PASS TO THE COLONEL
HE HAD THOUGHT THAT THE SUGGESTION OF TAKING IT HIMSELF WOULD TIP THE COLONEL IN THE DIRECTION OF SERVING HIS OWN ORDER BUT THE SLIP OF PAPER WAS FOLDED AND ABSENTLY THRUST INTO
DESPITE HIS YEARNING THE COLONEL WOULD NOT GO DOWN TO SEE THE MEN COME THROUGH THE LINES
HE WOULD REMAIN IN THE TENT WAITING IMPATIENTLY OCCUPIED BY SOME TRIVIAL TASK
BECKWORTH
SIR FETCH ME THE COPIES OF EVERYTHING B AND C COMPANIES HAVE REQUISITIONED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS
THE LAST SIX MONTHS SIR YOU HEARD ME
THERES A LOT OF WASTE GOING ON HERE
ITS GOT TO STOP
I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK
THIS IS NO DAMNED HOLIDAY BECKWORTH
GET BUSY
YES SIR
BECKWORTH LEFT THE TENT
BELOW HE COULD SEE THE BRIGHT TORCHES LIGHTING THE RIVERBANK
HE GLANCED BACK
THE COLONEL CROUCHED TENSELY ON ONE OF THE FOLDING CHAIRS METHODICALLY TEARING AT HIS THUMBNAIL
THE BOMBPROOF WAS A LOWCEILINGED STRUCTURE OF HEAVY TIMBERS COVERED WITH EARTH
IT STOOD SOME FIFTY PACES FROM THE EDGE OF THE BANK
FROM THE OUTSIDE IT SEEMED NO MORE THAN A LOW DRUMLIN A LUMP ON THE DARK EARTH
A CRUDE LADDER RAN DOWN TO A WOODEN FLOOR
TWO SLITS ENABLED OBSERVERS TO WATCH ACROSS THE RIVER
THE PLACE SMELLED STRONGLY OF RANK FERTILE EARTH ROTTING WOOD AND URINE
THE PLANK FLOOR WAS SLIMED BENEATH WATSONS BOOTS
AT LEAST THE UNION OFFICER HAD BEEN DECENT ENOUGH TO PROVIDE A CANDLE
THERE WAS NO PLACE TO SIT BUT WATSON WALKED SLOWLY FROM THE LADDER TO THE WINDOW SLITS AND BACK STOOPING SLIGHTLY TO AVOID STRIKING HIS HEAD ON THE HEAVY BEAMS
IN THE CORNER WAS THE SOLDIER WITH THE WHITE FLAG
HE STOOD STIFFLY ERECT CLUTCHING THE STAFF HIS BODY HALF HIDDEN BY THE LIMP CLOTH
WATSON HARDLY LOOKED AT HIM
THE MAN HAD COME FLOUNDERING ABOARD THE FLATBOTTOMED BARGE AT THE LAST INSTANT BRANDISHING THE FLAG OF TRUCE
SOMEONE HAD HAULED HIM OVER THE SIDE AND HE HAD REMAINED SILENT WHILE THEY CROSSED
AN OFFICER WITH A SQUAD OF MEN HAD BEEN WAITING ON THE BANK
THE MEN IN THE BOATS HAD STARTED YELLING HAPPILY AT FIRST SIGHT OF THE OFFICER TWO OF THEM CALLING HIM BILLY
WHEN THE BOAT HAD TOUCHED THE WEAKER ONES AND THE TWO WOUNDED MEN HAD BEEN LIFTED OUT AND CARRIED AWAY BY THE SOLDIERS
WATSON HAD PRESENTED HIS POUCH AND BEEN LED TO THE BOMBPROOF
THE OFFICER HAD TOLD HIM THAT BOTH LISTS MUST BE CHECKED
WATSON HAD GIVEN HIS NAME AND ASKED FOR A SAFECONDUCT PASS
THE OFFICER SURPRISED SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO SEE
WATSON HAD NODDED ABSENTLY AND MUTTERED THAT HE WOULD CHECK THE LISTS HIMSELF LATER
HE HAD PEERED THROUGH THE DARKNESS AT THE RAMPART
THE MEN HE WOULD TAKE BACK ACROSS THE RIVER STOOD THERE BUT HE TURNED AWAY FROM THEM
HE WANTED NO PART OF THE EMOTIONS OF THE EXCHANGE NO MEMORY OF THE JOY AND GRATITUDE THAT OTHER MEN FELT
HE HAD HOPED TO BE ALONE IN THE BOMBPROOF BUT THE SOLDIER HAD FOLLOWED HIM
THOUGH WATSON CAREFULLY IGNORED THE MAN HE COULD NOT DENY HIS PRESENCE
PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BETTER TO SPEAK TO HIM SINCE SILENCE COULD NOT EXORCISE HIS FORM
WATSON GLANCED BRIEFLY AT HIM SEEING ONLY A BODY RIGIDLY ERECT BEHIND THE LANGUID BANNER
WE WONT BE TOO LONG
IF MY PASS IS APPROVED I MAY BE A HALF HOUR
THE SOLDIER ANSWERED IN A CURIOUS MUFFLED VOICE HIS LIPS BARELY MOVING
WATSON TURNED AWAY AND DID NOT SEE THE MANS KNEES BUCKLE AND HIS BODY SAG
YES SIR
HE HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THE MAN
IT WAS EASIER TO THINK NOW WATSON DECIDED
THE STIFF FIGURE IN THE CORNER NO LONGER BLOCKED HIS THOUGHTS
HE PACED SLOWLY STOOPING STARING AT THE DAMP SLIPPERY FLOOR
HE TRIED TO ORDER THE WORDS OF THE THREE UNION OFFICERS SEEKING TO CREATE SOME COHERENT PORTRAIT OF THE DEAD BOY
BUT HE GROPED BLINDLY
HIS LACK OF SUCCESS STEADILY ERODED HIS INTEREST
HE STOPPED PACING LEANED AGAINST THE DANK TIMBERED WALL AND LET HIS MIND DRIFT
A FEELING OF FUTILITY AN ENERVATION OF MIND GREATER THAN ANY FATIGUE HE HAD EVER KNOWN SEEPED THROUGH HIM
WHAT IN THE NAME OF GOD WAS HE DOING CROUCHED IN A TIMBERED PIT ON THE WRONG BANK OF THE RIVER WHY HAD HE CROSSED THE DARK WATER TO BRING BACK
HE WAS CONSCIOUS OF A GROWING SENSE OF ABSURDITY
HILLMAN HAD WRITTEN IT ALL OUT HADNT HE WASNT THE REPORT OFFICIAL ENOUGH WHAT DID HE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE HILLMAN HAD ORDERED HIM NOT TO LEAVE THE FAR BANK
PROMPTED BY A GUILTY URGE HE HAD DISOBEYED THE ORDER OF A MAN HE RESPECTED
FOR WHAT TO TELL JOHN SOMETHING HE WOULD FIND OUT FOR HIMSELF
THE FIGURE IN THE CORNER BELCHED LOUDLY A DEEP LIQUID ERUPTION
WATSON SNORTED AND THEN LAUGHED ALOUD
EXACTLY THE SOLDIERS VOICE WAS MUFFLED AGAIN STRICKEN WITH CHAGRIN
HE CLUTCHED THE STAFF AND HIS DARK EYES BLINKED APOLOGETICALLY
SCUSE ME SIR
LETS GET OUT OF HERE
WATSON RAN UP THE LADDER AND STOOD FOR A SECOND SUCKING IN THE COOL AIR THAT SMELLED OF MUD AND RIVER WEEDS
TO HIS LEFT THE TWO SKIFFS DENTED THEIR SHARP BOWS INTO THE SOFT BANK
THE FLATBOTTOMED BOAT SWUNG SLOWLY TO THE PULL OF THE CURRENT
A SOLDIER HELD THE END OF A FRAYED ROPE
THREE UNION GUARDS APPEARED CARRYING THEIR RIFLES AT READY
WATSON STARED AT THEM CURIOUSLY
THEY WERE STOCKY MEN WELL FED AND CLEANSHAVEN WITH NEAT UNIFORMS AND STURDY BOOTS
