The Funniest Part

The funniest story in the book to me, without a doubt, is on the way back when the guys are picked up in the desert in an old white Ford station wagon, courtesy of 'sick Ted’ and his mother—the woman who is “fat as a whale.”  This is from the beginning of Day 33, pages 287-294. They are enroute to Las Vegas, probably to an emergency visit to the doctor. Roger sees cars by the dozen on the side of the highway, disabled, whose radiators couldn’t take such heat in 1971.  He’s glad they’re not one of them.  Before long, they ARE among them.  And Roger and Otto are still feuding like bobcats.  Ted tries three times to let the car cool down at a service station, but the car finally dies.  Roger and Otto push the heap through the white hot heat, with Otto cursing at him under his breath.  This section is highly entertaining every time I read it.  This section, with Ted and his fat mother, has had the least bit of editing over the years.  I barely touched it.  The story came out virtually intact, and I thought best to leave a good thing alone.