Nancy Ashford (the receptionist at the hospital) and Bobby go on a car ride together. Bobby says that he'll do the listening; Nancy will do the talking. Bobby gives Nancy the proffer to drive. Bobby's plan doesn't quite work out as he talks as much as Nancy does in a pretty evenly split dialogue. Eventually, Nancy brings up Dr. Hudson's secret journal (which is an actual book that Lloyd C. Douglas published as a supplement to Magnificant Obsession). But, the journal is written in code! Bobby decides that he'll devote his time to solving the puzzle.
 |
| The first page of the Hudson Journal, on page 91 (the last page of chapter 5) of Magnificant Obsession. No copyright infringement intended :) |
In chapter 6, we take a break from Bobby's story and come to Helen and Joyce. Helen warns Joyce not to go to Gordon's for dinner. Of course, Joyce goes against her mother's wishes. Helen describes Gordon's as a "dangerous place." When Joyce returns home, she's drunk as a skunk (what does that even mean?). Wasted as ever, she says to Helen (fyi, there are no typos in the following quote, this came directly from the book) "Tommy nice boy! Goin' - goin' to marry Tommy. ... Well - can't you congrat - can't you feli - I'm afraid I can't say it very distinc'ly - but aren't you glad - about Tommy and me? ... I come home - all happy - to announce my engagesh to Tommy - and you cry! What's the big idea? Do you want him?" Luckily, Joyce's hangover was ephemeral.
Chapter 7
Bobby solved the encrypted journal! The first line says
READER I CONSIDER YOU MY FRIEND AND COMMEND YOUR PERSEVERANCE HAVING ACHIEVED THE ABILITY TO READ THIS BOOK YOU HAVE ALSO THE RIGHT TO POSSESS IT MY REASON FOR DOING THIS IN CIPHER WILL BE MADE PLAIN AS YOU PROCEED
Obviously, Bobby was thrilled. He had quite the swagger.
Next we explore the story of Tony, an italian cook. Like the late Dr. Hudson, Tony is a bit of a philanthropist. He loans money and doesn't ask for the money back, but he does leave a box out for those who do want to repay him. When people return money to the box, Tony stays quiet about it, and respects the ones he's loaned money to.
New words from this week
Proffer - Chapter 5, page 84 - "Many of his wards and beneficiaries have been coming to see her with expressions of sympathy, and some with proffers of assistance if she needed it."
Verb
Hold out (something) to someone for acceptance; offer.
Noun
An offer or proposal.
Ephemeral - Chapter 6, page 100 - "She had been disposed to wave that implication aside as a mere pose ... a bit of ephemeral martyrdom to be toyed with until he tired of it.
Adjective
Lasting for a very short time: "fashions are ephemeral".
Swagger - Chapter 7, page 103 - "... swinging his long arms with a triumphant swagger."
Verb
Walk or behave in a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive way: "he swaggered along the corridor".
Noun
A very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive gait or manner.
No comments:
Post a Comment