BEHIND THEM SHAMBLED A LONG COLUMN OF WEAK TATTERED MEN
THE THIN GRAY FIGURES RAISED A HOARSE CAWING CRY LIKE THE CALL OF A BIRD FLOCK
THEY MOVED TOWARD THE SKIFFS WITH SHOCKING EAGERNESS ELBOWING AND SHOVING
FOUR MEN WERE KNOCKED DOWN BUT DID NOT ATTEMPT TO RISE
THEY CREPT DOWN THE MUDDY SLOPE TOWARD THE WAITING BOATS
THE UNION SOLDIERS GROUNDED ARMS AND SETTLED INTO HEALTHY INDIFFERENT POSTURES TO WATCH THE FEEBLE BOARDING OF THE SKIFFS
THE CRAWLING MEN TRIED TO RISE AND FELL AGAIN
NO ONE MOVED TO THEM
WATSON WATCHED TWO OF THEM FLOUNDER INTO THE SHALLOW WATER AND LISTENED TO THEIR VOICES BEG SHRILLY
IN A CONFUSED SOAKED AND STUMBLING SHIFT OF BODIES AND LIFTING ARMS THE TWO MEN WERE DRAGGED INTO THE SAME SKIFF
THE THIRD CRAWLING MAN FORCED HIMSELF ERECT
HE SWAYED LIKE A DRUNKARD HIS ARMS MILLING IN SLOW CIRCLES
HE PACED FORWARD UNSTEADILY LEANING TOO FAR BACK HIS HEAD TILTED ODDLY
HIS STEPS WERE SHORT AND STIFF AND WITH HIS HEAD THROWN BACK HIS PROGRESS WAS A SUPERCILIOUS STRUT
HE APPEARED TO BE PEERING HAUGHTILY DOWN HIS NOSE AT THE CROWDED AND UNCLEAN VESSEL THAT WOULD CARRY HIM TO FREEDOM
HE STALKED INTO THE WATER AND FELL HEAVILY OVER THE SIDE OF THE FLATBOTTOMED BARGE HIS WEIGHT NEARLY SWAMPING THE CRAFT
WATSON LOOKED FOR THE FOURTH MAN
HE HAD REACHED THE THREE PASSIVE GUARDS HE CREPT IN AN INCERTAIN MANNER PATTING THE GROUND BEFORE HIM
THE GUARDS DID NOT LOOK AT HIM
THE FIGURE ON THE EARTH HALTED SEEMINGLY BEWILDERED
HE SANK BACK ON HIS THIN HAUNCHES LIKE A WEARY HOUND
THEN HE BEGAN TO CRAWL AGAIN
WATSON WATCHED THE CREEPING FIGURE
HE FELT A SPECTATOR INTEREST
WOULD THE MAN MAKE IT OR NOT IF ONLY THERE WAS A CLOCK FOR HIM TO CRAWL AGAINST
IF HE FAILED TO REACH THE RIVERBANK IN FIVE MINUTES SAY THEN THE SKIFFS WOULD PULL AWAY AND LEAVE HIM GROPING IN THE MUD
SAY THREE MINUTES TO MAKE IT SPORTING
STILL THE GUARDS DID NOT MOVE BUT STOOD INERT ALOOF FROM THE SLOWSCRAMBLING MAN
THE FIGURE HALTED AND WATSON GASPED
THE MAN BEGAN TO CREEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION DECEIVED BY A SLIGHT RISE IN THE GROUND HE TURNED SLOWLY AND BEGAN TO CRAWL BACK UP THE BANK TOWARD THE RAMPART
WATSON RACED FOR HIM HIS BOOTS SLAMMING THE SOFT EARTH
THE GUARDS CAME TO LIFE WITH ASTONISHING MENACE
THEY SPUN AND FLUNG THEIR RIFLES UP
WATSON GESTICULATED WILDLY
ONE MAN DROPPED TO HIS KNEE FOR BETTER AIM
LET ME HELP HIM FOR THE LOVE OF GOD THE GUARDS LOWERED THEIR RIFLES AND THEIR RIFLES AND PEERED AT WATSON WITH SULLEN PUZZLED FACES
WATSON POUNDED TO THE CRAWLING MAN AND STOPPED PANTING HEAVILY
HE REACHED DOWN AND CLOSED HIS FINGERS ON THE MANS UPPER ARM
BENEATH HIS CLUTCH A FLAT STRIP OF MUSCLE SURGED ON THE BONE
WATSON BENT AWKWARDLY AND LIFTED THE MAN TO HIS FEET
WATSON STARED INTO A CADAVEROUS FACE
TWO CLOTTED BALLS THE COLOR OF MUCUS ROLLED BETWEEN FIERY LIDS
LIGHT STICKS OF FINGERS THE TIPS GUMMY WITH DARK EARTH PATTED AT WATSONS THROAT
THE MANS VOICE WAS A SWEET PATIENT WHISPER
HENRY SAID THAT HED TAKE MY ARM AND GET ME RIGHT THERE
BUT YOU AINT HENRY
NO
IT DONT MATTER
IS IT FAR HOW FAR COULD IT BE WATSON THOUGHT BLEAKLY HOW FAR CAN A BLIND MAN CRAWL ANOTHER BODY LENGTH OR ALL THE REST OF HIS NIGHTED LIFE 
YOU TALK DEEP
NOT LIKE US FELLAS
IT RAISES THE VOICE BEIN IN CAMP
YOU SECESH YES
COME ON NOW
CAN YOU WALK WHY COURSE I CAN
I CAN WALK REAL GOOD
WATSON STUMBLED DOWN THE BANK
THE MAN LEANED HIS FRAIL BODY AGAINST WATSONS SHOULDER
HE WAS NO HEAVIER THAN A CHILD
WATSON PAUSED FOR BREATH
THE MAN WHEEZED WEAKLY HIS FETID BREATH BEATING SOFTLY AGAINST WATSONS NECK
HIS SWEET WHISPER CAME AFTER GREAT EFFORT
OH CHRIST
I WISH YOU WAS HENRY
HE PROMISED TO TAKE ME
HUSH
WERE ALMOST THERE
WATSON SUPPORTED THE MAN TO THE EDGE OF THE BANK AND PASSED THE FRAIL FIGURE OVER THE BOW OF THE NEAREST SKIFF
THE MAN SWAYED ON A THWART TURNING HIS RUINED EYES FROM SIDE TO SIDE
WATSON TURNED AWAY SICKENED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY MONTHS
HE HEARD THE PATIENT VOICE CALLING
HENRY WHERE ARE YOU HENRY MAKE HIM LIE DOWN WATSON SNATCHED A DEEP BREATH
HE HAD NOT MEANT TO SHOUT
HE STOOD WITH HIS BACK TO THE SKIFF
THE MEN MEWED AND SCRATCHED BEGGING TO BE TAKEN AWAY
WATSON SPOKE BEWILDEREDLY TO THE DARK NIGHT FLECKED WITH PINEKNOT TORCHES
GODDAMN YOU WHAT DO YOU DO TO THEM INTELLIGENCE JABBED AT HIM ACCUSINGLY
HE WAS ANGRY SICKENED
HE HAD NOT FELT THAT DURING THE AFTERNOON
NO NOR LATER
ALL HIS EMOTIONS HAD BEEN INWARD SELFCONSCIOUS
IN WAR ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS IT WAS ONLY THE OUTWARD EMOTIONS THAT MATTERED WHAT COULD BE FLUNG OUT INTO THE DARKNESS TO DAMAGE OTHERS
YES
THAT WAS IT
HE WAS SURE OF IT
JOHNS TYPE OF MAN ALLOWED THIS SORT OF THING TO HAPPEN
WHAT A FOOL HE HAD BEEN TO THINK OF HIS BROTHER SO CHARLES WAS DEAD
WHAT DID IT MATTER HIS NAME HAD BEEN CROSSED OFF A LIST
ALREADY HIS COOL BODY LAY IN THE GROUND
WHAT WORDS HAD ANY MEANING WHAT HAD HE THOUGHT OF TO GO TO JOHN GROVEL AND BEG UNDERSTANDING TO CONFESS WITH A CANVAS CHAIR AS A PRIEDIEU GOUGING AT
WHAT MADE HIM THINK JOHN HAD A RIGHT TO WITNESS HIS BROTHERS HUMILIATION WHAT RIGHT HAD JOHN TO ANY SPECIAL CONSIDERATION WAS JOHN BETTER MORE DESERVING TO HELL WITH JOHN
