Once, after hearing several speakers use the term, Gideon leaned over to ask Bozzini what a "you-socker" was, thinking it was a military word.
Bozzini laughed. " You are, man. A USOC’r." He waited for Gideon’s answering laughter, which did not come.
"Don’t you get it? United States Overseas College; U-"
"I get it," Gideon said.
About an hour into the speeches, Gideon, in a happy, nearly mindless daze, was puzzled to find his tablemates making peculiar faces at him, wiggling eyebrows and jerking heads. At the same time he became aware that the room was quiet.
Finally, Bruce Danzig spoke in a stage whisper, mouthing each syllable extravagantly. "Gide- on, stand up!" Frowning, Gideon stood.
"Ah," said the platform speaker with heavy joviality, "we wondered if you were still with us, Professor." Dr. Rufus, the college’s chancellor, had an avuncular smile on his pleasant, smooth face.
"Sorry, sir," said Gideon with a sheepish smile. "I was deeply engrossed in mental preparation of my lecture notes."
Laughter and applause came from the other tables, as well as shouts of "Give him some more wine!" Gideon was pleased to see Janet smile.
The chancellor went on. "Dr. Gideon Oliver, whom I am happy to have you all meet, does well to so occupy himself. He has a lot of lectures to give. Professor Oliver, as I mentioned a moment ago-some time ago, actually- is this semester’s visiting fellow. He comes to us on a leave of absence from Northern California State University"- scattered applause and a look of surprise from Eric Bozzini-"where he is an associate professor of anthropology. As those of you who are old-timers know, the visiting fellow is expected to cover quite a bit of ground in two months, both academically and geographically, ha, ha."