"How about Roberta Muldoon?" John Wolf said.
"The book has absolutely nothing to do with Roberta," Garp said. Though Garp knew that Roberta, at least, wouldn't object to the dedication. How funny to write a book really no one would like to have dedicated to them!
"Maybe I'll dedicate it to the Ellen Jamesians," Garp said, bitterly.
"Don't make trouble for yourself," John Wolf said. "That's just plain stupid."
Garp sulked.
For Mrs. Ralph?
he thought. But he still didn't know her real name. There was Helen's father--his good old wrestling coach, Ernie Holm--but Ernie wouldn't understand the gesture; it would hardly be a book Ernie would like. Garp hoped, in fact, that Ernie wouldn't read it. How funny to write a book you hope someone doesn't read!
To Fat Stew
he thought.
For Michael Milton
In Memory of Bonkers
He bogged down. He could think of no one.
"I know someone," John Wolf said. "I could ask her if she'd mind."
"Very funny," Garp said.
But John Wolf was thinking of Jillsy Sloper, the person, he knew, who was responsible for getting this book of Garp's published at all.
"She's a very special woman who loved the book," John Wolf told Garp. "She said it was so 'true.'"
Garp was interested in the idea.
"I gave her the manuscript for one weekend," John Wolf said, "and she couldn't put it down."
"Why'd you give her the manuscript?" Garp asked.
"She just seemed right for it," John Wolf said. A good editor will not share all his secrets with anyone.
"Well, okay," Garp said. "It seems naked, having no one. Tell her I'd appreciate it. She's a close friend of yours?" Garp asked. Garp's editor winked at him and Garp nodded.
"What's it all mean, anyway?" Jillsy Sloper asked John Wolf, suspiciously. "What's it mean, he wants to 'dedicate' that terrible book to me?"
"It means that your response was valuable to him," John Wolf said. "He thinks the book was written almost with you in mind."
"Lawd," Jillsy said. "With me in mind? What's that mean?"
"I told him how you responded to his book," John Wolf said, "and he thinks you're the perfect audience, I guess."
"The perfect audience?" Jillsy said. "Lawd, he is crazy, isn't he?"
"He's got no one else to dedicate it to," John Wolf admitted.
"Kind of like needin' a witness for a weddin'?" Jillsy Sloper asked.
"Kind of," John Wolf guessed.
"It don't mean I approve of the book?" Jillsy asked.