Beach Music

Jack recalls starting college at the University of South Carolina in the fall of 1966.

Jordan did not attend the University of South Carolina with his friends, but enrolled at the Citadel, a military college. Jordan did not fit in well at military school; when Shyla and Jack drove down to visit him, Jordan told his friends that he was working on a plan to leave the school “with his dignity intact and with his father’s blessing” (561).

Jordan’s plan came to fruition due to a vicious football rivalry between the Citadel and Furman University. Students from the schools took turns pulling pranks ahead of the big football game. Jordan convinced some upperclassman to drive to the Furman campus to graffiti the buildings. But before this, Jordan informed some Furman students of their arrival so that everyone got caught and Jordan got kicked out of school. After that, Jordan enrolled at the University of South Carolina.

Lucy’s leukemia comes out of remission. She cries when she tells Jack. He is disappointed in himself for not knowing how to comfort her or show her the warmth she needs. Lucy asks Jack not to tell his brothers until after the big Labor Day party that they’ve planned in her honor.