For a long time I was the village idiot, but not any longer although they call me "dummy" still and even worse than that.
I'm a genius now, but I won't let them know.
Not ever.
If they found out, they'd be on their guard against me.
No one has suspected me and no one will. My shuffle is the same and my gaze as vacant and my mumblings just as vague as they ever were. At times, it has been hard to remember to keep the shuffle and the gaze and mumblings as they were before, times when it was hard not to overdo them. But it's important not to arouse suspicion.
It all started the morning I went fishing.
I told Ma I was going fishing while we were eating breakfast and she didn't object. She knows I like fishing. When I fish, I don't get into trouble.
"All right, Jim," she said. "Some fish will taste real good."
"I know where to get them," I told her. "That hole in the creek just past Alf Adams' place."
"Now don't you get into any fracas with Alf," Ma warned me. "Just because you don't like him…"