No-shows the bench-press challenge against the U.S.S. Millicent Kent

texture · "last spring," as written

• When: "last spring" relative to the mid-October-YDAU narrating frame — the spring immediately preceding, as written
• What: In the fiercely-wagered-on bench-press challenge Pemulis organized, pitting the U.S.S. Millicent Kent against Schacht, Freer, and Petropolis Kahn, she topped Kahn — and Freer refused to show; only Schacht finally beat her, and doffed his cap. A small beat entirely consistent with the vanity: Freer declines any public contest he might visibly lose.