Contrary Pleasure by John D. MacDonald Read Free Book Online Page A

to the lecturer. The
lecturer checked the seating chart and Brock saw them both look directly at
him. His heart seemed to make a wild, fluttering leap within him.
    “You’re excused, Mr. Delevan,” the lecturer said.
    Brock got up. He walked down the aisle and followed the man out into the
corridor. “What do you want me for?”
    “You’re wanted in the office of the Dean of Men, Delevan.”
    When Brock walked into the office, he knew it was all over. He had fallen
through the air for a long time and this was the shock of landing. His faculty
advisor was there, and three members of the student council, and Marty, and the
boy who had glanced at him as he had passed the open door. They kept glancing
at him and looking away nervously.
    The Dean of Men said quietly, “This is a serious matter, Mr. Delevan. I
shall ask you a question. Did you go to Mr. Greenshine’s room yesterday at about a quarter past twelve and, without Mr. Greenshine’s knowledge or consent, remove seventy dollars
from his wallet while he was taking a shower?”
    The words came from far away. And so did Brock’s voice when he answered.
He tried to talk about a loan, but it sounded weak and silly and strange. He
couldn’t put it into words. It was a Thursday. They made him wait in another
room. Then he was called back in. The others had left. Just the Dean of Men was
there. It was a Thursday.
    “I’ve placed a long distance call for your father, Delevan. It will save
time if you listen to this end of the conversation.” The dean was a
mild-looking man with a soft voice. “You may sit down.”
    The phone rang and he picked it up. “Mr. Delevan? May I speak freely
about a personal matter on this line? This is Hardy, Dean of Men. All right. I
am most sorry to tell you, sir, that yesterday your son, Brock Delevan, stole
seventy dollars from another student here. He has been expelled as of noon
today. No, sir, there is no doubt about it. He is here in my office and he has
admitted it. No, sir, there is no chance of a mistake or a misunderstanding.
The student involved does not wish to press any criminal charges. He will be
satisfied if the money is returned. Do you wish to speak to your boy? I see,
sir. I understand. I’ll tell him. Yes, sir. Good-bye.”
    He replaced the phone gently on the cradle. “Your father will arrive in
the morning, Delevan. He will give me the money and I will see that Mr. Greenshine gets it. You can meet your father here in my
office at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. Do you have enough money for a hotel
room?”
    “I can stay at the house until…”
    The dean shook his head. “I’ve seen this happen before. I don’t think you
should stay at the house. I don’t believe they would let you stay there in any
case.” Hardy looked intently at him. “Why did you take the money, Delevan?”
    “Do I have to answer questions?”
    Hardy stood up. “That will be all.”
    Brock walked to the fraternity house. One of the freshman pledges stepped
in front of him just as he got inside the door, blocking his way. The freshman
looked scared. He did not speak. He held his hand out, palm up. After a moment
Brock understood. He took off his pin and put it on the outstretched palm. The
pledge pointed to a corner of the hallway. Brock saw his two suitcases there,
his topcoat and overcoat on top of them. He went over and picked them up. The
pledge stood, holding the big front door open. Brock felt the silence in the
house. He sensed that they were all back, out of sight, listening. Maybe they
wanted him to cry like a baby. He stopped in the doorway, turned around and
yelled, “Good-bye, dear brothers! Good-bye, you dull bastards!” The pledge
slammed the door hard as he walked down the steps.
    Elise had known that he had classes and a lab that would take him until
four, and they had agreed to meet in the cellar beer joint at four thirty. He
walked to her place and carried the two suitcases up the three flights. He
still had thirty