Mike and Psmith

By P.G. Wodehouse

I decided to skip some lesser quality novels, so Goodbye to Mike at Wrykyn and Prince of Politeness. I'm heading straight for the good half, Psmith stemming from the real cousin of PG, giving him the inspiration; he also apologizes for all the cricket talk, but this story containing the lesser of both books. Huzzah for me!

Mike, per usual was late for family breakfast, so misses the reaction his pop had over his grades. His sis, Marjory keeps him updated as she sets him up with mealstuffs, he then going out for some cricket practice, which is interrupted by Marj relaying he'd been summoned by a seething papa. Mike hadn't gotten good reviews last term, so this report hinged his stay at Wrykyn. So, when his pop shares where he'd next be placed would be Sedleigh, he wasn't impressed solely due to they not having a known cricket team.

The bad attitude had settled upon Mike by the time he'd gotten off the train, he also not liking the porter who helped him with his luggage and told him where he could locate Sedleigh down the road, since he didn't wish to take the bus. As he's walking to the house, his mind is on how he'd missed his chance at coaching Wrykyn's team. Mike discovers, after a light jaunt through the country wilderness, the h.m., Outwood, reminds him of Smee from Peter Pan:

, the motherly sort. Once Mr. Outwood goes on about his hobby for old churches though, Mike declines the tea offered in preference to looking for his dorm. He instead locates a common room in the next building where he also meets a student, Psmith standing with a monocle quickly attached to his eye.

Mike intros himself as Jackson, Psmith taking over by willingly sharing his reason for also being new. Before relinquishing his tale, though, he notes the 'P' addition, being silent in his name, and having recently created the new spelling, planning to keep it for life. Mike then discovers Psmith was stuck at Sedleigh on acct of the vicar of his village having a son who had gone to Sedleigh and gotten a Balliol... seemingly a college at Oxford?... This then leads to Mike realizing Psmith lives close by to his town, and they were nearly "long-lost brothers", so Psmith shouldn't feel too woeful.

Mike certainly felt better for knowing someone in a near town to his taking the Sedleigh ride with him. He in return, also shares which school he'd come from, leading to Psmith relating of an Archaeological Society, which Outwood headed, and any who got in being able to get out of cricket, Psmith guessing Mike's talent, and he in return tells of not wishing to play on Sedleigh's team, anyways. Psmith next suggests they go add their names to the list, then, but Mike wishes for tea first, so they wander upstairs and Psmith decides the 1st room they come to looking quite comfy, and states it would be their new home. Whoever actually occupies the space would need to handle being homeless, since Psmith then requests help to bring up his luggage, which also had a stove.

As Psmith gets more moved in, he comes up with ideas which Mike would implement, like when Psmith decides to remove an ugly calendar, and Mike does the actual work, along with taking a key from the next study's door, so they could lock up after use, unlike their unfortunate 1st-renter. This occurs a little later, when they hear a boy knock into the door, thinking it was unlocked, so Mike lets him in. Psmith thinks he makes a good case for himself by eloquently saying, in so many words, finder's keepers. In the end, Psmith has made it so the 3 would go see Outwood about it along other items, which Psmith gets precedence for speaking up 1st, and leading the chat, leaving innocent Spiller without his study.

Psmith was prepared and relating to Mike how he expected retaliation from Spiller, but was willing to fight for the comfy digs. Mike brings up a fair point which after Psmith gives praise for, decides they must again locate their benefactor Outwood to help remedy, so he and Mike could be in the same dorm. Before doing so, they have a visitor from a laughing boy who knew Spiller, he bitching about Psmith downstairs. Jellicoe relates how they shouldn't be looking at anymore than a handful should Spiller succeed in gathering anyone to help with regaining his study, but he wouldn't be 1 of them.

Psmith next gets the plan and Jellicoe underway by successfully gaining the 3 room dorm when they return to ask Outwood. After tea is set out, Jellicoe, Psmith, and Mike return to the study early, Psmith now tiring of the defense game and wanting to end it, declaring they'd make their move before bed, and he would write home in the meantime. In the night, Spiller invades as predicted, the set trap working and Mike spilling the jug on the fallen bodies, he getting punched in the face for his thank you. Soon they have an audience of boys and to end the wrassling match, Psmith waters Spiller's, as well as 2 of his homies beds.

