page 18 "The atmosphere of the house was peculiar": "The atmosphere of the house was peculiar": "Interview with Jerome Klinkowitz, 197172," in "Interview with Jerome Klinkowitz, 197172," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 200.

page 18 "sheer literary talent and output of the Barthelme family": "sheer literary talent and output of the Barthelme family": Don Graham, "book review," Don Graham, "book review,"

Texas Monthly, August 2001; posted at www.texasmonthly.com.

page 18 "a cigar box with a cracker box on top"; "an ever-ready work force"; "He was p.r.o.ne to handing": "a cigar box with a cracker box on top"; "an ever-ready work force"; "He was p.r.o.ne to handing": Steven Barthelme, "It Used to Be Right Here," 4. Steven Barthelme, "It Used to Be Right Here," 4.

page 18 his kids liked the warps and ripples in it: his kids liked the warps and ripples in it: Marion Barthelme recalls, "I once asked Donald how he'd gotten such strong shoulders, and he said that as a young boy, under his father's direction, he'd spent a summer rolling a c.o.ke bottle across the copper to give it that warp and ripple." Marion Barthelme recalls, "I once asked Donald how he'd gotten such strong shoulders, and he said that as a young boy, under his father's direction, he'd spent a summer rolling a c.o.ke bottle across the copper to give it that warp and ripple."

page 18 "There was one thing that...affect[ed] my childhood": "There was one thing that...affect[ed] my childhood": Barthelme and O'Hara, "Rough Draft #1." Barthelme and O'Hara, "Rough Draft #1."

page 20 In the 1970s, he told a friend: In the 1970s, he told a friend: Karen Kennerly, in a conversation with the author, May 29, 2004. Karen Kennerly, in a conversation with the author, May 29, 2004.

page 20 "moonstruck": "moonstruck": Barthelme, Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories, 103.

page 20 "Ever been subject to epilepsy?": "Ever been subject to epilepsy?": Barthelme, Barthelme, Paradise Paradise, 15.

page 20 "Modernist architecture was a crusade"; "It took a month or so": "Modernist architecture was a crusade"; "It took a month or so": Steven Barthelme, "It Used to Be Right Here," 4. Steven Barthelme, "It Used to Be Right Here," 4.

page 20 a "magical" part of the house: a "magical" part of the house: Steven Barthelme, "Tools That Fit Just So," Steven Barthelme, "Tools That Fit Just So," Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle, October 21, 1990, 4.

page 20 "a designer is responsible"; "everything good ever done"; "Walk alone": "a designer is responsible"; "everything good ever done"; "Walk alone": Donald Barthelme, Sr., quoted in Fox, "Donald Barthelme, 19171996," 9, 10. Donald Barthelme, Sr., quoted in Fox, "Donald Barthelme, 19171996," 9, 10.

2. The Educational Experience pages 2122 "half school and half circus"; "Barthelme [has] made a lot out of a little" "half school and half circus"; "Barthelme [has] made a lot out of a little" to to "Barthelme is a liberated man": "Barthelme is a liberated man": "Wirework School: Simplicity+Ingenuity=Low Cost and High Value," "Wirework School: Simplicity+Ingenuity=Low Cost and High Value," Architectural Forum Architectural Forum, October 1952, 103106.

page 23 Their mother shows up as a drunken barmaid: Their mother shows up as a drunken barmaid: Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme, Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme, Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999) 2021. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999) 2021.

page 23 Helen threw herself into housework and child rearing: Helen threw herself into housework and child rearing: Steven Barthelme, "And Off to Work We Go," Steven Barthelme, "And Off to Work We Go," Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle, March 29, 1998, 3.

page 23 Rafael Sabatini's: Rafael Sabatini's: Steven Barthelme, "Fancy Girl in a Fancy Car," Steven Barthelme, "Fancy Girl in a Fancy Car," Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle, November 3, 1999, 3.

page 23 cruised down Highway 6: cruised down Highway 6: Steven Barthelme, "Just Being Out There and Loose," Steven Barthelme, "Just Being Out There and Loose," Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle, September 1, 1991, 4.

page 23 "stack of saddles in a corner"; "rifles on pegs" "stack of saddles in a corner"; "rifles on pegs": Donald Barthelme. Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 449. (New York: Putnam, 1981), 449.

page 23 "wonderful place to ride and hunt": "wonderful place to ride and hunt": J. D. O'Hara, "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," J. D. O'Hara, "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," Paris Review Paris Review 80 (1981): 275. 80 (1981): 275.

