The Three Christs of Ypsilanti - Milton Rokeach [103]
The mood this aroused soon gave way to another. As the two tiny droplets approached the halfway mark down his cheeks, Leon neatly scooped them up with his index finger, first one, then the other, and sucked them into his mouth.
—What are you doing?—
“Tears are the best antiseptic there is,” said Leon. “There’s no use wasting tears.”
He began to examine the dollar bill, turning it over from one side to the other.
“I haven’t seen one of these for years. I mean, to handle.” He read the name of the Treasurer of the United States and the serial number.
—Does the letter make you happy or sad?—
“I feel somewhat glad.”
—Is there something the matter with your eyes?—
“Oh, they’re smarting, sir, so I’m enjoying some disinfectant, sir,—the best in the world: tears.”
—Are you crying?—
“No, my eyes are smarting because of some condition.”
—You say you feel somewhat happy?—
“Yes, sir, it’s a pleasant feeling to have someone think of you. But there’s still a tugging against her and I don’t care for it.”
—Do you want to disobey her?—
“No, no! I don’t! That’s the point! I don’t care for the temptation against her.”
September 9. At the group meeting, I ask Leon if he would care to tell Clyde and Joseph his news. He announces that he got a letter from his wife, God Almighty, and that she sent him a dollar.
“I don’t see how a woman can be God Almighty,” says Joseph, “I think it’s fictitious. Maybe it’s been arranged before—might have been prearranged.”
After some further discussion, Leon announces that he intends to spend his dollar on refreshments and a ball-point pen. He gives the cheap, taped-at-the-middle pen he already has to Clyde, who had expressed a desire for it, but then takes it back, saying he needs it until he buys a new one.
After the meeting, I wait at a strategic place to see whether Leon will go to the store. A half hour passes. Then I see him walking purposefully down the street and entering the store.
September 11. Leon asks the aide to let him go outdoors after lunch. He says he is going to visit God. When asked if this means he is going over to the chapel, he replies that he may go over there too.
September 12. Early in the morning an aide sees Leon outside the the chapel, a place to which he never goes. First he kneels for awhile at the entrance and then tries to go inside. Finding it locked, he walks away.
Later, in a private interview Joseph mentions that three days ago, when he was in the store, Leon came in. We ask him what happened, and after a few efforts at evasion, he says: “I’ll tell you what he did. He came to the store and he went to the last counter, got a bottle of ginger ale, and bought a ball-point pen for thirty-nine cents. He gave his other pen to the old man.”
An hour or so before meeting time, an aide delivers another letter to Leon.
My dear husband,
It gives me great pleasure that you followed my wishes and enjoyed yourself at the store on Friday afternoon.
I know that the meetings have become a little dull and I think that you might enjoy them better if you would start the meeting with a new song, such as Onward Christian Soldiers or some other suitable hymn. Please request the other members of the group to join you in this new hymn.
It makes me very happy to know that you are a righteous-idealed man. You will hear from me in the very near future on other matters pertaining to my plans for your well-being.
Your loving wife,
Madame Yeti Woman
P. S. Do not divulge the contents of this letter to anyone. Please!
At the meeting Joseph, who is chairman, announces that they will open the meeting with the first verse of America. Leon makes no effort to suggest another song, and as usual they sing