LET HIM CHAFE WITH IMPATIENCE TO SEE CHARLES RIP OPEN THE NOTE WITH TREMBLING HANDS AND READ THE FORMAL REPORT IN HILLMANS BEAUTIFUL SCHOOLMASTERS HAND
JOHN WOULD CURSE
HE BELIEVED THAT BRAVE BOYS DIDNT CRY
WATSON SPAT ON THE GROUND
HE WAS GRIMLY SATISFIED
HE HAD STUPIDLY THOUGHT HIMSELF COMPELLED TO EASE HIS BROTHERS PAIN
NOW HE KNEW PERFECTLY THAT HE HAD BUT LONGED TO INCREASE HIS OWN SUFFERING
I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE WRITERS WHO BEGIN EACH MORNING BY EXCLAIMING O GOGOL O CHEKHOV O THACKERAY AND DICKENS WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE MADE OF
BUT THE SHELTER IS AS MUCH A PART OF MY LANDSCAPE AS THE BEECH AND HORSECHESTNUT TREES THAT GROW ON THE RIDGE
I CAN SEE IT FROM THIS WINDOW WHERE I WRITE
IT WAS BUILT BY THE PASTERNS AND STANDS ON THE ACRE OF GROUND THAT ADJOINS OUR PROPERTY
IT BULKS UNDER A VEIL OF THIN NEW GRASS LIKE SOME EMBARRASSING FACT OF PHYSICALNESS AND I THINK MRS PASTERN SET OUT THE STATUARY TO SOFTEN ITS MEANING
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE HER
SHE WAS A PALE WOMAN
SITTING ON HER TERRACE SITTING IN HER PARLOR SITTING ANYWHERE SHE GROUND AN AXE OF SELFESTEEM
OFFER HER A CUP OF TEA AND SHE WOULD SAY WHY THESE CUPS LOOK JUST LIKE A SET I GAVE TO THE SALVATION ARMY LAST YEAR
SHOW HER THE NEW SWIMMING POOL AND SHE WOULD SAY SLAPPING HER ANKLE I SUPPOSE THIS MUST BE WHERE YOU BREED YOUR GIGANTIC MOSQUITOES
HAND HER A CHAIR AND SHE WOULD SAY WHY ITS A NICE IMITATION OF THOSE QUEEN ANNE CHAIRS I INHERITED FROM GRANDMOTHER DELANCY
THESE TRUMPS WERE MORE TOUCHING THAN THEY WERE ANYTHING ELSE AND SEEMED TO IMPLY THAT THE NIGHTS WERE LONG HER CHILDREN UNGRATEFUL AND HER MARRIAGE BEWILDERINGLY THREADBARE
TWENTY YEARS AGO SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS A GOLF WIDOW AND THE SUM OF HER MANNER WAS PERHAPS ONE OF BEREAVEMENT
SHE USUALLY WORE WEEDS AND A STRANGER WATCHING HER BOARD A TRAIN MIGHT HAVE GUESSED THAT MR PASTERN WAS DEAD BUT MR PASTERN WAS FAR FROM DEAD
HE WAS MARCHING UP AND DOWN THE LOCKER ROOM OF THE GRASSY BRAE GOLF CLUB SHOUTING BOMB CUBA BOMB BERLIN LETS THROW A LITTLE NUCLEAR HARDWARE AT THEM AND SHOW THEM
HE WAS BRIGADIER OF THE CLUBS LOCKERROOM LIGHT INFANTRY AND AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER DECLARED WAR ON RUSSIA CZECHOSLOVAKIA YUGOSLAVIA AND CHINA
IT ALL BEGAN ON AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON AND WHO AFTER ALL THESE CENTURIES CAN DESCRIBE THE FINENESS OF AN AUTUMN DAY ONE MIGHT PRETEND NEVER TO HAVE SEEN ONE BEFORE
THE CLEAR AND SEARCHING SWEEP OF SUN ON THE LAWNS WAS LIKE A CLIMAX OF THE YEARS LIGHTS
LEAVES WERE BURNING SOMEWHERE AND THE SMOKE SMELLED FOR ALL ITS AMMONIAC ACIDITY OF BEGINNINGS
THE BOUNDLESS BLUE AIR WAS STRETCHED OVER THE ZENITH LIKE THE SKIN OF A DRUM
LEAVING HER HOUSE ONE LATE AFTERNOON MRS PASTERN STOPPED TO ADMIRE THE OCTOBER LIGHT
IT WAS THE DAY TO CANVASS FOR INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS
MRS PASTERN HAD BEEN GIVEN SIXTEEN NAMES A BUNDLE OF LITERATURE AND A PRINTED BOOK OF RECEIPTS
IT WAS HER WORK TO GO AMONG HER NEIGHBORS AND COLLECT THEIR CHECKS
HER HOUSE STOOD ON A RISE OF GROUND AND BEFORE SHE GOT INTO HER CAR SHE LOOKED AT THE HOUSES BELOW
CHARITY AS SHE KNEW IT WAS COMPLEX AND RECIPROCAL AND ALMOST EVERY ROOF SHE SAW SIGNIFIED CHARITY
MRS BALCOLM WORKED FOR THE BRAIN
MRS TEN EYKE DID MENTAL HEALTH
MRS TRENCHARD WORKED FOR THE BLIND
MRS HOROWITZ WAS IN CHARGE OF DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND THROAT
MRS TREMPLER WAS TUBERCULOSIS MRS SURCLIFFE WAS MOTHERS MARCH OF DIMES MRS CRAVEN WAS CANCER AND MRS GILKSON DID THE KIDNEY
MRS HEWLITT LED THE BIRTHCONTROL LEAGUE MRS RYERSON WAS ARTHRITIS AND WAY IN THE DISTANCE COULD BE SEEN THE SLATE ROOF OF ETHEL LITTLETONS HOUSE A ROOF THAT SIGNIFIED GOUT
MRS PASTERN UNDERTOOK THE WORK OF GOING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE WITH THE THOUGHTLESS RESIGNATION OF AN HONEST AND TRADITIONAL LABORER
IT WAS HER DESTINY IT WAS HER LIFE
HER MOTHER HAD DONE IT BEFORE HER AND EVEN HER OLD GRANDMOTHER WHO HAD COLLECTED MONEY FOR SMALLPOX AND UNWED MOTHERS
MRS PASTERN HAD TELEPHONED MOST OF HER NEIGHBORS IN ADVANCE AND MOST OF THEM WERE READY FOR HER
SHE EXPERIENCED NONE OF THE SUSPENSE OF SOME POOR STRANGER SELLING ENCYCLOPEDIAS
HERE AND THERE SHE STAYED TO VISIT AND DRINK A GLASS OF SHERRY
THE CONTRIBUTIONS WERE AHEAD OF WHAT SHE HAD GOT THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND WHILE THE MONEY OF COURSE WAS NOT HERS IT EXCITED HER TO STUFF HER KIT WITH BIG
SHE STOPPED AT THE SURCLIFFES AFTER DUSK AND HAD A SCOTCHANDSODA
SHE STAYED TOO LATE AND WHEN SHE LEFT IT WAS DARK AND TIME TO GO HOME AND COOK SUPPER FOR HER HUSBAND
I GOT A HUNDRED AND SIXTY DOLLARS FOR THE HEPATITIS FUND SHE SAID EXCITEDLY WHEN HE WALKED IN
I DID EVERYBODY ON MY LIST BUT THE BLEVINS AND THE FLANNAGANS
I WANT TO GET MY KIT IN TOMORROW MORNING WOULD YOU MIND DOING THEM WHILE I COOK THE DINNER BUT I DONT KNOW THE FLANNAGANS CHARLIE PASTERN SAID
NOBODY DOES BUT THEY GAVE ME TEN LAST YEAR
HE WAS TIRED HE HAD HIS BUSINESS WORRIES AND THE SIGHT OF HIS WIFE ARRANGING PORK CHOPS IN THE BROILER ONLY SEEMED LIKE AN EXTENSION OF A BORING DAY
