"Why?"
"Folks would like to see you."
"Maybe I don't want to see them."
"Why not?"
"I don't know."
"You think people here still hold a grudge because you didn't win the Heisman?"
"No."
"They'll remember you all right, but you're history. You're still their all-American, but that was a long time ago. Walk in Renfrow's Cafe and Maggie still has that huge photo of you above the cash register. I go there for breakfast every Thursday and sooner or later two old-timers will start debatingwho was the greatest Messina quarterback, Neely Crenshaw or Wally Webb . Webb started for four years, won forty-six in a row, never lost, etc., etc. But Crenshaw played against black kids and the game was faster and tougher. Crenshaw signed with Tech but Webb was too small for the big-time. They'll argue forever. They still love you,Neely ."
"Thanks, but I'll skip it."
"Whatever."
"It was another life."
"Come on, give it up. Enjoy the memories."
"I can't. Rake's back there."
"Then why are you here?"
"I don't know."
A telephone buzzed from somewhere deep in Paul's nice dark suit. He found it and said, "Curry."A pause. "I'm at the field, with Crenshaw."A pause. "Yep, he's here. I swear. Okay." Paul slapped the phone shut and tucked it into a pocket.
"That was Silo," he said. "I told him you might be coming."