Ishmael QQC #1

"I had to go down there, of course—had to satisfy myself that it was just another scam. You understand. Thirty seconds would do it, a single look, ten words out of his mouth. Then I'd know. Then I could go home and forget about it."

I wonder if he truly believed thirty seconds, a single look, and ten words would be enough to prove a man to be a fake? Is the cynical author really a closet optimist?

At this point in the novel the author had just gone on a rant how outrages it was to consider that the "teacher" that advertised in the newspaper could any help in saving the world. In fact, he would probably turn out to a a self-serving chauvinist that had the ability to continue this facade by his noodle head followers that eat up every word he said. Then he says "I had to go down there, of course—had to satisfy myself that it was just another scam. You understand. Thirty seconds would do it, a single look, ten words out of his mouth. Then I'd know. Then I could go home and forget about it." and I am left thinking how is any who has wanted something like this for so long, is hurting for a teacher going to be able to just walk any. I don't believe for a minute that the kind hope the author has could be put out with a look. It's like a fire and no matter how hard you want to you can't just go home and forget about it. As I was starting to read this book I thought it would be a book about a grumpy old man ranting and raving about the the terrible things in the world. This quote gives me hope. Hope that the cynical author is really a closet optimist. Here is to hope pray for me as I read further.