So who exactly was this Floyd character I was referring to earlier?

His name was Floyd Ray Wilson and he was about 37

and for a year and a half in the late 1970s he lived in my house.

He used to date my mom's best friend Jackie and years earlier

he would visit the apartment that my mom and I shared with her two roommates

Jackie and Lillian and every time he came by it was exciting because I thought Floyd was really cool and I could

talk movies with him and since he was a hip guy who saw a lot of shit he could keep up. I remember when Jackie introduced us, I was 10 years old, and she said,

Quentin, Floyd's who you should talk to about movies. He knows as much as you do. So I, a 10-year-old, started testing this grown-ass man on his knowledge

of movies. Finally I was able to talk to somebody about movies who knew what the fuck I was

talking about. Also during this time I realized the hard way that Floyd was a flaky guy who couldn't be counted on.

On at least two occasions he told me he'd come over next Saturday and take me to the movies.

Oh boy I thought not just talking about movies with Floyd but actually going to the movies at Floyd

But when Saturday came no no Floyd. No call, no excuse, no apology, just no show. He either forgot or he didn't give a shit. And I was so excited too. As the hours passed and I waited and I waited and I waited and it got later and later I finally realized he wasn't coming. I wasn't mad. I was heartbrokenbroken I didn't even think of myself as a kid but even I knew

you didn't do that to a kid but I forgave Floyd and played it cool the next time

he came by and a few visits later he promised to take me out again.

I made sure when he left that he remembered that we had plans and I'd be waiting for him and he said

of course no problem see you next Saturday. And the fucking guy did it to me again.

But this time I wasn't heartbroken.

I felt lousy but not crushed. It was just now I knew who Floyd really was. He was an adult I couldn't count on. This is a theme that's going to reappear over and over again, Quentin's fierce self-belief and fierce independence

because he was surrounded by a bunch of adults

he couldn't count on.

He was an adult I couldn't count on.

...