HE WAS HAPPY ENOUGH TO TAKE THE CONVERTIBLE AND RACE UP THE HILL TO THE BLEVINS THINKING THAT THEY MIGHT GIVE HIM A DRINK
BUT THE BLEVINS WERE AWAY THEIR MAID GAVE HIM AN ENVELOPE WITH A CHECK IN IT AND SHUT THE DOOR
TURNING IN AT THE FLANNAGANS DRIVEWAY HE TRIED TO REMEMBER IF HE HAD EVER MET THEM
THE NAME ENCOURAGED HIM BECAUSE HE ALWAYS FELT THAT HE COULD HANDLE THE IRISH
THERE WAS A GLASS PANE IN THE FRONT DOOR AND THROUGH THIS HE COULD SEE INTO A HALLWAY WHERE A PLUMP WOMAN WITH RED HAIR WAS ARRANGING FLOWERS
INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS HE SHOUTED HEARTILY
SHE TOOK A GOOD LOOK AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR BEFORE SHE TURNED AND WALKING WITH VERY SMALL STEPS STARTED TOWARD THE DOOR
OH PLEASE COME IN SHE SAID
THE GIRLISH VOICE WAS NEARLY A WHISPER
SHE WAS NOT A GIRL HE COULD SEE
HER HAIR WAS DYED AND HER BLOOM WAS FADING AND SHE MUST HAVE BEEN CROWDING FORTY BUT SHE SEEMED TO BE ONE OF THOSE WOMEN WHO CLING TO THE MANNERS AND
YOUR WIFE JUST CALLED SHE SAID SEPARATING ONE WORD FROM ANOTHER EXACTLY LIKE A CHILD
AND I AM NOT SURE THAT I HAVE ANY CASH ANY MONEY THAT IS BUT IF YOU WILL WAIT JUST A MINUTE I WILL WRITE YOU OUT A CHECK IF I
WONT YOU STEP INTO THE LIVING ROOM WHERE ITS COZIER A FIRE HAD JUST BEEN LIGHTED HE SAW AND THINGS HAD BEEN SET OUT FOR DRINKS AND LIKE
WHERE WAS MR FLANNAGAN HE WONDERED
TRAVELLING HOME ON A LATE TRAIN CHANGING HIS CLOTHES UPSTAIRS TAKING A SHOWER AT THE END OF THE ROOM THERE WAS A DESK HEAPED WITH PAPERS AND SHE BEGAN TO
I AM TERRIBLY SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING SHE SAID BUT WONT YOU MAKE YOURSELF A LITTLE DRINK WHILE YOU WAIT EVERYTHINGS ON THE TABLE
WHAT TRAIN DOES MR FLANNAGAN COME OUT ON MR FLANNAGAN IS AWAY SHE SAID
HER VOICE DROPPED
MR FLANNAGAN HAS BEEN AWAY FOR SIX WEEKS
ILL HAVE A DRINK THEN IF YOULL HAVE ONE WITH ME
IF YOU WILL PROMISE TO MAKE IT WEAK
SIT DOWN HE SAID AND ENJOY YOUR DRINK AND LOOK FOR YOUR CHECKBOOK LATER
THE ONLY WAY TO FIND THINGS IS TO RELAX
ALL IN ALL THEY HAD SIX DRINKS
SHE DESCRIBED HERSELF AND HER CIRCUMSTANCES UNHESITATINGLY
MR FLANNAGAN MANUFACTURED PLASTIC TONGUE DEPRESSORS
HE TRAVELLED ALL OVER THE WORLD
SHE DIDNT LIKE TO TRAVEL
PLANES MADE HER FEEL FAINT AND IN TOKYO WHERE SHE HAD GONE THAT SUMMER SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN RAW FISH FOR BREAKFAST AND SO SHE HAD COME STRAIGHT HOME
SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD FORMERLY LIVED IN NEW YORK WHERE SHE HAD MANY FRIENDS BUT MR FLANNAGAN THOUGHT THE COUNTRY WOULD BE SAFER IN CASE OF WAR
SHE WOULD RATHER LIVE IN DANGER THAN DIE OF LONELINESS AND BOREDOM
SHE HAD NO CHILDREN SHE HAD MADE NO FRIENDS
IVE SEEN YOU THOUGH BEFORE SHE SAID WITH ENORMOUS COYNESS PATTING HIS KNEE
IVE SEEN YOU WALKING YOUR DOGS ON SUNDAY AND DRIVING BY IN THE CONVERTIBLE
THE THOUGHT OF THIS LONELY WOMAN SITTING AT HER WINDOW TOUCHED HIM ALTHOUGH HE WAS EVEN MORE TOUCHED BY HER PLUMPNESS
SHEER PLUMPNESS HE KNEW IS NOT A VITAL PART OF THE BODY AND HAS NO PROCREATIVE FUNCTIONS
IT SERVES MERELY AS AN EXCESS CUSHION FOR THE REST OF THE CARCASS
AND KNOWING ITS HUMBLE PLACE IN THE SCALE OF THINGS WHY DID HE AT THIS TIME OF LIFE SEEM ALMOST READY TO SELL HIS SOUL FOR PLUMPNESS THE REMARKS SHE
IVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE SHE SAID LATER WHEN HE WAS ARRANGING HIMSELF TO LEAVE
HER VOICE SHOOK WITH FEELING AND HE THOUGHT IT LOVELY
HE DIDNT DOUBT HER TRUTHFULNESS ALTHOUGH HE HAD HEARD THE WORDS A HUNDRED TIMES
IVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE THEY ALWAYS SAID SHAKING THEIR DRESSES DOWN OVER THEIR WHITE SHOULDERS
IVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE THEY ALWAYS SAID WAITING FOR THE ELEVATOR IN THE HOTEL CORRIDOR
IVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE THEY ALWAYS SAID POURING ANOTHER WHISKEY
IVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE THEY ALWAYS SAID PUTTING ON THEIR STOCKINGS
ON SHIPS AT SEA ON RAILROAD TRAINS IN SUMMER HOTELS WITH MOUNTAIN VIEWS THEY ALWAYS SAID IVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MRS PASTERN ASKED SADLY WHEN HE CAME IN
ITS AFTER ELEVEN
I HAD A DRINK WITH THE FLANNAGANS
SHE TOLD ME HE WAS IN GERMANY
HE CAME HOME UNEXPECTEDLY
CHARLIE ATE SOME SUPPER IN THE KITCHEN AND WENT INTO THE TV ROOM TO HEAR THE NEWS
BOMB THEM HE SHOUTED
THROW A LITTLE NUCLEAR HARDWARE AT THEM SHOW THEM WHOS BOSS BUT IN BED HE HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING
HE THOUGHT FIRST OF HIS SON AND DAUGHTER AWAY AT COLLEGE
HE LOVED THEM
IT WAS THE ONLY MEANING OF THE WORD THAT HE HAD EVER KNOWN
THEN HE PLAYED NINE IMAGINARY HOLES OF GOLF CHOOSING HIS HANDICAP HIS IRONS HIS STANCE HIS OPPONENTS AND HIS WEATHER IN DETAIL BUT THE GREEN OF THE LINKS
HIS MONEY WAS TIED UP IN A NASSAU HOTEL AN OHIO POTTERY WORKS AND A DETERGENT FOR WINDOWWASHING AND LUCK HAD BEEN RUNNING AGAINST HIM
HIS WORRIES HARRIED HIM UP OUT OF BED AND HE LIGHTED A CIGARETTE AND WENT TO THE WINDOW
IN THE STARLIGHT HE COULD SEE THE TREES STRIPPED OF THEIR LEAVES
