Free The Class by Erich Segal Page B

is normal," Linden philosophically replied. -
    "All right, Dennis," Jason answered, with a sigh of resignation. 'What's this guy's problem?"
    "Well,' the proctor started nonchalantly, "he's a teeny bit aggressive."
     
     
     
     
    "Well, that's okay. I've taken boxing lessons."
    Linden coughed. "The problem is-he fights with swords."
    "What is he, some foreign student from the Middle Ages?"
    "Very witty." Linden smiled. "No, actually he's a hotshot
    on the fencing team. His name's been in the Crimson now and then-Bernie Ackerman. He's terrific with a saber.
    "Oh great. Who's he tried to kill so far?"
    "Well, not exactly kill. He's living in Holworthy with a very sensitive Chinese fellow. And every time they have the slightest argument, this Ackerman gets out his sword and waves it at the little guy. The kid is now so petrified, the Health Department had to give him pills to sleep. So, clearly, we've just got to separate them." -
    "Why the hell can't you give me the ChinamanP" Jason

complained. "He sounds like a sweet guy."
    "No. He gets along okay with roommate number three-a music type. So the proctors figured we'd let well enough alone. Besides, I had the notion that a guy like you could teach that character a lesson." -
    "Dennis, I'm here to take courses, not teach manners to
    Ivy League hoodlums."
    "Come on, Jason," the proctor cajoled, "you'll turn this
    guy into a pussycat. And you can count on getting something positive put on your record."
    "Dennis," Jason said in valediction, "you're all heart."
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    ANDREW ELIOT'S DIARY
     
     
     
     
    - January 16, 1955
     
     
    Jason Gilbert had us all in stitches yesterday at our pre-midyear blast. We recruited some carefully selected lovelies from the local junior colleges with the best
    reputation for their students' promiscuity. (NewalJ claims he scored as he drove one of them back to Pine Manor, but we
    only have his word for it. Really clever guys can bring back evidence.)
     
     
     
    Old Gilbert has a way of taking charge of every party. First of all, he's so damn handsome we have trouble keeping our own dates' attention. And then when he starts
    telling stories, we're all rolling on- the floor. Apparently, he's just gotten a new roommate (he won't say what happened to the other one), and the guy's a sort of maniac.
    As soon as Jason tries to go to sleep, this nut pulls out a sword and jumps around the living room like Errol
    Flynn.
    Anyway, by the first week the guy'd already slashed their sofa practically to shreds. What was even worse was the noise. It seems every time he scored, which was no problem since the couch could not fight back, he'd yell out, "Kill!"

Which was driving Jason absolutely up the wall.
    And so last night they had a showdown. Gilbert faced this character with just a tennis racket, and as quietly as possible asked what the hell he thought he was doing. The guy responded that he needed extra practice for the Yale meet. Jason then said if he really needed practice, he'd
    - be happy to provide it. Only they would have to fight until one of them was dead. Understandably, at first the guy thought Gilbert was just bluffing. But to lend
    - his challenge credibility, Jason smashed what was left of the couch into splinters with his tennis racket. After
    which he turned to his opponent and explained that that was what he'd make of him if he should lose the match. - Unbelievably, the swordsman dropped his blade and made a fast retreat into the bedroom.
    Not only did that put an end to all the mayhem, but the swashbuckler went out the next day and bought them anew couch.
    Life in Gilbert's suite was pretty quiet after that. In fact, completely quiet. Apparently the guy's too scared even to talk to Jason now.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    ike his famous forebear in antiquity, Socrates Lambros
    was uncompromising in his way of life. This meant that no excuse could absolve his son Ted from