A History of the African-American People (Proposed) by Strom Thurmond (28 page)

Most important, he says you are witty and kind. So’s Juniper, as you probably know or have guessed.

But he has found himself in a position there at Simon & Schuster that’s intolerable. It would be for me, I think, judging from what I know of the people involved in this project. One of them, a Barton Wilkes, went on a campaign to date me or something. As best I can tell, he is not securely balanced, though I hesitate to say that about a man I have not even met. (Still, it has been one of the triumphs of my last months that I have avoided meeting him.) I realize Wilkes is not at Simon & Schuster, but you probably know that Juniper was ordered to distract Wilkes and go with him on a weekend outing of some kind, maybe more than one.

The man issuing the orders was Juniper’s immediate supervisor, Martin Snell. Mr. Snell recently transferred Juniper to an editor named Vendetti, who set my brother to work on diet books connected to dairy products somehow.

The situation does not appeal to reason. But it may appeal to feeling. I hope so. Juniper is surrounded by these three—Wilkes, Snell, and Vendetti—none of whom seem to be just or even sane. Juniper doesn’t whine, he really doesn’t, and I know he wouldn’t even be letting me in on this were the situation not desperate.

He is thinking about resigning. He told me so. I believe he is likely to do just that, and I must say I cannot discourage him. But he has no prospects that I know of. Is there some way you could help him or point him toward somebody who could do so?

Please forgive my ignorance in contacting you. I do not know the ways of publishing or the ways of the university. But I do know something of the ways of the human heart.

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January 24, 2003

Jim—See attached from Reba—Percival

Interoffice Memo

January 24, 2003

Percival—See attached from Juniper—Jim

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January 26, 2003

Jim—

OK, here’s what we do.

1. You write to Reba, who is more in your line. You and she have lots of feelings.

2. I’ll write to Snell, forcing him to take McCloud back.

3. I’ll write to McCloud, telling him we can’t use him, stay put, Snell wants him back.

I’ll send you copies of 2 and 3. Please do not send me a copy of 1.

P

Interoffice Memo

January 27, 2003

P:

So “here’s what we do,” is it? Couldn’t you be a bit more preemptory?

I could have told YOU that we couldn’t use McCloud as a research assistant and that he had better not count on that. No need for You to tell Me.

It is as much my idea as yours to force Snell to take him off diet books and put him back on our project. I am of the opinion that I could figure out Snell’s weak points and how to attack them better than you, but you find it hard to listen to anything but that little personal cheering squad you transport inside your head. Write him, by all means.

And you’re writing Juniper too, I see. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but I was under the impression that Juniper turned to ME, not YOU. It was Reba who wrote to you, as the fucking man of feeling. Why this switcheroo?

I know you were hired first on this project and I have never said it was simply an affirmative action hire and that I was added on as the scholar, historian, academic, fact-guy, writer. I have never said that. Give credit where credit is due.

I am a little sore about all this. I think I have every right to be. You probably don’t. You probably think I have no right to be sore. Now look, I don’t think it’s a racial thing. I never said that. But Jesus Christ, look at the facts. If you can.

J

Percival Everett
University of Southern California
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90089

January 27, 2003

Dear Barton,

We have been making, shall we say, extraordinary progress after our meeting with the Senator. You were right about how little of substance we got. That we get from you. What we got from Strom was, as Kincaid said, no more than atmosphere and encouragement. Now, if you’re with us, we can really roll.

However, we are unable to continue without Juniper McCloud. His judgment, good cheer, and dependability are essential to this project.

We count on you to force Snell to get him back.

Tell Snell, if you would, that it’ll be a crackerjack book, as he’s said all along. It will bring great credit and justified advancement to him.

But there will be no book at all unless he hires McCloud back.

We are dead serious about this and would address Snell directly. But we know you carry much more weight with him.

As one pro to another, I depend on you—and now owe you one.

Sincerely,

Percival Everett

Percival Everett

Percival Everett

University of Southern California
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90089

January 27, 2003

Dear Juniper,

We’re on the case, old friend.

Wish we could employ you here, but there’s no money and less work.

Stay there. We’re getting Snell to rehire you, put you on the book with us. We can also protect you there, even from a certifiable like Snell.

We like you. Trust us.

Best,

Percival

p.s. Jim says Hi.

F
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January 27, 2003

Dear Jim,

Yes, that’s so.

But remember, I love you.

Best,

Percival

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January 30, 2003

Dear Martin,

I think you will agree that, when all is said and done, continuity counts. I know there are those who disagree. You are not one.