DURING THE SUMMER HE HAD TRIED TO REPAIR SOME OF HIS LOSSES AT THE TRACK AND THE BARE TREES REMINDED HIM THAT HIS PARIMUTUEL TICKETS WOULD STILL BE LYING LIKE LEAVES
MAPLE AND ASH BEECH AND ELM ONE HUNDRED TO WIN ON THREE IN THE FOURTH FIFTY TO WIN ON SIX IN THE THIRD ONE HUNDRED TO WIN ON TWO IN
CHILDREN WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL WOULD SCUFF THROUGH WHAT SEEMED TO BE HIS FOLIAGE
THEN GETTING BACK INTO BED HE THOUGHT UNASHAMEDLY OF MRS FLANNAGAN PLANNING WHERE THEY WOULD NEXT MEET AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO
THERE ARE HE THOUGHT SO FEW TRUE MEANS OF FORGETFULNESS IN THIS LIFE THAT WHY SHOULD HE SHUN THE MEDICINE EVEN WHEN THE MEDICINE SEEMED AS IT DID A LITTLE
HER THOUGHTS WERE NOT DISCRETE
BUT THERE WAS A LOOK ABOUT HER MOUTH AS THOUGH SHE WERE TASTING LEMONS
SHE GRASPED THE CHAIR ARMS AND BROUGHT HER THIN BODY UPRIGHT LIKE A BIRD ALERT FOR FLIGHT
SHE TURNED AND WALKED STIFFLY INTO THE PARLOR TO THE DAINTYLEGGED ESCRITOIRE WARPED AND CRACKED NOW FROM FIFTY YEARS IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF SEA SPRAY
THERE SHE EXTRACTED TWO LIMP VELLUM SHEETS AND WROTE OFF THE LETTERS ONE TO ABEL ONE TO MARK
ONCE HER TREMBLING HAND WITH THE PEN GRASPED TIGHT IN IT WAS PRESSED AGAINST THE PAPER THE WORDS CAME SHARPLY SMOOTHLY AS AUTHORITATIVELY AS THEY WOULD DROPPING FROM HER OWN
AND THE STIFFLY REGAL LOOK OF THEM SHE SAW GRIMLY LACKED THE QUAVER OF AGE WHICH THWARTING THE EFFORTS OF HER AMAZING WILL RAN THROUGH HER SPOKEN WORDS LIKE A
PLEASE COME DOWN AS SOON AS YOU CONVENIENTLY CAN THE UPRIGHT LETTERS STALKED FROM THE BROADNIBBED PEN I HAVE AN IMPORTANT MATTER TO DISCUSS WITH YOU
TO ABEL I AM AFRAID THERE IS NOT MUCH TO AMUSE SMALL CHILDREN HERE
I SHOULD BE OBLIGED IF YOU COULD MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUR DAUGHTERS
YOU MAY STAY AS LONG AS YOU WISH OF COURSE BUT IF ARRANGING FOR THE CARE OF THE GIRLS MUST TAKE TIME INTO ACCOUNT I THINK A DAY OR TWO SHOULD
TO MARK PLEASE GIVE MY REGARDS TO MYRA
SHE SIGNED THE LETTERS QUICKLY STAMPED THEM AND PLACED THEM ON THE HALL TABLE FOR RAPHAEL TO MAIL IN TOWN
THEN SHE WENT BACK TO THE WICKER CHAIR AND RESOLUTELY ADJUSTED HER EYES TO THE GLARE ON THE WATER
MY NEPHEWS WILL BE COMING DOWN SHE SAID THAT EVENING AS ANGELINA BROUGHT HER DINNER INTO THE DINING ROOM THE WHOLE MEAL ON A VAST LINENCOVERED TRAY
SHE LOOKED AT THE GIRL SPECULATIVELY FROM EYES WHICH HAD PALED WITH THE YEARS FROM THE EARLY EVENING LIGHTS OF THEM WHICH HAD FIRST STARTLED IZAAK TO LOOK AT HER IN AN UNCOUSINLY
ANGELINA PLACED THE TRAY ON THE TABLE AND WITH A FLICK OF DARK WRIST DREW OFF THE CLOTH
SHE SMILED AND THE TEETH GLEAMED IN HER BEAUTIFULLY MODELED OLIVE FACE
THAT WILL BE SO NICE FOR YOU MRS PACKARD SHE SAID
HER VOICE WAS RIPE AND FULL AND HER TEETH FLASHED AGAIN IN SICILIAN BRILLIANCE BEFORE THE WARM CURVED LIPS MET AND HER MOUTH SETTLED IN REPOSE
UM SAID THE OLD LADY AND BROUGHT HER EYES DOWN TO THE TRAY
YOU REMEMBER THEM I SUPPOSE SHE GLINTED SUSPICIOUSLY AT THE DISH BEFORE HER BLOWFISH
I HOPE RAPHAEL BOUGHT THEM WHOLE
ANGELINA STEPPED BACK HER EYES ROAMING THE TRAY FOR OMISSIONS
THEN SHE LOOKED AT THE OLD WOMAN AGAIN HER EYES CALM
YES SHE SAID I REMEMBER THAT THEY CAME HERE EVERY SUMMER
I USED TO PLAY WITH THE OLDER ONE SOMETIMES WHEN HED LET ME
ABEL THE NAME FELL WITH LAZY AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE FROM HER LIPS
FOR AN INSTANT THE OLD AUNT FELT SOMETHING INDEFINABLE FLASH THROUGH HER SMILE
SHE WOULD HAVE SAID TRIUMPH
THEN ANGELINA TURNED AND WITH AN EASY GRACE WALKED TOWARD THE KITCHEN
JESSICA PACKARD LIFTED HER HEAD AND FOLLOWED THE RETREATING FIGURE HER EYES RESTING NEARLY CLOSED ON THE UNSELFCONSCIOUS RISE AND FALL OF THE ROUNDED HIPS
FOR A MOMENT SHE HELD HER FACE TO THE EMPTY DOORWAY THEN SHE SNORTED AND GROPED FOR HER FORK
THERES NO GREATER CATASTROPHE IN THE UNIVERSE SHE REFLECTED DOURLY IMPALING TENDER GREEN BEANS ON THE SILVER FORK THAN THE DWINDLING AWAY OF A FAMILY
PROCREATION EXPANSION PROLIFERATION THESE ARE THE LAWS OF LIVING THINGS WITH THE PENALTY FOR NOT OBEYING THEM THE ULTIMATE IN PUNISHMENTS OBLIVION
WHEN THE FATE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IS VISITED ON THE GROUP THEN THE WARM SWEET BUTTER DRIPPED FROM HER RAISED TREMBLING FORK AND SHE PUSHED HER HEAD FORWARD BELLIGERENTLY AH
AND INDEED THE YOUNG GARDEN BEANS WERE BRACKISH IN HER MOUTH
SHE WAS THE LAST LIVING OF THE OLDER GENERATION
WHAT HAD ONCE BEEN A WIDESPREAD FAMILY AT ONE TIME SHE KNEW THERE WERE ENOUGH PACKARDS TO POPULATE AN ENTIRE COUNTY HAD NOW NARROWED DOWN TO THE TWO BOYS
SHE SWUNG HER EYES UP TO THE BLUE OF THE WINDOW HER JAWS GENTLY MASHING THE BITTER BEANS
WHAT HOPE LAY IN THE NEPHEWS SHE ASKED THE INTENSIFYING LIGHT OUT THERE WITH ONE MARRIED TO A BARREN WOMAN AND THE OTHER DIVORCED HAVING SIRED TWO GIRL CHILDREN WITH
IT SEEMED TO HER AS IT SEEMED EACH NIGHT THAT THE GLOOM DREW ITSELF IN AND BECAME DENSEST AT THE TABLES EMPTY CHAIRS GIVING HER THE FREQUENT ILLUSION THAT SHE DINED
HERE TOO SHE TALKED LOW QUIRKING HER HEAD AT ONE OR ANOTHER OF THE PLACES MOST OFTEN AT IZAAKS ARMCHAIR WHICH FACED HER ACROSS THE LONG TABLE
