Chapter One
NICO
In my younger more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.
"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." I have always gone by that but even I have my limits. When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart. Only Jackson, the man who gave his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction-Jackson, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn.
In the spring of 22 I came East to New York to work in bonds on Wall Street. I moved to a weatherbeaten cardboard bungalow at eighty a month in West Egg. I bought a dozen volumes on banking and credit and investments. The mansion next doors was Jackson's. I didn't know Mr. Jackson yet though. I guess my summer really begins on the evening I drove to have dinner with the Castellans. Annabeth was my second cousin twice removed and I known Luke in husband was enormously wealthy and it was hard to believe a man in my generation was wealthy. So it happened on that warm windy evening I drove over to East egg to see two old friends whom I scarcely knew at all. When I dirt got there I saw Tom standing on the porch. He has changed since I last saw him. He was more muscular and manly than I last saw him. He saw me and smiled. We talked cor a few minutes on his funny porch.
"I've got a nice place here." He said,bis eyes flashing about fearlessly. Turning me around Greenleaf me through his house. We pasted a hall way with trophies and awards he won from numerous polo games. We finally came to a room with all the Windows open and the white curtains flying around. It was an amazing site. The only completely stationary object in the room was a enormous couch with two women occupying it. One of the girls look over the back of the couch and to was yelling at the server's to close the Windows and doors. The other women sitting along side Annabth was introduced as Miss saw and giggled.
"I'm p-paralyzed with happiness!" She said she giggled afterwords as if she said a humorous joke. "Do they miss me?" She cried ecstatically.
"The whole town is desolate. All the cars have the left rear wheel painted black as a mourning wreath and there's the persistent wail all nigh long along the north shore"
"How gorgeous!" We chatted a while longer untill dinner was called.
-/-/-
We sat down at the table where the dinner was and started to eat.
"So you live out in West Egg." Miss Baker remarked. "I know somebody out there."
"I don't know a single-"
"Oh you must know Jackson."
"Jackson." Annabeth demanded. "What Jackson?"
Before I could reply that he was my neighbor a telephone went off. The vulgar left the porch to answer the call. Th butler came back and said something I Luke's ear. Luke accused himself from the table to go to the telephone. Annabeth went after him. I was about to speak when Miss Baker yelled out-
"Sh!"
Miss Bakcker leaned forward unashamed trying to hear.
"This Mr Jackson is my neighbor-" I said.
"S
Don't talk I'm trying to hear what's happening."
"What happening?" I asked
"You mean you don't know?" She said truly surprised. "I thought everyone knew."
"I don't."
"Why Luke's got some women in New York." She said.
"Some women." I said blankly. She nodded.
Luke and Annabth came back into the room.
"Why Nikki. I love having you at my table. You remind me of a rose. An absolute rose!" Annabeth told me. I was actually the complete opposite of a rose.
After a while I went back home. When I got home I saw a figure on my neighbors dock. Something told me it was Mr. Jackson himself. He seemed to be reaching out to words the water nervously. That was when I first saw it. I green light flashing fro. The other side of the bay.