The Boo by Pat Conroy Read Free Book Online Page B

life by ordering over sixty magazines and signing Jerry’s name to the purchase order.
    In February 1966 Colonel Bosch, the Comptroller, called Colonel Courvoisie and asked him to hunt a cadet for him. Bosch went on to say that $47.50 worth of senior business books were charged to a freshman’s I.D. card. The freshman had left The Citadel in November. When they punched a few holes in the proper places and ran a card through the computer, Bosch and his assistants discovered that all seniors in the business department had bought books except three. “Is there anything you can do to help us, Colonel?” “Yes, Sir, I believe so.”
    Boo went to second battalion and asked Allan Wudie, Band Company Honor Representative, to walk around campus with him on some business which might involve the honor court. Wudie complied. Boo had three names on a sheet of paper.
    The first name belonged to a cadet who lived on the top gallery of second battalion. Cadet North, a second lieutenant in the corps, popped to attention when Colonel Courvoisie and Wudie walked into his room.
    “At ease, Bubba. Could I see the books you’re using in your major field this semester?” “Yes, Sir. Here they are, Sir. Why are you looking, Sir?” “Just checking, Bubba.” Six brand new business books lined the top shelf of his bookcase. Cadet Wudie carefully wrote the name of each book on a piece of paper. Before they left the room, Cadet North asked again, “Have I done anything wrong, Colonel?” “I don’t know, Bubba. I was just told to check some books. Good Morning.”
    The next cadet was asleep on his bed in fourth battalion when The Boo walked into the room. His two roommates who were studying leaped from their seats, but Harold Griddle oblivious to the presence of danger lurking in his room, slept on in undisturbed slumber, until The Boo let out a roar for Harold to hit the floor. Blanching and stuttering in surprise, Criddle stood in his underwear at rigid attention. “Where are your senior business books, Bum?” “Well, Ah, Colonel, Sir. Well, I haven’t picked them up this semester yet. You know, I just wanted to save a little money. Thought I’d use my friends’ books just to get by.” “Bubba, do you realize this college requires you to have textbooks so you can extract every morsel of knowledge from your courses to help you in your future life?” “Yes, Sir.” “You pick your books up tomorrow and bring me the receipt for their purchase.” “Yes, Sir.”
    Wudie and The Boo then climbed the “O” Company stairwell and found the room of Preston Grant empty of occupants. The Boo yelled down to the O.G. on duty, “Find me Cadet Grant and get him to this room immediately.” So the frantic O.G. placed calls all over the campus, sent his orderlies on scouting missions, searched Bond Hall, the library, the pool room, and finally found him watching T.V. in the Senior Lounge. “The Boo wants you in your room right away,” an orderly said. “What in the hell did I do this time?” Preston intoned, as he broke out of Mark Clark Hall in a sprint and did not slow down until he stood before The Boo breathless and still wondering what crime he had committed. “Mr. Grant, show me your senior business books you bought this semester, immediately.” “Colonel, I just haven’t picked them up yet. You know with graduation and all how important it is to save money and stuff. I’ve got one book, but it belongs to a friend of mine. We’ve got a test in that course tomorrow.” “Bubba, you prove to me in my office that you bought every God-blessed book your department requires, understand?” “Yes, Sir.”
    As The Boo and Cadet Wudie walked out of fourth battalion, they were met by Cadet North in the sallyport. He once again asked the Colonel a question. “Could you please tell me why you were checking those books, Sir?” “Because I was told to check them, Bubba.” “Should I call my father, Colonel?” “Do you think you