The next morning, a notice relays of neither Psmith or Mike would get visitors if they continued like they were. Adair is pointed out by Jelli, Mike meeting the sporto the same morning as the note. This boy has a love for Sedleigh few could boast, for being an orphan and feeling like he could go places by doing well for the place. When Adair approaches them about playing cricket, Mike responds coldly, and after another headmaster is told they aren't playing cricket in preference of archeology, he isn't pleased, but leaves them be, like Adair had.

Psmith doesn't let this stray his thoughts from what Outwood would serve for lunch. Mike soon begins lusting after a game of cricket once his passion mellows to being against Sedleigh's team, and he heard boys playing. He bends to even asking Adair to have a go, but he's told to practice with the noobs, so he lets the itch die. When he and Psith are with OUtwood on a dig, they detect a mo to break away, Psmith deciding to nap by a brook, and Mike taking a little wander, running into a dog, then a young man comes up to him, Mike remembering him as a former Wrykyn cricketer. He offers to play a game sometime, which Mike jumps at the chance for, he immediately sharing the news with the sleepy Psmith, who comes to watch the game Sat, and Mike helps the local town team win the game.

Next is shared of the other headmaster, Downing, who had the Fire Brigade to which to lord over, and feel like he's got the best boys for taking the interest. Sammy the bull terrier was his hwhite little pup, and during 1 meeting where the group keeps attempting to get Downing to agree to some safety gear and upgrades by vote, he would shut it down for believing it to be unimportant. After Downing sends 1 of the boys out of the room, a weird noise starts, Mike walking in to grab a book, Sammy following excitedly, and pouncing on a mechanical rat. Downing handles these proceeding by lightly punishing a brigade member, and suspending Mike from his Saturday Archeological Society class.

After chatting with 2 players on the Sedleigh team whilst making tea, he accepts playing an unofficial game on a partial holiday for the school. So when Downing sees Mike, he thinks his talk of cricket is what had changed his mind, but once he and Adair see him play, they realize Mike is a cricketer, fosho, he still declining when Adair asks him to join their team. Meanwhile, Psmith shares with Mike of having lent Jelli 3 quid, this perking his interest, since Jelli'd cleaned him out of a pound the day before, Psmith spinning the story into a hopeful way as to how Jelli plans to spend it. Mike isn't feeling well in multiple ways next morning, his body aching, and Jelli being way too pleased for being flush.

So, when Mike expects to hear more sass from Downing, he is prepared for the man's sarcasm, and plays dumb. As Downing gives Mike shit for not having been upfront with his cricket-playing, he's distracted by hearing shuffling, this helping to end Downing's bitching. Mike's met by Jelli as they cross a field, and Jelli gets cracked into his ankle by a stray ball, and the boy who did the damage, helps Jelli to the nurse, since Mike had detention. After getting out, and feeling like years had passed, Mike meets Psmith sitting with Dunster, the tall boy who hit Jelli, under a tree. He learns the 2 had known each other at their previous school, Mike learning Jelli wishes to chat with him, but no one knowing the importance level.

Psmith helps him decide to wait til he had to go back in, but by then Jelli is beside himself, since he'd been planning on having Mike run the cash to a fella on Mike's village team, which Mike decides to help with, since Jelli'd get kicked out otherwise. Jelli comes of use by telling Mike of a key copy he'd made for the school bikes, which'd help Mike on his couple mile journey, he going to Psmith to get it, and not telling him the reason, per Jelli's wishes. Mike starts his ride with thoughts of whilst not loving Sedleigh, he now enjoyed it enough to not want to get kicked out for being seen out at night, esp, since he knew his pop would most likely forbid him Cambridge. Psmith's q's about why Mike wants the bike shed key is met with the excuse of early biking plans, which Psmith imparts the half sound advice of a doc's saying to not go crazy with early rising, for becoming mad, then relinquishes the key. He reaches the closed inn, but soon has Barley at the door to collect, confusedly.

