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hat she was saying； Frieda would tell him of his greatness to e； and she never stopped telling him。 And so； young Toby grew up knowing that he was going to be famous； but having no idea how or why。 He only knew that his mother was never wrong。
Some of Toby's happiest moments occurred when he sat in the enormous kitchen doing his homework while his mother stood at the large old…fashioned stove and cooked。 She would make heavenly smelling； thick black bean soup with whole frankfurters floating in it； and platters of succulent bratwurst； and potato pancakes with fluffy edges of brown lace。 Or she would stand at the large chopping block in the middle of the kitchen； kneading dough with her thick； strong hands； then sprinkling a light snowflake of flour over it； magically transforming the dough into a mouth…watering Pflaumenkuchen or Apfelkuchen。 Toby would go to her and throw his arms around her large body； his face reaching only up to her waist。 The exciting female smell of her would bee a part of all the exciting kitchen smells； and an unbidden sexuality would stir within him。 At those moments Toby would gladly have died for her。 For the rest of his life； the smell of fresh apples cooking in butter brought back an instant； vivid image of his mother。
One afternoon； when Toby was twelve years old； Mrs。 Durkin； the neighbourhood gossip； came to visit them。 Mr。 Durkin was a bony…faced woman with black； darting eyes and a tongue that was never still。 When she departed； Toby did an imitation of her that had his mother roaring with laughter。 It seemed to Toby that it was the first time he had ever heard her laugh。 From that moment on； Toby looked for ways to entertain her。 He would do devastating imitations of customers who came into the butcher shop and of teachers and schoolmates； and his mother would go into gales of laughter。 Toby had finally discovered a way to win his mother's approval。 He tried out for a school play No Account David； and was given the lead。 On opening night； his mother sat in the front row and applauded her son's success。 It was at that moment that Frieda knew how God's promise was going to e true。
It was the early 1930s； the beginning of the Depression； and movie theaters all over the country were trying every conceivable stratagem to fill their empty seats。 They gave away dishes and radios； and had keno nights and bingo nights； and hired organists to acpany the bounding ball while the audience sang along。 And they held amateur contests。 Frieda would carefully check the theatrical section of the newspaper to see where contests were taking place。 Then she would take Toby there and sit in the audience while he did his imitations of Al Jolson and James Cagney and Eddie Cantor and yell out； 〃Mein Himmel！ What a talented boy！〃 Toby nearly always won first prize。 He had grown taller； but he was still thin； an earnest child with guileless； bright blue eyes set in the face of a cherub。 One looked at him and instantly thought： innocence。 When people saw Toby they wanted to put their arms around him and hug him and protect him from life。 They loved him and on stage they applauded him。 For the first time Toby understood what he was destined to be； he was going to be a star； for his mother first； and God second。
Toby's libido began to stir when he was fifteen。 He would masturbate in the bathroom； the one place he was assured of privacy； but that was not enough。 He decided he needed a girl。 One evening； Clara Connors； the married sister of a classmate； drove Toby home from an errand he was doing for his mother。 Clara was a pretty blonde with large breasts； and as Toby sat next to her； he began to get an erection。 Nervously； he inched his hand across to her lap and began to fumble under her skirt； ready to withdraw instantly if she screamed。 Clara was more amused than angry； but when Toby pulled out his penis and she saw the size of it； she invited him to her house the following afternoon and initiated Toby into the joys of sexual intercourse。 It was a fantastic experience。 Instead of a soapy hand； Toby had found a soft； warm receptacle that throbbed and grabbed at his penis。 Clara's moans and screams made him grow hard again and again； so that he had orgasm after orgasm without ever leaving the warm； wet nest。 The size of his penis had always been a source of secret shame to Toby。 Now it had suddenly bee his glory。 Clara could not keep this phenomenon to herself； and soon Toby found himself servicing half a dozen married women in the neighborhood。
During the next two years； Toby managed to deflower nearly half the girls in his class。 Some of Toby's classmates were football heroes； or better looking than he； or rich but where they failed； Toby succeeded。 He was the funniest； cutest thing the girls had ever seen； and it was impossible to say no to that innocent face and those wistful blue eyes。
In Toby's senior year in high school； when he was eighteen； he was summoned to the principal's office。 In the room were Toby's mother； grim…faced； a sobbing sixteen…year old Catholic girl named Eileen Henegan and her father； a uniformed police sergeant。 The moment Toby entered the room； he knew he was in deep trouble。
〃I'll e right to the point； Toby；〃 the principal said。 〃Eileen is pregnant。 She says you're the father of her child。 Have you had a physical relationship with her？〃
Toby's mouth suddenly went dry。 All he could think of was how much Eileen had enjoyed it； how she had moaned and begged for more。 And now this。
〃Answer him； you little son of a bitch！〃 Eileen's father bellowed。 〃Did you touch my daughter？〃
Toby sneaked a look at his mother。 That she was here to witness his shame upset him more than anything else。 He had let her down； disgraced her。 She would be repelled by his behavior。 Toby resolved that if he ever got out of this； if God would only help him this once and perform some kind of miracle； he would never touch another girl as long as he lived。 He would go straight to a doctor and have himself castrated； so that he would never even think about sex again； and。。。
〃Toby。。。〃 His mother was speaking； her voice stern and cold。 〃Did you go to bed with this girl？〃
Toby swallowed； took a deep breath and mumbled；
〃Yes； Mother。〃
〃Then you will marry her。〃 There was finality in her tone。 She looked at the sobbing； puffy…eyed girl。 〃Is that what you want？〃
〃Y…yes；〃 Eileen cried。 〃I love Toby。〃 She turned to Toby。 〃They made me tell。 I didn't want to give them your name。〃
Her father； the police sergeant； announced to the room at large； 〃My daughter's only sixteen。 It's statutory rape。 He could be sent to jail for the rest of his miserable life。 But if he's going to marry her。。。〃
They all turned to look at Toby。 He swallowed again and said； 〃Yes； sir。 I I'm sorry it happened。〃 During the silent ride home with his mother； Toby sat at her side； miserable； knowing how much he had hurt her。 Now he would have to find a job to support Eileen and the child。 He would probably have to go to work in the butcher shop and forget his dreams； all his plans for the future。
When they reached the house； his mother said to him； 〃e upstairs。〃
Toby followed her to his room； s