OR IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ABSENT NEPHEWS SHE ADDRESSED CONSCIOUSLY PLAYING WITH THE NOTION THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE SUMMERS OF THEIR EARLY YEARS
SHE THOUGHT AGAIN OF HER CHILDREN THOSE TWO WHO HAD DIED YOUNG BEFORE THE LATER SCIENCE WHICH MIGHT HAVE SAVED THEM COULD ATTACH EVEN A LABEL TO THEIR SEPARATE MALIGNANCIES
THE GIRL HER FIRST SHE BARELY REMEMBERED
IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYONES INFANT FOR IT HAD NOT SURVIVED THE BASSINET
BUT THE BOY THE BOY HAD BEEN ALIVE YESTERDAY
EACH SUCCESSIVE MOVEMENT IN HIS GROWING WAS RECORDED ON THE UNREELING FILM INSIDE HER
HE RAN ON HIS PLUMP STICKS OF LEGS FREEZING NOW AND AGAIN INTO THE SUDDEN STARTLED ATTITUDES WHICH THE CAMERA HAD CAUGHT AND HELD ON THE PALING PHOTOGRAPHS ALL CAREFULLY PLACED AND
IN THE CRUEL CLEARNESS OF HER MEMORY THE BOY REMAINED UNCHANGED QUICK WITH THE DELIGHT OF LAUGHTER AND THE PAIN WITH WHICH SHE RECALLED THAT SHORT DESTROYED CHILDHOOD WAS STILL UNENDURABLE TO
IT WAS ONE WITH THE DESOLATE ROCKS AND THE ALIEN WATER ON THOSE DAYS WHEN SHE HATED THE SEA
THE BROTHERS DROVE DOWN TOGETHER IN MARKS SMALL RED SPORTS CAR MARK AT THE WHEEL
THEY RARELY SPOKE
ABEL SAT AND REGARDED THE FARM COUNTRY WHICH SPREADING OUT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD ROLLED GREENLY UP TO WHERE THE SILENT WHITE HOUSES AND LONG BARNS AND SILOS NESTED INTO
HE SAW THE LAND WITH A STRANGERS EYES ALL THE OLD FAMILIARNESS GONE
AND IT PRESENTED ITSELF TO HIM AS IT WOULD TO ANY STRANGER IMPERVIOUS COMPLETE IN ITSELF
THERE WAS STABILITY THERE TOO A COLOR WHICH HIS LIFE HAD HAD ONCE
THAT IS WHAT CHILDHOOD IS HE TOLD HIMSELF
SOLID SETTLED LOST
IN THE STIFF NEUTRAL LINES OF THE TELEPHONE POLES HE SAW THE NONONSENSE PEN STROKES OF AUNT JESSICAS LETTER
WHAT BAD GRACE WHAT INCREDIBLE SELFISHNESS HE AND MARK HAD SHOWN
THE BOYHOOD SUMMERS PRECEDING THEIR UNCLES FUNERAL MIGHT NEVER HAVE BEEN
THEY HAD CLOSED OVER ABSOLUTELY WITH THE SEALING OF OLD IZAAKS GRAVE
THE SMALL CAR FLEW ON RELENTLESSLY
THE OLD WOMAN STUBBORNLY REIGNING IN THE HOUSE ABOVE THE CRASHING WATERS TOOK ON AN OMINOUS REALITY
ABEL MOVED AND ADJUSTED HIS LONG LEGS
I SUPPOSE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY MARK HAD SAID OVER THE TELEPHONE WHEN THEY HAD DISCUSSED THEIR RECEIPT OF THE LETTERS
NOT UNTIL THE WORDS HAD BEEN SPOKEN DID ABEL SUDDENLY SEE THE OLD HOUSE AND THE INSISTENT SEA AND FEEL HIS CONTRITION BLOTTED OUT IN ONE SHAMEFUL MOMENT OF COVETOUSNESS
HE AND MARK WERE THE LAST OF THE FAMILY AND THERE LAY THE CAPE ANN PROPERTY WHICH HAD SEEMED TO HAVE NO END STRETCHING FROM HORIZON TO HORIZON IN THOSE GOLDEN
NOW ABEL TURNED HIS HEAD TO LOOK AT HIS BROTHER
MARK HELD THE WHEEL LOOSELY BUT HIS FINGERS CURVED AROUND IT IN A PURPOSEFUL WAY AND THE DELIBERATE SET OF HIS BODY SPOKE PLAINLY OF THE FIGURE HED MAKE IN THE YEARS TO
HIS SANDY HAIR WAS ALREADY BEGINNING TO THIN AND RECEDE AT THE SIDES AND ABEL LOOKED QUICKLY AWAY
MARK EASILY LOOKED YEARS OLDER THAN HIMSELF SETTLED HIS WORLD COMFORTABLY CATEGORIZED
THE VACATION TRAFFIC WAS BECOMING HEAVIER AS THEY APPROACHED THE SEA
SHE DIDNT MENTION BRINGING MYRA MARK SAID MANEUVERING THE CAR INTO THE NEXT LANE
SHES PROBABLY GETTING OLD CROTCHETY I MEAN AND WE FIGURED UHUH BETTER NOT
THEYVE NEVER MET YOU KNOW
BUT MYRA WOULDNT BUDGE WITHOUT AN EXPRESS INVITATION
I FEEL KIND OF BAD ABOUT IT
HE GAVE ABEL A QUICK GLANCE AND MOVED CLOSER TO THE WHEEL HUGGING IT TO HIM AND ABEL CAUGHT THIS BRIEFEST OF ALLUSIONS TO GUILT
I IMAGINE THE OLD GIRL HASNT MISSED US MUCH MARK ADDED HIS EYES ON THE ROAD
ABEL IGNORED THE HALFEXPRESSED BID FOR CONFIRMATION
HE SMILED
IT WAS BARELY POSSIBLE THAT HIS BROTHER WAS RIGHT
HE COULD TELL THEY WERE APPROACHING THE SEA
THE AIR TOOK ON A SPECIAL STRENGTH NOW THAT THEYD LEFT THE FECUND WARMTH OF THE FARMLAND BEHIND
THERE WAS THE SMELL OF THE COAST LIKE A PRIMEVAL MEMORY COMPOSED OF EQUAL PARTS SALT WATER CLAMS SEAWEED AND NORTHERN AIR
HE TURNED FROM THE FLYING TREES TO LOOK AHEAD AND SAW WITH AN INWARD BOYS EYE AGAIN THE GREAT FIELDSTONE HOUSE WHICH BUILT ON ONE OF THE MANY ACRES OF ANCESTRAL LAND BORDERING
MARKS THOUGHTS MUST HAVE BEEN KEEPING SILENT PACE BESIDE HIS OWN CLIMBING THE SAME CRAGS IN DIRTY WHITE SNEAKERS CLAMBERING OUT ON TOP OF THE HEADLAND AND COMING UPON THE SUDDEN GLINTING
REMEMBER THE STARBIRD MARK ASKED AND ABEL LIFTED HIS EYES FROM THE DOUBLE LINES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THE TWIN WHITE RIBBONS WHICH THE CAR SWALLOWED RAPIDLY AS IT
THE STARBIRD ABEL SAID
THERE WAS THE DAY UNCLE IZAAK HAD IN AN UNEXPECTED GRANDIOSE GESTURE HANDED OVER THE PRETTY SLOOP TO ABEL FOR KEEPS ON CONDITION THAT HE NEVER YOUNGER BOY FAIL TO LET
THE TWO OF THEM HAD DEVELOPED INTO A REMARKABLE SAILING TEAM ALL OF THIS HAPPENING IN A TIME OF THEIR LIVES WHEN THEIR YOUTH AND THEIR BROTHERHOOD KNITTED THEM TOGETHER AS NO OTHER TIME
THEY SEEMED THEN TO HAVE HAD A SINGLE MIND AND BODY A MUTUALITY WHICH HAD BEEN ACCEPTED WITH THE FACT OF THEIR YOUTH CASUALLY
HE SAW THE STARBIRD AS SHE LAY HER SLENDER MAST UP AND GENTLY TURNING ITS POINT DESCRIBING CONSTANT LANGUID CIRCLES AGAINST A CUMULUS SKY
