The Graduate
Benjamin pulled up the two flaps of the carton and looked down into it.
    “What is it,” he said.
    “Well pull her on up,” his father said.
    Inside the box was something made of black rubber that looked like several uninflated inner tubes folded up on top of each other.
    Benjamin reached down and pulled it out.

    The Graduate
    37
    “Now unfold it,” his father said.
    Benjamin held it up and let it unfold. It was a suit. There were two black arms and two legs and a zipper running up the front of it and a black hood.
    “What is it,” Benjamin said. “Some kind of rubber suit?”
    Mr. Arnold laughed. “It’s a diving suit,” he said.
    “Oh,” Benjamin said. He looked at it a moment longer, then nodded and began returning it to the box. “Thanks.”
    “You’re not through yet,” his father said, pulling it back up and holding it. “Keep digging.”
    “Isn’t this exciting,” Mrs. Arnold said.
    Peter and Louise came over to sit on the rug beside him and watch.
    Benjamin reached down into the box and drew out a rubber mask with a glass plate in it, and two hoses leading out from the side of it.
    “That’s your mask,” his father said.
    Peter Arnold took it from him to hold. Benjamin reached in again for a large silver cylinder with the words COMPRESSED AIR stenciled on it in orange letters.
    “That’s your oxygen supply.”
    “I can see that,” Benjamin said. He dropped the tank on the rug and reached into the box a final time and pulled up two black rubber fins. He looked at them a mement, then dropped them back into the box and sat back on the couch. “Thanks,” he said. He reached for his grape juice.
    “Well now, let’s have a show before it gets dark,” Mr. Braddock said.
    “What?”
    “I’ll be right back,” his father said. He turned around and hurried out of the room.
    “What did he say?”
    “I think he wants you to give us an exhibition out in the swimming pool,” Mrs. Braddock said.
    “Oh no,” Benjamin said, straightening up on the couch.
    Mr. Braddock returned carrying a long metal spear and handed it to Benjamin.

    The Graduate
    38
    “Listen,” Benjamin said.
    “Go on up and get your gear on,” his father said. “I’ll set up some chairs out by the pool.”
    “Look,” Benjamin said, shaking his head. “This is a great gift, but if you don’t mind—”
    “Let’s go,” Mr. Braddock said. He began gathering up the equipment from the floor and handing it to Benjamin.
    “Dad, it’s just what I wanted and all that but I can’t—”
    “We want to be sure it’s safe,” his mother said.
    “Safe? Sure it is. Look.” He reached down into the floor of the box and pulled out a white slip of paper. “Here’s the guarantee right here.”
    “Let’s go,” his father said, taking his arm and pulling him up from the couch.
    “This is ludicrous, Dad.”
    “Come on,” Mr. Arnold said, grinning at him. “Let’s see a few underwater stunts.”
    “Oh my God.”
    “Let’s get to it,” Mr. Braddock said. He piled the equipment in Benjamin’s arms and began pushing him toward the hall.
    “Come on now, Dad.”
    His father left him standing in the hall and returned to the living room.
    Benjamin waited a moment, then walked back to the entrance of the room.
    “Dad?”
    “What’re you still doing down here.”
    “Could I see you a minute, please?”
    “Oh no. You get ready.”
    “Could I see you a minute in the hall, please!”
    Mr. Braddock walked back into the hall.
    “Now I refuse to make a goddamn ass of myself in front of the Arnolds.”
    “Here we go,” Mr. Braddock said. He began pushing him toward the stairs.

    The Graduate
    39
    “Goddammit Dad!”
    “Here we go,” he said, pushing him up the stairs. “Happy birthday.
    Happy birthday.”
    “Dad I don’t—”
    “I’ll give you three minutes to get it on,” Mr. Braddock said. He turned around and walked back into the living room. Benjamin stood a moment on the stairs with his arms wrapped
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