Providence (2012)
“I forgot the dream. Forgot it and remembered it—forgot it, remembered it, forgot it, remembered it—never forgot it.
Over the next ten years, the beetle’s words took on new meanings. Something was going on between my parents. I didn’t have any idea what it was and still don’t.
On my birth certificate, my father, Herbert John Quinn—known as Bert and later as Q—listed his occupation as “Telegrapher” and his employer as E. J. Barrick, a successful Omaha roofer. Why would a roofer need a telegrapher...? He needed a telegrapher because he had a curious sideline: He operated a sports book. This meant he needed a “line,” which was both a telegraphic line and an array of sporting information of all kinds but principally the betting odds and point-spreads on offer for all the events of the day.
When Bert went to work for E. J. Barrick, he found his true vocation. I don’t mean he became a bookie; that was some years in the future. The bookie is the man whose money is at risk, and Dad had no money to risk at this time; he was just an employee.MoreLess
Over the next ten years, the beetle’s words took on new meanings. Something was going on between my parents. I didn’t have any idea what it was and still don’t.
On my birth certificate, my father, Herbert John Quinn—known as Bert and later as Q—listed his occupation as “Telegrapher” and his employer as E. J. Barrick, a successful Omaha roofer. Why would a roofer need a telegrapher...? He needed a telegrapher because he had a curious sideline: He operated a sports book. This meant he needed a “line,” which was both a telegraphic line and an array of sporting information of all kinds but principally the betting odds and point-spreads on offer for all the events of the day.
When Bert went to work for E. J. Barrick, he found his true vocation. I don’t mean he became a bookie; that was some years in the future. The bookie is the man whose money is at risk, and Dad had no money to risk at this time; he was just an employee.MoreLess
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