David’s Reviews > Here Comes Trouble > Status Update

Getaway Car -- sixteen year olds considering their options with the Vietnam draft : conscientious objector, jail, escape to Canada. Story involves a test run with three other friends. They take a boat, thinking they'll cross the river, without noticing that there's no motor. They cross the bridge, and the border guards laugh at their expense, before saying that they would accept asylum seekers. Ended up 4-F.

Zoe -- retells incident of one of his best friends and the botched back room abortion that landed her in the hospital.

Boys State -- this chapter can be see online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EpMqS...

Boys State -- sent to a leadership development camp, where he discovers the wonders of Ruffles potato chips. On a trip to the vending machine, sees a poster promoting a speech contest on Abraham Lincoln by the Elk Club, which was racially segregated. Told them off, then discovered he had to deliver the speech before all 2,000 attendees. Generated national media coverage.

"You mean like why does this institution hate women and not let them be priests?" "Yeeeesss!" Father Duewicke said with a knife of a smile. Like that one! Good day, Mr. Moore. I wish you well with whatever you do with your life, and I pray for those who have to endure you.

Why's that? What's that for? Who said? After a while, Mr. Moore, it gets tiring. You either have to accept things, or not. There's no in-between.

"We don't want you here because you upset the other boys by asking too many questions." "Too many questions about what? What does that mean? How can you say such a thing?" That's three questions right there in less than five seconds, just providing my point ... you do not accept the rules or the teaching of our institution on the basis of faith. You always have a question.

The Exorcism -- at 14, he attends a seminary, because of his fascination with the Action Hero Priest. He studies, gets As, and pulls a few pranks, including tricking his delinquent roommate into volunteering to be part of an exorcism demonstration. Gets kicked out and asked not to return.

Holy Thursday -- witness to the Detroit riots when he was 12 and the general fear of black people. Car was stranded and helped by another black family. Attends a seder. Attends Mass. While leaving Mass during Holy Week, hears news that Rev. MLK has been shot. People cheer.

Christmas 1943 -- story of his father's career as a Marine in WWII, including a deadly incident of what we now call friendly fire.