page 23 "terrain studded with caliche"; "[H]is grandfather points"; "walking in the water": "terrain studded with caliche"; "[H]is grandfather points"; "walking in the water": Barthelme, Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories, 449.

page 24 "skill of editing": "skill of editing": Barthelme and Barthelme, Barthelme and Barthelme, Double Down Double Down, 6. pages 2425 pages 2425 "Dr.Trump...has pushed a door ajar"; "The Barthelme scheme"; "I never understood": "Dr.Trump...has pushed a door ajar"; "The Barthelme scheme"; "I never understood": "Three Ace Schools for the Trump Plan," "Three Ace Schools for the Trump Plan," Architectural Forum Architectural Forum, March 1960, 119, 124.

page 25 " " programs his direction"; programs his direction"; " " preparation of source material preparation of source material" ; "Whereas previously it was the teacher's problem": ; "Whereas previously it was the teacher's problem": "Three Ace Schools for the Trump Plan." "Three Ace Schools for the Trump Plan."

page 25 "It was an att.i.tude toward his work": "It was an att.i.tude toward his work": Jo Brans, "Interview with J. Brans: 'Embracing the World, 1981'" in Jo Brans, "Interview with J. Brans: 'Embracing the World, 1981'" in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 293294.

page 26 "I was aware that he was studying me": "I was aware that he was studying me": Gallatin quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Gallatin quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2007), 11. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2007), 11.

page 26 "actually talked to each other": "actually talked to each other": Brans, "Embracing the World," 294. Brans, "Embracing the World," 294.

page 26 " " in their dash and glitter in their dash and glitter" ; ; " " tendencies [in any given art]": tendencies [in any given art]": Sigfried Giedion, Sigfried Giedion, s.p.a.ce, Time and Architecture s.p.a.ce, Time and Architecture (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1941), 19. It's intriguing to compare certain pa.s.sages in (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1941), 19. It's intriguing to compare certain pa.s.sages in s.p.a.ce, Time and Architecture s.p.a.ce, Time and Architecture with Don's story "The Balloon," published in 1966, at a time when many writers Don admired, including the architect Robert Venturi, Susan Sontag, and Marshall McLuhan, were citing Giedion's ideas. Giedion devoted a section of his book to "balloon frame construction," the "subst.i.tution of thin plates and studs" for "mortised and tenoned joints"-an "industrialized" and "revolutionary" concept in house building. Many carpenters resisted it at first. The term with Don's story "The Balloon," published in 1966, at a time when many writers Don admired, including the architect Robert Venturi, Susan Sontag, and Marshall McLuhan, were citing Giedion's ideas. Giedion devoted a section of his book to "balloon frame construction," the "subst.i.tution of thin plates and studs" for "mortised and tenoned joints"-an "industrialized" and "revolutionary" concept in house building. Many carpenters resisted it at first. The term balloon frame balloon frame was derisory, referring to the lightness of the construction. was derisory, referring to the lightness of the construction.

In an allegorical fashion, Don's story relates a similar set of events. In the piece, an odd industrial object, a ma.s.sive but elegant balloon, appears overnight in Manhattan., initiating outrage, concern, and resistance among citizens. Eventually, people come to accept its presence, just as people grew accustomed to balloon-frame housing. " 'The Balloon Frame belongs to no one person,' " Giedion says. He quoted architect George Woodward as saying, " '[N]obody claims it as an invention.' " The unnamed maker of Don's balloon stakes his his claim incompletely, revealing himself only briefly at the end of the story. (For Giedion's discussion of the balloon frame, see Giedion, claim incompletely, revealing himself only briefly at the end of the story. (For Giedion's discussion of the balloon frame, see Giedion, s.p.a.ce, Time, and Architecture s.p.a.ce, Time, and Architecture, 269276.) page 27 Don related to one of his students a dream he'd had: Don related to one of his students a dream he'd had: See Brian Kitely interview with Sandra Descheune at See Brian Kitely interview with Sandra Descheune at www.du.edu/~bkitely.

page 27 "a number of men [were] competing": "a number of men [were] competing": "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 256.

