Superball by NC Weil

Author:NC Weil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love, spirit, 1981, lighthearted, film, counterculture, boulder, bounce, drug bust, deadhead
Publisher: NC Weil

chapter 17

Getting a Lift

THAT DETECTIVE COULD save my butt,” Walt told Anna. They were at her house, sitting at her new table and chairs—courtesy of her grandparents—waiting for Burke to come. They planned to go to Jill’s party together that evening.

She phoned Harold to watch the Channel Seven news.

“Talk to the folks yet?” he demanded.

“I’m about to.”

“That’s what you said this morning.”

“I really am now—this news report should answer a lot of questions.”

“I’ve only got one: why are you still hangin’ around that guy?”

“Bye, Harold.” She hung up on him, and called home. Dad answered. She told him to tune in, then asked which stories they’d heard.

“We understand you like…Walt,” his voice strained, “but do you know how difficult it is for us to accept your…‘friendship,’ or whatever it is?”

“The papers have it wrong. The news tonight will clear up everything.”

“Your mother may not even watch—she’s very upset. Where did you meet this fellow anyway?”

“At a drawing class.”

“Through Adult Ed?”

“The Free School.”

He sighed loudly—he didn’t even have to say it figures. “Well Anna, I can’t dictate, but I do wish you weren’t involved with him.”

“Will you please suspend judgment till you see the news tonight?”

“Suspend disbelief you mean? It isn’t rule-breakers who gall me, it’s their fan club—’the world’s against him—he’s been wronged.’ Logic can’t penetrate a fortress like that.”

“Facts, Dad—facts will exonerate him.”

“Is it a fact he had that drug?”

“It wasn’t his—he found it on the floor when he was cleaning.”

“Anna,” his voice grew thin and tight, “I hear stories like that every day. I never thought I’d have to listen to that crap from you.”

“Bye, Dad,” she said faintly.

Walt had that ready-to-flee look again. “My credibility’s in shambles. If your parents think I did any of that, a new twist won’t change their minds. As the world gets complex we gravitate to the simple—that’s human nature.”

“Is that what I’m doing?”

“Sure. Didn’t you wonder why I had that stuff in my pocket?”

“I did wonder, Walt. That was one of the worst moments of my life, thinking those things the detective said might be true—not just because of you, but because of what that would say about me—whether I could trust my own perceptions.”

“Right. Now do you see why your dad’s unhappy?” He grimaced. “I’m just being realistic about my prospects.”

“Which prospects?”

“The ones that matter to me—getting the work I want, having you—” But he didn’t finish the sentence. He paced, then went out to the street, watching for Burke.

When her friend finally arrived, they came back in together, Burke remarking, “You’re getting some very strange press.”

“Not all of it’s lies,” Walt said.

Burke laughed. “Which stories should I believe?”

“Ask Anna—at this point she’s more sure than I am. But don’t miss tonight’s episode—it should cast all your doubts into doubt.”

“But I thought we had a party.” Burke turned to Anna. “What are you bringing?”

“Oh, shoot, I didn’t even think about it. What’ve you got?”

“A six-pack and a loaf of bread. Walt?”

“I’ll see what’s in my fridge—I’m feeling broke at the moment.

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