HART GOT BACK to the dorm late Sunday night. He dropped his books on the bed and then turned on the light. Standing by the window, dressed in his vest and suit pants with a striped tie fluffed neatly away from his white shirt, was Toombs.
“Oh, hello,” Toombs said.
“Can I do something for you?” Hart said, angry to be back in the dorm and angry that someone had come in without asking.
“Can I do something for you?” Toombs said. “I finished working and I thought you might like to talk about your dorm problems.”
“No,” Hart said, “I don’t want to talk about my dorm problems. I don’t want to talk to anyone.”
Toombs walked to the door.
“Remember that I’m always here. I want you to ask me things. I want you to feel you can rely on me.”
Hart nodded and turned away. He stayed that way, not looking at the door and not moving until, five minutes later, he heard Toombs walking away down the hall.
Then Hart went to Ford’s room. He’d tried to catch Ford Saturday afternoon, after the study group meeting. Ford had been out, maybe trying to avoid him. He hadn’t meant to scream at Ford.
The room was empty. Hart sat down on the bed to wait. He thought about Toombs, and somehow the thought made him feel he’d sit there and wait for Ford until morning if it took that long. On the desk he saw Ford’s journal. He bent over, not really figuring on reading it, but not avoiding it either. He’d hear anyone walking down the hall because the door was half open.
…. had dream last night. Boy in black pants, white shirt, stole my tennis racket. I went down to my car (VW bus) and in it was a Negro boy, very young, and two policemen. All four of us went after the thief. The car (bus) had been in the city, but was now in the country-we saw the thief running ahead. I jumped out of the car and ran after the thief, and so did the police and the Negro boy. The thief got away. Then the Negro boy took a gun and started firing at the police and me. I ducked, and the policeman started firing back. Then one of the policemen turned so his back was to the boy. He threw his gun over his shoulder in a high lob. It landed in the boy’s hand. Now he had two guns…. I started inching away.
There were noises in the hall. Hart stopped reading. He felt very tired and went back to his room to sleep.