Free The Class by Erich Segal

by the wooden booths to
    fInd a friendly face so he could sit down and get drunk. Jason was awakened rudely the next morning by a rapping on the door that made his headache even worse. It was only when
    he started groggily toward it that he noticed he was still in last night's clothing. Anyway, his soul felt wrinkled. So
    they matched. -
    He opened the door.
    A stocky, middle-aged woman, wearing a green floppy hat, was planted solidly outside.
    "What did you do to him?" she demanded.
    "Oh," Jason said quietly, "you must be David's mother."
    'A real genius you are," she muttered. "I'm here to get his clothes."
     
     
    :Pl,ease," Jason said, immediately ushering her in.
    It s freezing on that landing, if you didn't notice," she remarked while entering the suite and glancing hawk-eyed into every corner. -
    "Foo, it's a real pigsty. Who cleans up this place?"
     
     
     
     
    "A student porter vacuums once a week and swabs the john,"
    said Jason.
    "Well, no wonder my poor boy's ill. Whose filthy clothes
    are these all over everywhere? They carry germs, you know."

"They're David's," Jason answered softly.
    "So how come you threw my David's clothes all over everywhere? Is that your rich boy's idea of a little fun?"
    "Mrs. Davidson," Jason said patiently, "he dropped them
    there himself." After which he quickly added, "Would you like to sit down? You must be very tired." -
    "Tired? I'm exhausted. Do you know what that night train is like-especially for a woman my age? Anyway, I'll stand while you explain why it's not your fault."
    Jason sighed. "Look, Mrs. Davidson, I don't know what they've told you down at the infirmary."
    "They said that he was very sick and has to be transferred to some god-awful . . . hospital," she paused, and then she gasped, "a mental hospital." -
    "I'm really sorry," Jason answered gently, "but the pressure here can be ferocious. To get grades, I mean." -
    "My David always got good grades. He studied day and
    night. Now suddenly he leaves my house and comes to live with you and he collapses like he had no yeast. Why did you
    disturb him?"
    "Believe me, Mrs. Davidson," Jason insisted, "I never bothered him. He-" Jason worked up the courage to complete his sentence "-sort of brought it on himself." -
    Mrs. Davidson slowly absorbed this allegation.
    "How?" she asked.
    "For reasons that I simply cannot fathom, he just felt he had to be the best. I mean, the very best."
    "What's wrong with that? I brought him up that way." Jason felt a surge of retrospective pity for his erstwhile
    roommate. Obviously his mother rode him like a racehorse in a never-ending homestretch. He wouldn't have to be Humpty
    Dumpty to crack under that kind of strain.
    Then suddenly, without warning, she flopped onto their couch and began to sob.
    "What did I do? Didn't I sacrifice my life for him? This isn't fair."
    Jason touched her tentatively on the shoulder. "Look, Mrs. Davidson, if David's going to a hospital he'll need his clothes. Why don't I help you pack?"
    She gazed up at him with a look of helplessness. Thank
    you, young man. I'm sorry that I yelled, but I'm a bit upset, and I've been on the train all night."

She opened her purse, took Out a handkerchief already moist, and dabbed her eyes.
    "Hey, look," Jason said softly. "Why don t you rest here. I can boil some coffee. Meanwhile, I'll pack his stuff, go get my car, and drive you to. . . wherever David is."
    "A place called Massachusetts Mental Health, in Waltham, she replied, choking on nearly every syllable. --
    In the bedroom, Jason grabbed a suitcase and tossed in garments he thought would be appropriate. Instinct told him that the hospital would not require ties and jackets.
    "What about his books?" his mother called out.
    "I don't think he'll need his school stuff right away, but
    I'll hold on to it and bring him what he wants." -
    "You're very kind," she said again. And blew her nose. One suitcase packed, Jason cast a quick eye around the
    room to see if he'd missed