3. Soul page 28 "education within the [Catholic] church's mission of evangelism": "education within the [Catholic] church's mission of evangelism": See archives at See archives at www.basilian.org.

page 28 "Catholic boys cannot be built": "Catholic boys cannot be built": ibid. ibid.

page 28 random distension: random distension: Stephen Fox, Stephen Fox, Houston Architectural Guide Houston Architectural Guide (Houston: American Inst.i.tute of Architects, Houston Chapter, and Herring Press, 1990), 254. (Houston: American Inst.i.tute of Architects, Houston Chapter, and Herring Press, 1990), 254.

page 29 "Teachers enjoy bright students": "Teachers enjoy bright students": Gallatin quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Gallatin quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 1112. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 1112.

page 29 "We were schooled in guilt": "We were schooled in guilt": Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme, Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme, Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999), 6. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999), 6.

page 30 "Members of [our] community": "Members of [our] community": See See www.sths.org (Web site of St. Thomas Catholic High School, Houston). (Web site of St. Thomas Catholic High School, Houston).

page 30 housing defense-industry workers: housing defense-industry workers: For more details on defense housing in the early 1940s, see For more details on defense housing in the early 1940s, see Architectural Record Architectural Record, November 1941, 5659.

page 30 Avion Village: Avion Village: For more details on Avion Village, see For more details on Avion Village, see Architectural Forum Architectural Forum, October 1941, 240242.

page 31 " 'Good evening, fellow Englishmen,' the radio said": " 'Good evening, fellow Englishmen,' the radio said": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, The King The King (New York: Harper & Row, 1990), 3. (New York: Harper & Row, 1990), 3.

page 31 WORKS OF MASTERS OF MANY AGES: WORKS OF MASTERS OF MANY AGES: Marguerite Johnston, Marguerite Johnston, Houston: The Unknown City, 18361946 Houston: The Unknown City, 18361946 (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 1991), 342. Subsequent statistics regarding Houston are taken from (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 1991), 342. Subsequent statistics regarding Houston are taken from page 310 page 310.

page 32 "getting connected": "getting connected": Donald Barthelme, "Return," in Donald Barthelme, "Return," in Liquid City: Houston Writers on Houston Liquid City: Houston Writers on Houston, ed. Rita Saylors (San Antonio: Corona Publishing Company, 1987), 35.

page 32 "to go to the establishment and support and maintenance of hospitals": "to go to the establishment and support and maintenance of hospitals": Johnston, Johnston, Houston Houston, 307308.

page 32 "A verbal bully": "A verbal bully": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 54.

page 32 "let him be": "let him be": ibid., 60. ibid., 60.

page 32 "You had some kind of a nervous disorder": "You had some kind of a nervous disorder": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 99100. (New York: Putnam, 1981), 99100.

page 32 He would "distance" himself: He would "distance" himself: Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 58.

page 33 Don was "fully formed": Don was "fully formed": Joe Maranto quoted in ibid., 5. Joe Maranto quoted in ibid., 5.

4. High and Low page 34 "[My father] gave me": "[My father] gave me": J. D. O'Hara, "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," J. D. O'Hara, "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," Pans Review Pans Review 80 (1981): 274. 80 (1981): 274.

page 34 DILIGITE IUSt.i.tIAM QUI IUDICATIS TERRAM: DILIGITE IUSt.i.tIAM QUI IUDICATIS TERRAM: Dante Alighieri, Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy The Divine Comedy, trans. John Ciardi (New York: New American Library, 2003), 754.

page 34 an "anti-image": an "anti-image": ibid., 585586. ibid., 585586.

page 35 not the "name of the city": not the "name of the city": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Overnight to Many Distant Cities Overnight to Many Distant Cities (New York: Putnam, 1983), 10. (New York: Putnam, 1983), 10.

page 35 "I can do no more": "I can do no more": See See www.newadvent.org.

page 35 "I don't know what value": "I don't know what value": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Forty Stories Forty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1987), 256. (New York: Putnam, 1987), 256.

page 36 "What is man?": "What is man?": Quotes from the Quotes from the Baltimore Catechism Baltimore Catechism and and An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism can be found at can be found at www.Catholic.net/Rec/Catechism.

page 36 "weekly magazine most educated Americans grew up on": "weekly magazine most educated Americans grew up on": Ben YaG.o.da, Ben YaG.o.da, About Town: The New Yorker and the World It Made About Town: The New Yorker and the World It Made (New York: Scribner's, 2000), 32. (New York: Scribner's, 2000), 32.

page 37 "Sweden announces"; "Meat and poultry": "Sweden announces"; "Meat and poultry": Howard Brubaker, "Of All Things," The Howard Brubaker, "Of All Things," The New Yorker New Yorker, May 1, 1943, 43; and May 8, 1943, 32.

page 37 "Everybody must know by this time": "Everybody must know by this time": James Thurber, "1776And All That," James Thurber, "1776And All That," The New Yorker The New Yorker, April 24, 1943, 15.

page 37 "The American people have swallowed a lot": "The American people have swallowed a lot": Donald Barthelme, G Donald Barthelme, Guilty Pleasures (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974), p. 65. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974), p. 65.

