Chapter 8

           Thefirstrehearsalwentwell,andsodidthesecond.PercyperformedbetterthanIcouldhavehopedforinmywildestdreams.Thatdidn’tmeanthingswouldgorightwhenthetimereallycamefortheCajuntowalktheMile,butitwasabigstepintherightdirection.ItoccurredtomethatithadgonewellbecausePercywasatlonglastdoingsomethinghecaredabout.Ifeltasurgeofcontemptatthat,andpusheditaway.Whatdiditmatter?HewouldcapDelacroixandrollhim,andthenbothofthemwouldbegone.Ifthatwasn’tahappyending,whatwas?And,asMooreshadpointedout,Delacroix’snutsweregoingtofrynomatterwhowasoutfront.

           Still,Percyhadshowntogoodadvantageinhisnewroleandheknewit.Wealldid.Asforme,Iwastoorelievedtodislikehimmuch,ateastorthetimebeing.Itlookedasifthingsweregoingtogoallright.IwasfurtherrelievedtofindthatPercyactuallylistenedwhenwesuggestedsomethingshecoulddothatmightimprovehisperformanceevenmore,oratleastcutdownthepossibilityofsomethinggoingwrong.Ifyouwanttoknowthetruth,wegotprettyenthusiasticaboutit—evenDean,whoordinarilystoodwellbackfromPercy...physicallyaswellasmentally,ifhecould.Noneofitthatsurprising,either,Isuppose—formostmen,nothingismoreflatteringthanhavingayoungpersonactuallypayattentiontohisadvice,andwewerenodifferentinthatregard.Asaresult,notaoneofusnoticedthatWildBillWhartonwasnolongerlookingupattheceiling.