The Big Bounce by Elmore Leonard

Author:Elmore Leonard
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf

Ryan watched himself at certain times, sometimes when he was alone—like standing seven feet off third base and his hat on just right, or walking along the beach or driving a car—but usually it happened when he was with certain people. He wasn’t aware of himself when he was with Mr. Majestyk. But he was aware of himself almost all the time with Nancy, seeing himself and hearing himself and most of the time he looked dumb. Big jerky dumb guy saying dumb things, trying to impress the girl. He couldn’t get in the right frame of mind to feel sure of himself. He could fake it; he could act like the big smooth-o; but he could feel her watching him, still not impressed, maybe laughing at him, and he never for more than a moment felt in control. He was pretty sure she was at ease. But what if she was faking it? What if she was someone else inside, the way she said her mother was someone else looking out through her eyes? Maybe she was faking it. She was being cool and he was being cool, each trying to be cooler than the other until pretty soon, Ryan decided, you get so cool you can’t even move because of the chance that anything at all you might do might turn out to be dumb—anything. What good was being cool if you weren’t you? Whoever you are, Ryan thought.

He was at the wheel, aware of himself acting natural, not telling her where they were going and finally not having to tell her as they pulled in past the big blue-lit Bay Vista sign with the small red NO VACANCY glowing beneath it.

“I’ll show you where I live.”

He got out and waited for her and finally she came with him, around the side of the motel to his room.

“Wow,” Nancy said. She stood looking toward the dark swimming pool and the closed-in area between the cabanas that extended out to the beach.

“What’s the matter?”

“I can just see everybody at the pool,” Nancy said.

“All the tool and die makers sitting around in their vacation outfits.”

“Some of them go down to the beach.”

“That’d be fun too. Like a Black Sea resort.”

He opened the door to No. 7 and she stood just inside, looking around. Ryan had to move her to close the door. Then he stood looking around with her.

“Yes, it certainly is nice.”

“It’s all right,” Ryan said. “The bed’s comfortable. The walls could use some paint. I don’t know as I’ll bother, though.”

“Just hang some pictures.”

“I could do that, hang some pictures. Cover up where it’s peeling.”

“Get some of those nice old master prints at the dime store.”

“They have them there?”

“God, you probably would.”

“Well, to cover up the bad spots.”

“What else do you want to show me?”

“That’s all. I just wanted to show you where I live.”

“Great,” Nancy said. She turned to the door.

“I thought we might just sit around here,” Ryan said.

“Or lie around.”

Ryan smiled.

“Show me the rest first,” Nancy said.

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