page 38 "little man"; "matter-of-factly positing "little man"; "matter-of-factly positing": YaG.o.da, YaG.o.da, About Town About Town, 88.

page 38 "A man must have some reading matter with him in the subway": "A man must have some reading matter with him in the subway": "Talk of the Town," "Talk of the Town," The New Yorker The New Yorker, April 13, 1946, 23.

page 39 "I hope I am not being stupid about this book": "I hope I am not being stupid about this book": Edmund Wilson, in a review of Carson McCullers's Edmund Wilson, in a review of Carson McCullers's The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, The New Yorker The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, The New Yorker, March 30, 1946, 87.

page 39 "first writer Don imitated": "first writer Don imitated": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 14. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 14.

page 39 "Perelman...could do...amazing things in prose": "Perelman...could do...amazing things in prose": "Interview with Larry McCaffery, 1980," in "Interview with Larry McCaffery, 1980," in Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 263.

page 39 "I think you ought to decide when you write a piece": "I think you ought to decide when you write a piece": YaG.o.da, YaG.o.da, About Town About Town, 114.

page 39 Perelman's stories: Perelman's stories: Perelman quotes are from "Stringing Up Father" and "Methinks He Doth Protest Too Much," Perelman quotes are from "Stringing Up Father" and "Methinks He Doth Protest Too Much," The New Yorker The New Yorker, January 1, 1949, 16; November 27, 1948, 29.

page 40 Mr. Arbuthnot, the "Cliche Expert": Mr. Arbuthnot, the "Cliche Expert": Frank Sullivan, Frank Sullivan, A Pearl in Every Oyster A Pearl in Every Oyster (Boston: Little, Brown, 1938), 15. (Boston: Little, Brown, 1938), 15.

page 40 "You realize, of course": "You realize, of course": Frank Sullivan, "The Cliche Expert Testifies on the Atom," Frank Sullivan, "The Cliche Expert Testifies on the Atom," The New Yorker The New Yorker, November 17, 1945, 27.

page 41 "I started to get out a light magazine": "I started to get out a light magazine": YaG.o.da, YaG.o.da, About Town About Town, 193.

page 41 "Style is not much a matter of choice": "Style is not much a matter of choice": Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 22.

page 41 "Peter Blood, bachelor of medicine and several other things besides": "Peter Blood, bachelor of medicine and several other things besides": Rafael Sabatini, Rafael Sabatini, Captain Blood: His Odyssey Captain Blood: His Odyssey (Washington, D.C.: Gateway/Regnery, 1998), 1. (Washington, D.C.: Gateway/Regnery, 1998), 1.

page 41 "Kevin said a lot more garbage to Clem": "Kevin said a lot more garbage to Clem": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Snow White Snow White (New York: Atheneum, 1967), 66. (New York: Atheneum, 1967), 66.

page 41 "The countryside. Flowers": "The countryside. Flowers": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, The Dead Father The Dead Father (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1975), 13. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1975), 13.

page 42 In reading "[ In reading "[my] Captain Blood": J. D. O'Hara, "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," J. D. O'Hara, "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," Paris Review Paris Review 80 (1981): 277. 80 (1981): 277.

page 42 "fitted with life jackets under their dresses"; "The favorite dance of Captain Blood": "fitted with life jackets under their dresses"; "The favorite dance of Captain Blood": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Forty Stories Forty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1987), 197, 202. (New York: Putnam, 1987), 197, 202.

page 42 "Why Errol Flynn?": "Why Errol Flynn?": J. D. O' Hara, "Donald Barthelme," 277. J. D. O' Hara, "Donald Barthelme," 277.

page 42 "I had counted upon going home": "I had counted upon going home": Sabatini, Sabatini, Captain Blood Captain Blood, 362.

page 43 "What a matchless dream!": "What a matchless dream!": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, The King The King (New York: Harper & Row, 1990), 158. (New York: Harper & Row, 1990), 158.

page 43 "taught us all"; "wonderful things about": "taught us all"; "wonderful things about": Jo Brans, "Embracing the World," in Jo Brans, "Embracing the World," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 299300.

page 43 "It was getting hot": "It was getting hot": Ernest Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway, The Nick Adams Stories The Nick Adams Stories (New York: Scribner's, 1972), 233. (New York: Scribner's, 1972), 233.

page 44 "surrounded by oak trees": "surrounded by oak trees": Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007. Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007.

page 44 "I started dating Don": "I started dating Don": Beverly Arnold, in an interview with the author, May 11, 2004. Beverly Arnold, in an interview with the author, May 11, 2004.

