Singled out in Stice's Big-Buddy monologue: "looking a little pale"

texture · 3 Nov YDAU

• When: 3 Nov YDAU, evening Big Buddy sessions; the "little libraryish circle of soft chairs and lamps in the warm foyer off the front door to subdorm C," E.T.A.
• What: The scene cuts among the evening's Big Buddy groups, staging each by name and venue; "Two levels down" it reaches "Ortho Stice and his brood" in the foyer, and the monologue that follows is the scene's most fervent: what "the man" / "the old man" demands — reaching down into unknown parts of yourself, sacrifice, suffering, denial, the call that "could come at anytime" for a "mano-to-mano interface," patriotism, "how to learn to be a good American during a time, boys, when America isn't good its own self." Mid-speech the speaker singles out one listener: "I see you're looking a little pale there, Wagenknecht. Is this scary you bet your little pink personal asses it's scary." Wagenknecht is present in the circle, addressed by name, and says nothing. After the speech and a long pause someone in the circle answers — "I'd chew fiberglass for that old man." (untagged; see Dating notes) — and the Buddies two levels up in V.R.8 hear "the little burst of applause from the foyer."