Herman Nelson
Biography
Bernard's best friend in high school; accompanied him on an unauthorized New Year's Eve drive to Chicago. Narrator's best friend; described as tough acting, with a DA haircut, Aviator sunglasses, and black engineer’s boots. Beaten in an alley after announcing himself at the Chocolate Shop. Retrieved his .22 pistol and threatened revenge, but friends persuaded him to seek hospital treatment for his nose instead. Dropped his East Moline girlfriend.
Timeline
1953
Herman beaten outside the Chocolate Shop
Herman announced himself inside the shop after hearing rivals wanted a fight over his girlfriend. He was escorted to the alley and beaten while his friends waited outside in the narrator's car.
Bernie's Chapter1953
Friends persuade Herman to seek treatment instead of revenge
Herman retrieved his .22 pistol from his house and threatened to shoot the man who broke his nose. On the return journey, his friends persuaded him to go to the hospital so his nose would not heal crooked.
Bernie's Chapterone New Year’s Eve
New Year's Eve drive to Chicago
Drove the Chevrolet to Chicago without permission.
Bernie's Chapterone night
Hiding under Herman's car
After rivals came looking for them at their hangout, the narrator recalls hiding under Herman's car until the pursuers stopped cruising around.
Bernie's Chapter
Stories mentioning Herman
- A Robin’s Egg Blue Chevrolet and a Cherished FordAt sixteen, Bernard acquired a ’36 Chevrolet to drive to Moline High School. Its unfinished robin’s egg blue paint, missing parking brake, and shabby seats embarrassed him, but Dad kept it running and Bernard bought seat covers with his own money. He cruised Moline on a dollar's worth of gas and drove to Chicago with Herman Nelson one New Year's Eve without permission. He fondly remembers a black ’41 Ford with chrome and a radio, priced at $150, but cannot remember whether it replaced the Chevrolet, was shared with Bob, or belonged only to Bob.
- Friends Turn Herman Away from RevengeAt about seventeen, Bernard and his best friend Herman Nelson became caught in the rivalry between Moline and East Moline guys after getting East Moline girlfriends. Herman confronted rivals at the Chocolate Shop and was beaten in the alley. After retrieving a .22 pistol, he intended to return and shoot the man he blamed for his broken nose. Bernard, Sig Eckburg, Jerry Edlund, and Bill Adams persuaded him to go to the hospital instead by warning that his nose might heal crooked. They never returned to the Chocolate Shop, and Herman dropped the girlfriend, but rivals continued looking for them at the Hasty Tasty. One night they hid under Herman's car to avoid being caught.
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