reply
Do you think GRK puts these references in as a tip of the hat to us old fans? That\’s how I like to imagine it. The grapefruit thing is amazing. I loved the callback when it came up in OPERATION DO-OVER, which itself was a reference to Academy Blues in MACDONALD HALL GOES HOLLYWOOD. Which, in turn, was a reframing of the plot of I WANT TO GO HOME, in terms of messing up the plumbing and everyone having to go home. I do question whether the radius of your average grapefruit would make it into a standard toilet, though.
It brings to mind the classic photograph by Trudy Helfield, Perseverance of Citrus, \”an extreme close-up shot of a crushed grapefruit.\” In Trudy\’s words, \”I was taking a picture of this pushcart downtown, and some Toyota rammed right into it. What a mess. Have you ever seen a banana make contact with a brick wall at thirty miles an hour? Anyhow, this grapefruit\’s rolling down the street, dodging all the cars like it\’s going out of style, and I\’m thinking, What courage! Bus comes out of nowhere — wow! This is all that\’s left.\” (DON\’T CARE HIGH, page 71-72). Who can even imaging how Trudy would document (and title!) the grapefruit once they pulled it out of a toilet.
I think Jalen is even better at obfuscating than Artie was. Although, it\’s a sign of the times that the counselors immediately discount the possibility of using physical violence to force Jalen to reveal his destination. Rob and Dennis, on the other hand, had the following conversation in 1984:
\”Now, while we\’re still good and mad let\’s do a number of Artie!\”
\”We can\’t do a number on Artie,\” said Dennis. \”If we\’re going to understand him we have to analyse his personality traits.\”
\”I have a better idea,\” said Rob grimly. \”You hold him and I\’ll hit him. Then we\’ll switch. How\’s that for analysis?\”
\”Rob!\” Dennis was horrified. \”He\’s only a little kid!\”
\”Oh? Of course you remember that these kids are men. So Artie is a man. Yes, a very sick man.\” (NO COINS, PLEASE, page 67)
But I wonder, if team Baloney is the Ambulance, who in HYPERGIFTED are the Road Hogs?