Oh, man, that was great big bread for me, you know, 'cause there was cats in there making three and four and five, but I didn't know it. But to me, that was big bread. So that day he says to me, he says "well you know, it's just not proper protocol for a person to snatch somebody out of his buddy's band. So we'll have to strategically work this out." I said "okay, what do you suggest?" He said "well I'll tell you what I think. I think you should maybe just get sick and tell Bill that you're going to go home and recuperate and while you're home recuperating I'll put you on salary." Yeah? Wow man. Ain't no better deal than that. So I went back and told Bas' that I put my notice in, I said "no Bas', I'm just not feeling good, I just need to go home and just get on." And he said "okay, well when you get yourself together you can come on back, because this is always home for you." So I said "thanks, Bill, I appreciate it very much." So I went home, I'm on salary, and right away the first check, wham, so before I get home, you know?" So this went on and on until the band just happened to come through St. Louis, three months later, I'm on salary for three months, and they're coming through St. Louis playing the Keel Auditorium on November the 11th, Armistice Day. And I just happened to join the band. That was a big show with Sarah Vaughan, Peg Leg Bass, Patterson and Jackson and all them from the big show. I don't know if it was '51 or '52. But anyhow, I left and went with the band. I stayed with the band for almost ten years you know? And years later, I went up to the Carnegie Hall when Basie was already sick and he had to take a little side elevator to ride up, this was before they installed the thing that they've got there now. And I went backstage to see him and I'm standing at the top and he's coming up and I said "you know one thing?" And he said "yeah, so what's that?" I said "I have a confession to make to you, something that's been bugging me for years and years." He said "yeah? what is it?" I said "when I left the band you know, I told you I was sick and going home," I said "I wasn't really sick." He said "um humm." I said "the reason I did that is because Duke had made me an offer I couldn't pass up." He said "um humm." He said "why do you think I took the raise back, you think I didn't know that?" All these years I've been bugged.