Mike relays Jelli's debt, and Barley starting laughing his ass off to tears, then once more upon reaching Jelli's accompanying note, which he shares with Mike, who still requires clarifying. Barley shares of Jelli keeping 2 dogs at his place, and 1 of em had torn up his hat, among other items, Mike getting it, but not appreciating having put himself at risk losing his chance at playing cricket at a tip-top uni for such an inside joke. Barley's boylike enjoyment is enough to stop Mike from ruining it for him though, so pretends to have liked his trick, Barley returning the 5-er, and gets a ginger beer and cookies for his time. Upon returning the bike, he feels something under his foot in the shed, but opts to biff off than learn the ID.

As Mike feels he's homefree climbing up a convenient drainpipe near their study, someone calls up to him. Mike makes the hasty judgement to slide back down, and book it, rather than finish the 2nd half of his climb. When he lands, he realizes the school sargeant, Collard has collared him, but the man isn't much of a runner these days, so Mike has hope as Collard chases him huffily. He would've preferred sleep, but this isn't bad, either.

After losing Collard, and seeing him give up, he decidedly waits half hour, next seeing Adair going for the bike shed, Mike keeping quiet of his reasons for being out, but Adair going for a doc for a kid with a tummy ache, Mike next having to run with the much better sprinter, Downing. Mike uses his same route as before, but this time has a lightbulb of genius which would have the whole school out, per fire alarm. So, Mike takes a good for secs to ring the hell out of the bell, the waking of the school accomplished. Psmith, Mike, Stone, and Jelli chat about the sporting fun of the night before, some boys repeatedly sliding down the window chutes.

Next, a boy shows what had happened to Sammy the bull terrier, who currently is covered in red paint. When all had gone out for church, Jelli says he'd keep quiet about last night, Mike sobering to Jelli's first thought of he also having messed with Sammy. This same idea had also gotten into Downing's mind, he planning on rooting out the dog painter/bell ringer. After chatting with Outwood, Downing has narrowed down his possibilities of culprit. He goes to speak with Collard in case he'd ID'd anything about the runner, which he hadn't, so parts ways with him.

Holmes and Watson's styles are mentioned for how most Laymen were Watson-types. Downing is annoyed by his lack of clues, til he is requested by a student to get a bike, he seeing it on the floor of the shed. The pot of red paint is discovered spilled on the floor and a footprint could be seen. He inquirese after Adair, and the groundskeeper first, next knowing he is getting closer to an answer, if he located the red shoe.

When Downing gets to the dorms only Mike and Psmith are in, Mike going out as Downing is coming in, he having Psmith help him ID rooms and studies, deducing Mike is a good suspect when seeing their unbarred window, and how pipe-adjacent it was. Downing excitedly asks Psmith where Mike's shoes would be, the poor young man next tasked with more phys. labor than he'd prefer, by bringing the shoe basket to the study, then clean up Downing's mess after discovering the shoe he wanted. Psmith whistles a work tune to show his feelings, and after next offering to carry the shoe for Downing, he accepts for appearances sake, the 2 off to the Headmaster, Psmith realizing why the shoe was important, so when the H.M. asks to see the proof, the red paint mark is suspiciously gone! Psmith provides a good excuse of how Downing probably had a trick of the light, since Psmith claims also to have temporarily seen a red shade for a mo., and when he's dismissed with the now non-evidence, Psmith makes his way, at an uncommonly quick run to the study, hiding the damning shoe he'd switched with his fake, and locks it up in the cupboard.

Per his quick reasoning, Downing isn't far behind, and goes to look through the shoes again. Upon no rediscovery, he thinks it must be in the locked up cupboard, sending Psmith for Outwood when he claims the key to be lost, so Downing wants permission to break into the cupboard. Psmith outrightly declines, realizing, and eloquently saying so, of if he'd been anywhere else, but Outwood's house, he'd obey with tassles on, but he didn't have to unless OUtwood specified, so Downing leaves with daggers pointed at Psmith, he knowing he'd leave a shoe in the cupboard, just not the damning one. He does this, and takes a couple more dummy shoes to hide, leaving the real one hanging outside the window.

