End Game: Gubble
Lipez, Richard
END GAME wonderful squinty eyes, and he said, 'Hi there, buckeroo.' Except this man wasn't squinting. He had this powerful concentrated wide-open gaze full of understanding and reassurance, and he...
...Right...
...But you're missing the whole point, Elaine, and I can see that no matter how hard I try I'll never be able to communicate to you what it was like to be in the presence of the incredible magnetism of this extraordinary man...
...He's so different from before the convention...
...Carter out-classed him all the way...
...Of course, yes, that's what he said...
...He's a great man...
...Gee, Doris, that sounds exciting...
...He stuck right in there and showed the country what he's made of...
...Who cares...
...The third debate had just been concluded, and in living rooms across America voters were discussing which man had seemed to them to come out on top...
...Why are you trying to ruin it for me...
...Rupert, he was just so — so strong, and full of confidence...
...And he told me — 'Gibble.' " "But, Al, what does—'Gibble' mean...
...Rupert Shugrie said, "I think I'll go take my shower now...
...He's so comfortable with himself, so — solid...
...He said —'Gabble.' " "Eh...
...Are you sure the speech wasn't about welfare chiselers...
...Oh, you're back on that again...
...He looked right into me, it almost seemed...
...I liked the way he really cares...
...Wow," Elaine Hinckly said, her eyes wide...
...He was fantastic," Doris Shugrie shouted, rushing up to her husband as he strode from the eighteenth green to the clubhouse...
...I'd call it a toss-up," said a third voter...
...Slow and steady always wins...
...But what do you think he meant by 'Gabble...
...Rupert, I just wish you'd been there to see him...
...But were they really saying what I think they were saying...
...We are going to prevail.' " "I thought you told me he said 'Gibble.' " "What...
...It must have been just — electrifying...
...Why are you being so picky...
...Gubble RICHARD LIPEZ "He looked me right in the eye with this incredible intensity," Al Hinckly said, rushing breathlessly in the door...
...I actually got to meet him, and he squeezed my hand very firmly, and at the same time he was looking right at me as if there weren't a thousand other people in the hall and as if I was the only person in the whole world...
...I thought you liked him, too...
...He stood up there on the ballroom podium so tall and so proud, and when he hammered on the lectern as if he were—America's blacksmith, I knew that I was in the presence of a sort of human monument...
...But what did he say...
...He just radiates sincerity and good sense...
...He said 'Gibble.' It was very distinct...
...It was a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life...
...Al, you know very well that your left ear isn't what it used to be...
...Oh, Rupert, you'll just never know how sort of peaceful he made me feel...
...I thought both of them looked and acted fine...
...He must have said, 'I'd appreciate your support,' or 'Nice to see you,' or — I don't know what...
...Who knows...
...It was like — well, it was almost like when I was a kid, and Roy Rogers came to our county fair, and Dad hoisted me up when Roy walked by, and Roy looked right at me with a big friendly grin and those Richard Lipez, a columnist for the A mherst Record in Massachusetts, contributes the "End Game"feature on this page every month...
...But at the same time, he's cool...
...What did he say to you...
...But he couldn't have said — 'Gibble.' " "Elaine, honey, I know what I heard...
...It was like being in the presence of a great sea captain in whose hands our safety lies...
...He had this powerful concentrated wide-open gaze full of understanding and reassurance, and he seemed to be saying, 'You and I are The People...
...He said —'Gibble.' " "Beg your pardon...
...Elaine Hinckly said, "I think I'll go up and lie down for a while...
...He said 'Gabble.' 'Gabble Gabble Gabble.' You just haven't been listening to me at all...
...Gabble.' He just kept saying 'Gabble.' But that wasn't really important, hon...
...I'll hand it to Ford," said one voter...
...I guess you had to be there...
...I certainly plan to vote for him...
...Nah," said another...
...Maybe he said 'rabble.' " "Rupert, I know what I heard...
...Glad you were impressed, sweetie...
...What did he say...
...He was actually — inspiring...
Vol. 40 • November 1976 • No. 11