BOTH OF THEM HAD KNOWN THE FEELING OF THE SMALL LIFE IN HER WAITING READY FOR THE TWO OF THEM TO RUN UP HER SAILS
THE STARBIRD HAD BEEN LONG AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAY
THEY CAME UNEXPECTEDLY UPON THE SEA
MEETING IT WITHOUT PREPARATION AS THEY DID ROBBED OF ANTICIPATION A COMMON DISAPPOINTMENT SEIZED THEM
THEY WERE CLIMBING THE HILL IN THE NIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ABRUPTLY PROBED SOLID BLACKNESS BECAME TWO PARALLEL LUMINOUS TUBES WHICH BROADENED OUT INTO A FAINT MIST OF LIGHT AND ENDED
MARK STOPPED THE CAR AND SWITCHED OFF THE LIGHTS AND THEY SAT LOOKING AT THE WATER WHICH THERE BEING NO MOON OUT AT FIRST COULD BE DISTINGUISHED FROM THE SKY ONLY
HIS EYES WERE OLD AND THEY NEVER SAW WELL BUT HEATED WITH WHISKY THEYD GLARE AT MY NOISE GROWING RED AND RAISING UP HIS RAGE
I DECIDED I HATED THE PEDERSEN KID TOO DYING IN OUR KITCHEN WHILE I WAS AWAY WHERE I COULDNT WATCH DYING JUST TO ENTERTAIN HANS AND MAKING ME GO UP SNAPPING STEPS
OH HED NOT CARE ABOUT THE PEDERSEN KID
HED NOT CARE ABOUT GETTING WAKED SO HE COULD GIVE UP SOME OF HIS WHISKY TO A SLIT OF A KID AND MAYBE LOSE ONE OF HIS HIDING PLACES IN THE BARGAIN
THAT WOULD MAKE HIM MAD ENOUGH IF HE WAS SOBER
I DIDNT HURRY THOUGH IT WAS COLD AND THE PEDERSEN KID WAS IN THE KITCHEN
HE WAS ALL SHOVELED UP LIKE I THOUGHT HED BE
I PUSHED AT HIS SHOULDER CALLING HIS NAME
I THINK HIS NAME STOPPED THE SNORING BUT HE DIDNT MOVE EXCEPT TO ROLL A LITTLE WHEN I SHOVED HIM
THE COVERS SLID DOWN HIS SKINNY NECK SO I SAW HIS HEAD FUZZED LIKE A DANDELION GONE TO SEED BUT HIS FACE WAS TURNED TO THE WALL THERE WAS THE PALE
I COULDNT BE SURE HE WAS STILL ASLEEP
HE WAS A CAGEY SONOFABITCH
I SHOOK HIM A LITTLE HARDER AND MADE SOME NOISE
PAPPAPPAPHEY I SAID
I WAS LEANING TOO FAR OVER
I KNEW BETTER
HE ALWAYS SLEPT CLOSE TO THE WALL SO YOU HAD TO LEAN TO REACH HIM
OH HE WAS SMART
IT PUT YOU OFF
I KNEW BETTER BUT I WAS THINKING OF THE PEDERSEN KID MOTHERNAKED IN ALL THAT DOUGH
WHEN HIS ARM CAME UP I DUCKED AWAY BUT IT CAUGHT ME ON THE SIDE OF THE NECK WATERING MY EYES AND I BACKED OFF TO COUGH
PA WAS ON HIS SIDE LOOKING AT ME HIS EYES WINKING THE HAND THAT HAD HIT ME A FIST IN THE PILLOW
GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE
I DIDNT SAY ANYTHING TRYING TO GET MY THROAT CLEAR BUT I WATCHED HIM
HE WAS LIKE A MEAN HORSE TO COME AT FROM THE REAR
IT WAS BETTER THOUGH HED HIT ME
HE WAS BITTER WHEN HE MISSED
GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE
BIG HANS SENT ME
HE TOLD ME TO WAKE YOU
A FAT HELL ON BIG HANS
GET OUT OF HERE
HE FOUND THE PEDERSEN KID BY THE CRIB
GET THE HELL OUT
PA PULLED AT THE COVERS
HE WAS TASTING HIS MOUTH
THE KIDS FROZE GOOD
HANS IS RUBBING HIM WITH SNOW
HES GOT HIM IN THE KITCHEN
PEDERSEN NO PA
ITS THE PEDERSEN KID
THE KID
NOTHING TO STEAL FROM THE CRIB
NOT STEALING PA
HE WAS JUST LYING THERE
HANS FOUND HIM FROZE
THATS WHERE HE WAS WHEN HANS FOUND HIM
PA LAUGHED
I AINT HID NOTHING IN THE CRIB
YOU DONT UNDERSTAND PA
THE PEDERSEN KID
THE KID I GODDAMN WELL UNDERSTAND
PA HAD HIS HEAD UP GLARING HIS TEETH GNAWING AT THE PLACE WHERE HED GROWN A MUSTACHE ONCE
I GODDAMN WELL UNDERSTAND
YOU KNOW I DONT WANT TO SEE PEDERSEN
THAT COCK
WHY SHOULD I WHAT DID HE COME FOR HEY GOD DAMMIT GET
AND DONT COME BACK
FIND OUT SOMETHING
YOURE A FOOL
BOTH YOU AND HANS
PEDERSEN
THAT COCK
DONT COME BACK
OUT
OUT
HE WAS SHOUTING AND BREATHING HARD AND CLOSING HIS FIST ON THE PILLOW
HE HAD LONG BLACK HAIRS ON HIS WRIST
THEY CURLED AROUND THE CUFF OF HIS NIGHTSHIRT
BIG HANS MADE ME COME
BIG HANS SAID A FAT HELL ON BIG HANS
HES AN EVEN BIGGER FOOL THAN YOU ARE
FAT HEY I TAUGHT HIM DAMMIT AND ILL TEACH YOU
OUT
YOU WANT ME TO DROP MY POT HE WAS ABOUT TO GET UP SO I GOT OUT SLAMMING THE DOOR
HE WAS BEGINNING TO SEE HE WAS TOO MAD TO SLEEP
THEN HE THREW THINGS
ONCE HE WENT AFTER HANS AND DUMPED HIS POT OVER THE BANISTER
PAD BEEN SHITSICK IN THAT POT
HANS GOT AN AXE
HE DIDNT EVEN BOTHER TO WIPE HIMSELF OFF AND HE CHOPPED PART OF PAS DOOR DOWN BEFORE HE STOPPED
HE MIGHT NOT HAVE GONE THAT FAR IF PA HADNT BEEN LOCKED IN LAUGHING FIT TO SHAKE THE HOUSE
THAT POT PUT PA IN AN AWFUL GOOD HUMOR WHENEVER HE THOUGHT OF IT
I ALWAYS FELT THE MEMORY WAS PRESENT IN BOTH OF THEM STIRRING IN THEIR CHESTS LIKE A LAUGH OR A GROWL AS EAGER AS AN ANIMAL TO BE OUT
I HEARD PA CURSING ALL THE WAY DOWNSTAIRS
HANS HAD LAID STEAMING TOWELS OVER THE KIDS CHEST AND STOMACH
HE WAS RUBBING SNOW ON THE KIDS LEGS AND FEET
WATER FROM THE SNOW AND WATER FROM THE TOWELS HAD RUN OFF THE KID TO THE TABLE WHERE THE DOUGH WAS AND THE DOUGH WAS TURNING PASTY STICKING TO THE KIDS BACK
AINT HE GOING TO WAKE UP WHAT ABOUT YOUR PA HE WAS AWAKE WHEN I LEFT
WHATD HE SAY DID YOU GET THE WHISKY HE SAID A FAT HELL ON BIG HANS
DONT BE SMART
DID YOU ASK HIM ABOUT THE WHISKY YEAH
WELL HE SAID A FAT HELL ON BIG HANS
DONT BE SMART
WHATS HE GOING TO DO GO BACK TO SLEEP MOST LIKELY
YOUD BEST GET THAT WHISKY
YOU GO
TAKE THE AXE
PAS SCARED TO HELL OF AXES
LISTEN TO ME JORGE IVE HAD ENOUGH TO YOUR SASSING
THIS KIDS FROZE BAD
IF I DONT GET SOME WHISKY DOWN HIM HE MIGHT DIE
YOU WANT THE KID TO DIE DO YOU WELL GET YOUR PA AND GET THAT WHISKY
PA DONT CARE ABOUT THE KID
