Nick is a Greek who came to America because
he heard Americans eat a lot of candy. He wanted to be a dentist. At the
far end of Nick's bar sits Chester Godfrey, who proves Nick's logic. Fat
Penny's pearl buttons on the cowboy shirt he stole from Elephant Gerald
last Christmas. Chester admires his fingers. In high school his baseball
coach discovered that Godfrey could throw with amazing accuracy and speed,
but Godfrey loved water and became the best swimmer in Hannibal, Missouri,
a town immortalized by Mark Twain for its swimming. He became the Missouri
State Champion in several events, and by the time he graduated from high
school he was sure to make the Olympic team. But everyone in Hannibal was
telling Godfrey he was another Warren Spawn; so believing them instead of
his heart, the boy gave up his chance for Olympic gold and signed minor
league. On the first day of Spring training a bumblebee stung Godfrey on
the thumb. He lost his slider and ended up using the thumb to hitchhike to
California.Now he sits alone in this strange city running dirty
hands through heavily oiled hair the color of Mississippi mud. He is
wondering if Pretty Mary is really pretty when a voice from the corner
says, Hello. Godfrey looks around but nobody's there. Jesus, them nuts are
getting to me. He punches Crazy on the jukebox and while Patsy Cline sings
he plans to slip Socco an extra dose so the twirp won't wake when he
sneaks into Pretty Mary's bed. When the tavern door opens the sharp light
is the special effect that should go with O'Gatty's voice when it blasts
Godfrey's name in the minds of all the guests who still have minds.
Fucking shit, Godfrey mutters after the glare is closed. Dudley can't
escape without making an enemy. He visualizes a rat nailed to his door,
his canvas slashed, the purloined rosebuds rubbed to dust.