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Monday, October 25, 2010

Nick's diary entry - veronica .

Well I found out there's an indie rock band called Gatsby's American Dream .. probably better than that other band you wanted us to listen to.

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You are Nick Carraway. Write a diary entry describing your thoughts and feelings after the meal with Gatsby and Wolfshiem.

I met Gatsby at 42nd street this noon for lunch. I wanted to spend some time alone with him as I thought we were geting closer, perhaps even forming a friendship. I was planning on asking him about his Oxford days when I noticed we weren't to be alone; there was a stout Jewish man at the table. A Jew with Gatsby! What was he thinking, getting involved with such a man?

He was called Meyer Wolfshiem. Not long after we were seated he started telling Rosy Rosenthal's story, claiming that he was present when Rosenthal was assassinated. It was a story I was perfectly familiar with, but I nonetheless asked a question out of politeness; he responded quite forcefully, almost indignantly. His mustache and animated nose were even more accentuated as he went on tellign the story, his nose especially so. I was fixated with his nose; it was as if it had a life of its own! After he finished telling his story Wolfshiem asked me if I was looking for a business 'gonnegtion'. It waws almost chilling how casually he put the two together, as if life and death were merely casual in the business world. Gatsby's answer was equally puzzling; he replied 'We'll talk about that later,' as if he too were hiding something from me. What could it be?

Wolfshie ate with gusto once the food arrived, but his facial features were ever disturbing. His eyes roamed around the room in full circles, inspecting innocent diners out of the corners of his eyes. His paranoia was apparent; what exactly he feared I don't know but he looked ready to search everyone in the restaurant.

I was, howeverm aware that Gatsby was acting suspicious and was glad when he mentioned what happened that morning. I asked him why he felt he had to use Jordan Baker as a medium indteado f telling me straight away what he wants to. He answered casually that Jordan was a great athlete and she wouldn't do anything that wasn't right.

He then jumped up from the table and left, giving me a chance to further acquaint with Wolfshiem. I found out that Gatsby and he were longtime acquaintances and he definitely seemed to have a good impression of Gatsby. Wolfshiem had on a ridiculously flashy set of cufflinks made of human molars - yes, molars. A Jew with cufflinks made of teeth .. what a sight it made. He left almost immediately after Gatsby came back. Why I don't know, but I'm afraid it may have been something I said. He definitely left a great impression.

I later found out from Gatsby that Wolfshiem was the man who fixed the World Series back in '19. This was a lot to take in, as I always thought such things just happened; it seemed impossile to me how one man could tamper with the faith of a nation.


As I paid the bill the strangest thing happened. I noticed Tom Buchanan across the room - I thought it would be a good idea to introduce him to Gatsby, as I felt they were similar people. I did not have to approach him; it seemed that Bucahnaan had noticed me too and briskly walked towards us. I then proceeded to introduce Gatsby to him and as they were shaking hands a foreign look clouded over Gatsby's face, a look unlike any other I'd seen on him. The smile I'd come to expect was gone and an almost forced, faintly embarrassed look was in place. As I was exchanging some words with Tom I turned towards where Gatsby was moments ago; it seemed that he disappeared.

I was beyond confused. Did the two of them know each other? If so, Buchanan showed no sign of it. Perhaps he was just uncomfortable in the presence of a stranger? - clearly unlikely; his lavish parties are living proof of that. I will be meeting Jordan Baker later today; I shall ask if she knows why Gatsby was so unlike himself.



it's so baaaad ...

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