Quote:
Originally Posted by Wetdogeared
I agree that the narrator is the hero of the story. It is difficult to find a good listener, and one who cleans too is a bonus.
Was the narrator privy to all the secrets?
|
"For which he was very well paid..."
"Clean-up" was a two-fold blessing... one, it got some of the frat boys off the hook (although he followed Fats Waller's admonition, "Don't give ya right name. No, no, no..."
Plus, the fact that he would actually stay around after the parties in the non-drunk state and help tidy, he became quite the confidente (Pronunciacion Francais). He got invited to more parties, and often was the one that maidens (in the nom sense only) would turn to for consolation.
Secrets? Yes, many, many secrets. And, being "The Listener", instead of "The Talker (Uuma, not withstanding), he conducted quite a quiet study of human nature. He eventually became quite adept at inserting words, then phrases, and then small thoughts. He could have gotten a minor in Counselization, but seeing as that not really a COLLEGE course of study, he just got the online degree.
Of course, his noble (no BUlL!) course was not without jeopardy... I could tell you about the time(s) he pledged the sorority for Spring Break only to find out that they never intended to let him leave the room. You know, bed sores come in a variety of patterns...
At least they brought me the neat, colorful drinks with the snappy paper brollies. He developed a taste for martinis shortly after that.