When Downing returns with Outwood, permission is confusedly given, and Downing is temporarily satisfied, until seeing the unmarred tow, this happening again when Outwood sees the excess soot, and mentions needing to have a cleaning. Downing again furious about why Psmith stuck a shoe there, the answer being for spirits of animals. This is when Outwood leads him out for having gotten soot on his face, Downing vowing Psmith would hear back from him. Psmith replaces the shoe into the chimney, since Downing had checked there already, he next thinking of how best to clean the shoe.

Psmith's only foul up was not mentioning his little ruse to Mike, who next has to where the same tennies to class. Well, Downing has a sense for these rules broken, so when he asks Mike about them with the excuse of having 1 missing, he brings this evidence to the H.M. after class. Stone and Robinson are being made to practice for cricket before breakies by Adair, which they both agree was rotten, and don't care if they get kicked out, so when Adair insults their skills and says they'd do it again tmw morning, the 2 agree to ditch. After practice, Adair goes looking for them, making them agree to show up 10 past next morning, the threat of more knock downs making both agree, then deciding he'd chat with Mike.

Mike was reading a letter from a Wrykynian about how badly they'd gone since his leaving, and so Adair had caught Mike's mood at an all time low in favor of anything Sedleighan. When Mike hears Adair claim he'd be seeing him at practice at 6am tmw, they're nearly ready to scrap, but Psmith points them in the direction of outdoors for that shit. Psmith brings a gentlemanly countenance to their row, so set up a timer when they were ready to start. In the end, Mike is victorious only due to Adair's hasty wish to get Mike, rather than using his skill at boxing.

So, Mike goes off per Psmith's advice and he'd make sure the dear made it back alright. Mike's winning made him warm to Adair more, and had him view his own feelings as childish. When Psmith comes in to update of Adair being fine, he also attempts to talk up the reasons why Mike should oblige Adair, Psmith offering to play for the team, as well, which shocks Mike. When he then agrees, since he and Psmith shared more in common with how they had both decided not to play for similar reasons, he admits he still wouldn't be going to early morning training.

Psmith agrees it wouldn't be necessary, since Adair had sprained his wrist and also wouldn't be showing. Mike goes out and leaves a note for Adair about playing, rain starting as he went back to his house. Next morning, it isn't clear whether there'd be a game, but Adair meets Mike out on the field where the 2 chat amicably, and eventually the idea to match with Wrykyn seemed to be too good for either to disagree with. The other team arrives and waits for better weather, but after noon, decide the game is null, and call it.

When Mike comes back, he's told Downing wishes to see him, and upon returning to Psmith in their study, Mike's pissed about Downing's accusation regarding his missing shoe, which Psmith finally is able to clear up of "where" his shoe was, but getting Mike out of his painting a dog conundrum being a thinker. What Psmith comes up with ends up with him going to Downing's house, and confessing for the painting of his dog. Mike is staying strong as H.M. attempts to get his confession, til Downing enters saying Psmith had confessed, but not long after this, Adair comes in saying Dunster had done it, the H.M. properly shocked, now. Psmith is next called for, and is waiting in the hall for having expected a summons.

Psmith enters and privately chats to the H.M. after chatting about why he'd confessed, then leaving when the man is satisfied, at least he confessing he didn't have a family history of mental illness. After, Psmith is apprised of the Wrykyn invite, and suffers through Mike's deduction of he helping him out of a tight spot for having the feels for him. It seems the easy win Mike had thought they'd get, isn't so simple, since it looked more like Wrykyn would squash them. When Mike and Psmith play, they are able to turn the score in their favor a bit. After which Psmith helps nail the game, after which Mike and Psmith discuss how well it'd gone before going off to another lunch hosted by Outwood.

Swell story, but too much sport talk for my taste, despite being less than the others. I'm not interested as much in Wodehouse's rev up stories, and have decided to go straight for his jam, so onward to Blandings!