Summary

"Fantastic."

As the author begins his first year at Millsaps College (which he and others refer to as Saps), he says goodbye to his mother, who has another year-long academic job in another part of the country. They agree that time apart will do them good, and she urges him to take care of himself and not let the white folks around him beat him down. “‘Don’t be good,” she tells him. '… be perfect. Be fantastic'” (120). After he leaves her at the airport, the author drives himself to a restaurant and has a huge meal.

At Saps, he makes friends with fellow student Ray Gunn. who has a unique way with language; who tells him to practice saying “fantastic” to himself in the mirror (121); and who warns him about the dangers of being at Saps which, Gunn...