don't stutter in class。〃
〃I duh…duh…don't s…s…st…st…stutterl〃
〃Lower your voice。〃
〃You w…want to g…get me！ You duh…don't w…want me on your g…g…goddam team！〃
〃Lower your voice； I said。 Let's discuss this rationally。〃
〃F…fuh…fuck th…that！〃
〃George； if you control your stutter； I'd be glad to have you。 You're well
prepped for every practice and you're good at the background stuff； which means
you're rarely surprised。 But all that doesn't mean much if you can't control
that—〃
〃I've neh…neh…never stuttered！〃 he cried out。 〃It's yuh…you！ I…i…if suh…
someone else had the d…d…deb…debate t…team； I could — 〃
Jack's temper slipped another notch。
〃George； you're never going to make much of a lawyer； corporation or
otherwise； if you can't control that。 Law isn't like soccer。 Two hours of
practice every night won't cut it。 What are you going to do； stand up in front
of a board meeting and say； ‘Nuh…nuh…now； g…gentlemen； about this t…ttort'？〃
He suddenly flushed； not with anger but with shame at his own cruelty。 This
was not a man in front of him but a seventeen…year…old boy who was facing the
first major defeat of his life； and maybe asking in the only way he could for
Jack to help him find a way to cope with it。
George gave him a final； furious glance； his lips twisting and bucking as the
words bottled up behind them struggled to find their way out。
〃Yuh…yuh…you s…s…set it ahead！ You huh…hate me b…because you nuh…nuh…nuh…know
。。。 you know 。。。 nuh…nuh — 〃
With an articulate cry he had rushed out of the classroom； slamming the door
hard enough to make the wire…reinforced glass rattle in its frame。 Jack had