There were a number of guests around but Spencer gave Gary full attention and made him drink a couple of cups of coffee. Then he talked about things that were wild. Got into reincarnation.
"You really believe that?" asked Spencer, "Oh, you bet," said Gary.
"A lot of people think we come back as other species, like a horse or an insect," Spencer said. "Seems it would be hard to straighten things out if there's all that shuttling back and forth."
Gary didn't go for Spencer's idea. He was going to come back as a human. If he messed this life up, he'd do a better job in the one. "Why not a better job in this one?" Spencer thought. Chose to say it.
Of course ever since Gary had found out that Spencer knew little about cars; he had begun to come by on Saturday with the Mustang. The muffler fell off once, and Gary didn't know to get back by tightening the clamp. Hadn't the slightest idea. It wasn't he was lazy, but a month before he might have tried to figure the situation out. Now, he didn't seem to show any initiative. It was like he was offended there was something wrong with the car. What he couldn't recognize was that these malfunctions might be due his inability to drive knowledgeably. One more reason for Spencer to be after him continuously about starting the study program for driver's license. Talking to the wind. Gary could sure keep awake. Spence would have gotten as much sleep if he had played poker.
He had to admit it, Gary made him sad. In the beginning, he always been coming over to ask Craig Taylor or himself to take at what he had done. If Gary got the hang of something new, he was pleased when they praised him for it. Swelled up proud. Now that had been living with Nicole, Spence didn't know if he cared if he did a good job or not. More like he was putting in his time for a paycheck. Those cutoff Levi's of hers. Gary seemed to be going to the girl's level.
Unable to sleep, Spencer got mad all over again at the way Gary would now goof off during the day. You had to notice how long he took for lunch. Then, every Thursday he had to leave early to see his parole officer. Plus other time he took for other excuses. Not a week had gone by without asking for extra money, and Spence never deducted the lost hours or his own out-of-pocket from the paycheck. Once, Gary did talk of doing a painting to wipe out the debt, but so soon as Marie and he began to think about it, Gary didn't bring it up anymore.
Next morning, before they were even straightened out on the job, Gary was asking if anybody'd like to buy a pair of water skis. One fellow came up to Spence to inquire if Gary might have stolen them. Spence asked, "Are they brand-new?" Couldn't believe Gary had ripped off water skis. A man might slip cufflinks or a watch into his pocket, but how did you steal those big slats right out of a store?
Spencer looked upon himself as a real simple character, but he was beginning to wonder if Gary was taking marijuana on the job or something. He sure looked awful this morning.
"Gary," Spence said, "let's get down to something basic. Every week you're broke. Why don't you take the money you spend on beer and save it?" Gary said, "I don't pay for beer." "Well, then who in hell gives it to you?" Gary said, "I just walk in a store, and take a six, pack."