me with a grim expression on his face; gone was the big smile he had for the other rushees who got accepted into the pledge class.
âStafford, please come with me.â
I clenched my ass cheeks together, desperately trying not to fart as I walked along like a guy with each leg in a cast.
I followed him like the others had, until we entered a nearly dark room that looked like a den. He closed the door and pointed to one of the two tan, leather chairs facing each other in front of an unlit gas fireplace. As I sat down, I noticed that we were alone. The only light was from a tiny, flickering candle that was on a table across the room.
âThis is the Chapter Room,â he explained. âOrdinarily only for active members.â
I was silent except for the pounding of my heartbeat that he probably heard. God somehow mustâve inserted Crazy Glue in my ass, temporarily keeping it silent.
Christianson had a soft, almost preacher-like voice with a very slight southern accent. âThis is unpleasant for me,â he said apologetically, looking down at my feet. âFrom your PLEDGE APPLICATION, I know youâre a legacy. That your grandfather was a Sig O at Columbia. Ordinarily we want to have all future generations as members.â
He looked up at me. I was rigid and stayed silent. From both ends.
âBut you must know,â he continued in the same tone of voice, âthat youâve been a big question mark here all week.â
He was a little taller than me and about ten pounds heavier. Now he stared intently into my dark brown eyes, trying to check my reaction. He scratched his head which already had thebeginning of thinning blond hair.
Whatever he was trying to tell me, I wasnât going to make it easier by helping him pronounce my death sentence.
âLook,â he said hesitantly, âit takes three guys to blackball any prospective pledge. You had three.â
âFuck!â
âWe voted four times and each time you got the same three blackballs.â
He paused for effect. I almost threw up again but there was nothing left of the Big Mac and the fries that fertilized the rose bushes. And I could feel the Crazy Glue in my ass losing its strength. I was too drained to speak as more uncomfortable seconds of silence passed.
âBut,â he finally said, probably figuring that I looked so weak that Iâd faint any second, âone of the three guys who blackballed you is a gambler. In fact, he books sports bets for most of the school. He decided to give you a chance. Hereâs what heâs willing to do.â
Christianson stopped talking and walked over to the door and opened it. A tall, fat guy shaped like a bowling pin with light brown kinky hair and rimless glasses came in. He was wearing a green eyeshade that looked ridiculous, especially in this dark room.
âStafford,â Christianson said, as both guys faced me. âThis is Bookie.â We shook hands like robots and each nodded a little. âHeâll tell you the break heâs going to give you.â
Bookie rubbed his nose and longingly sniffed whatever was on the pussy-finger of his left hand. Then he reached into the front pocket of his royal blue and turquoise CAS windbreaker, the same school jacket that most of the actives wore, and removed a silver dollar. He held it out to me.
âFlip it. If itâs heads I vote to let you pledge. If itâs tails youâre blackballed out of here.â
Before I could say anything he tried to hand it to me. I backed away like the coin was radioactive. I wiped the sweat off my forehead then I felt the back of my neck. It was wet too.
âFlip it,â he ordered.
I couldnât fucking believe it! They were making me flip a coin for five million dollars! I just stood there dumbfounded and as motionless as a statue.
âFlip it or Iâll say itâs tails and youâre out of here,â Bookie threatened.
What could I do?