page 44 "I was going to First Methodist Church": "I was going to First Methodist Church": Beverly Arnold, in a letter to the author, July 11, 2004. Beverly Arnold, in a letter to the author, July 11, 2004.

page 44 "Baby": "Baby": Donald Barthelme, letter to Beverly Arnold (nee Bintliff), April 6, 1947; courtesy, Beverly Arnold. Donald Barthelme, letter to Beverly Arnold (nee Bintliff), April 6, 1947; courtesy, Beverly Arnold.

page 45 "We ran around in a little crowd": "We ran around in a little crowd": Alafair Kane, in an interview with the author, May 11, 2004. Alafair Kane, in an interview with the author, May 11, 2004.

page 45 "Recruiting writers among a school full of testosterone-crazed boys": "Recruiting writers among a school full of testosterone-crazed boys": Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007. Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007.

page 45 "Damon Runyan ripoff": "Damon Runyan ripoff": Pat Goeters, "Pulitzer Parable," an unpublished essay, in an E-mail to the author, April 22, 2004. Pat Goeters, "Pulitzer Parable," an unpublished essay, in an E-mail to the author, April 22, 2004.

page 45 "Bo-that's what we called him back then": "Bo-that's what we called him back then": Carter Roch.e.l.le, in an E-mail to the author, May 22, 2004. Carter Roch.e.l.le, in an E-mail to the author, May 22, 2004.

page 45 "I found him slouched": "I found him slouched": This and subsequent Goeters quotes are from an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007. This and subsequent Goeters quotes are from an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007.

page 46 "In Mexico City we lay with the gorgeous daughter of the American amba.s.sador": Donald Barthelme, "In Mexico City we lay with the gorgeous daughter of the American amba.s.sador": Donald Barthelme, Forty Stories Forty Stories, 219.

page 47 "My friend Herman and I"; "After the second border checkpoint": "My friend Herman and I"; "After the second border checkpoint": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sadness Sadness (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1972), 99100. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1972), 99100.

page 48 His parents finally agreed to let him transfer to Lamar High School: His parents finally agreed to let him transfer to Lamar High School: Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 13.

5. The New Music page 49 "I do believe this was my idea": "I do believe this was my idea": "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews The Essays and Interviews, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 209.

page 49 "an Allegory": "an Allegory": See See Pilgrim's Progress Pilgrim's Progress at at www.sacredtexts.com.

page 50 "an impressive array of state barges"; "a parody, to be completely effective"; "Disingenuous though it is": "an impressive array of state barges"; "a parody, to be completely effective"; "Disingenuous though it is": Robert Murray Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," Robert Murray Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," The Houston Review: History and Culture of the Gulf Coast The Houston Review: History and Culture of the Gulf Coast 2, (1980): 9697. 2, (1980): 9697.

page 51 " 'The Rover Boys at School' has been written": " 'The Rover Boys at School' has been written": See Edward Stratemeyer, See Edward Stratemeyer, The Rover Boys at School The Rover Boys at School, at www.ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext. Stratemeyer later founded a publishing syndicate that produced the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series for young readers.

page 51 "In the fall of 1948,": "In the fall of 1948,": Carter Roch.e.l.le, in an E-mail to the author, May 22, 2004. Carter Roch.e.l.le, in an E-mail to the author, May 22, 2004.

page 52 "I remember the time"; "There were five children in my family": "I remember the time"; "There were five children in my family": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Forty Stories: Forty Stories: (New York: Putnam, 1987), 1113. The Goeters comment about the crash is in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007. (New York: Putnam, 1987), 1113. The Goeters comment about the crash is in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007.

page 53 "my older brothers had raced and wrecked the three earlier Corvettes": "my older brothers had raced and wrecked the three earlier Corvettes": Steven Barthelme, "Fancy Girl in a Fancy Car," Steven Barthelme, "Fancy Girl in a Fancy Car," Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle, November 3, 1999, 3.

page 53 "Seventeen is a wild age": "Seventeen is a wild age": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 456. (New York: Putnam, 1981), 456.

page 53 "Though we felt a fierce tribal loyalty" "Though we felt a fierce tribal loyalty"

to "for the most part excused himself": "for the most part excused himself": Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme, Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme, Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999), 1718. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999), 1718.

page 53 "very much like his mother" "very much like his mother" to to "kept his own counsel": "kept his own counsel": Elise Hopkins Stephens, in an E-mail to the author, February 2, 2007. Elise Hopkins Stephens, in an E-mail to the author, February 2, 2007.