JORGE
WELL HE DONT
HE DONT CARE AT ALL AND I DONT CARE TO GET MY HEAD BUSTED NEITHER
HE DONT CARE AND I DONT CARE TO HAVE HIS SHIT FLUNG ON ME
HE DONT CARE ABOUT ANYBODY
ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS HIS WHISKY AND THAT DRY CRACK IN HIS FACE
GET PIGDRUNK THATS WHAT HE WANTS
HE DONT CARE ABOUT NOTHING ELSE AT ALL
NOTHING
NOT PEDERSENS KID NEITHER
THAT COCK
NOT THE KID NEITHER
ILL GET THE SPIRITS MA SAID
ID WOUND BIG HANS UP TIGHT
I WAS READY TO JUMP BUT WHEN MA SAID SHED GET THE WHISKY IT SURPRISED HIM LIKE IT SURPRISED ME AND HE RAN DOWN
MA NEVER WENT NEAR THE OLD MAN WHEN HE WAS SLEEPING IT OFF
NOT ANY MORE
NOT FOR YEARS
THE FIRST THING EVERY MORNING WHEN SHE WASHED HER FACE SHE COULD SEE THE SCAR ON HER CHIN WHERE HED CUT HER WITH A BOOT CLEAT AND MAYBE SHE SAW HIM HEAVING IT
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NEARLY AS EASY FOR HER TO REMEMBER THAT AS IT WAS FOR BIG HANS TO REMEMBER GOING AFTER THE AXE WHILE HE WAS STILL SPATTERED WITH PAS YELLOW SICK INSIDES
NO YOU WONT BIG HANS SAID
YES HANS IF THEYRE NEEDED MA SAID
HANS SHOOK HIS HEAD BUT NEITHER OF US TRIED TO STOP HER
IF WE HAD THEN ONE OF US WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO INSTEAD
HANS RUBBED THE KID WITH MORE SNOW RUBBED RUBBED
ILL GET MORE SNOW I SAID
I TOOK THE PAIL AND SHOVEL AND WENT OUT ON THE PORCH
I DONT KNOW WHERE MA WENT
I THOUGHT SHED GONE UPSTAIRS AND EXPECTED TO HEAR SHE HAD
SHE HAD SURPRISED HANS LIKE SHE HAD SURPRISED ME WHEN SHE SAID SHED GO AND THEN SHE SURPRISED HIM AGAIN WHEN SHE CAME BACK SO QUICK LIKE SHE MUST HAVE BECAUSE WHEN
OH HE WAS BEING QUEER AND CAREFUL PAWING ABOUT IN THE DRAWER AND HOLDING THE BOTTLE LIKE A SNAKE AT THE LENGTH OF HIS ARM
HE WAS AWFUL ANGRY BECAUSE HED THOUGHT MA WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING BIG SOMETHING HEROIC EVEN ESPECIALLY FOR HER I KNOW HIM I KNOW HIM WE FELT THE SAME SOMETIMES WHILE
THERE WAS NO WAY OF GETTING EVEN
IT WASNT LIKE GETTING CHEATED AT THE FAIR
THEY WERE ALWAYS TRYING SO YOU GOT TO EXPECT IT
NOW HANS HAD GIVEN MA SOMETHING OF HIS WE BOTH HAD WHEN WE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING STRAIGHT TO PA SOMETHING VALUABLE BUT SINCE SHE DIDNT KNOW WED GIVEN IT TO
HANS CUT THE FOIL OFF FINALLY AND UNSCREWED THE CAP
HE WAS PUT OUT TOO BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT SHED DONE
MA HAD FOUND ONE OF PAS HIDING PLACES
SHED FOUND ONE AND SHE HADNT SAID A WORD WHILE BIG HANS AND I HAD HUNTED AND HUNTED AS WE ALWAYS DID ALL WINTER EVERY WINTER SINCE THE SPRING THAT HANS HAD COME
PA HAD A KNACK FOR HIDING
HE KNEW WE WERE LOOKING AND HE ENJOYED IT
BUT NOW MA
SHED FOUND IT BY LUCK MOST LIKELY BUT SHE HADNT SAID ANYTHING AND WE DIDNT KNOW HOW LONG AGO ITD BEEN OR HOW MANY OTHER ONES SHED FOUND SAYING NOTHING
PA WAS SURE TO FIND OUT
SOMETIMES HE DIDNT SEEM TO BECAUSE HE HID THEM SO WELL HE COULDNT FIND THEM HIMSELF OR BECAUSE HE LOOKED AND DIDNT FIND ANYTHING AND FIGURED HE HADNT HID ONE AFTER ALL OR HAD
BUT HED FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ONE BECAUSE WE WERE USING IT
A FOOL COULD SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON
IF HE FOUND OUT MA FOUND IT THATD BE BAD
HE TOOK PRIDE IN HIS HIDING
IT WAS ALL THE PRIDE HE HAD
I GUESS FOOLING HANS AND ME TOOK DOING
BUT HE DIDNT FIGURE MA FOR MUCH
HE DIDNT FIGURE HER AT ALL AND IF HE FOUND OUT A WOMAN ITD BE BAD
HANS POURED SOME IN A TUMBLER
YOU GOING TO PUT MORE TOWELS ON HIM NO
WHY NOT THATS WHAT HE NEEDS SOMETHING WARM TO HIS SKIN DONT HE NOT WHERE HES FROZE GOOD
HEATS BAD FOR FROSTBITE
THATS WHY I ONLY PUT TOWELS ON HIS CHEST AND BELLY
HES GOT TO THAW SLOW
YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THAT
COLORS ON THE TOWELS HAD RUN
MA POKED HER TOE IN THE KIDS CLOTHES
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THESE BIG HANS BEGAN POURING WHISKY IN THE KIDS MOUTH BUT HIS MOUTH FILLED WITHOUT ANY GETTING DOWN HIS THROAT AND IN A SECOND IT WAS
HERE HELP ME PROP HIM UP
I GOT HOLD HIS MOUTH OPEN
I DIDNT WANT TO TOUCH HIM AND I HOPED MA WOULD DO IT BUT SHE KEPT LOOKING AT THE KIDS CLOTHES PILED ON THE FLOOR AND THE POOL OF WATER BY THEM AND DIDNT
COME ON JORGE
ALL RIGHT
LIFT DONT SHOVE LIFT
OK IM LIFTING
I TOOK HIM BY THE SHOULDERS
HIS HEAD FLOPPED BACK
HIS MOUTH FELL OPEN
THE SKIN ON HIS NECK WAS TIGHT
HE WAS COLD ALL RIGHT
HOLD HIS HEAD UP
HELL CHOKE
HIS MOUTH IS OPEN
HIS THROATS SHUT
HELL CHOKE
HELL CHOKE ANYWAY
HOLD HIS HEAD UP
I CANT
DONT HOLD HIM LIKE THAT
PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND HIM
WELL JESUS
HE WAS COLD ALL RIGHT
I PUT MY ARM CAREFULLY AROUND HIM
HANS HAD HIS FINGERS IN THE KIDS MOUTH
NOW HELL CHOKE FOR SURE
SHUT UP
JUST HOLD HIM LIKE I TOLD YOU
HE WAS COLD ALL RIGHT AND WET
I HAD MY ARM BEHIND HIS BACK
HE WAS IN HIS MIDFIFTIES AT THIS TIME LONG PAST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS NAME AND THE WISH TO BE LIONIZED YET ONCE AGAIN AND IT WAS ALMOST A DECADE SINCE HE
THERE WAS NEVER A DOUBT ANY MORE HOW HIS STRUCTURES WOULD BE RECEIVED IT WAS ALWAYS THE SAME UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS NOW
HE COULD NO LONGER BUILD ANYTHING WHETHER A PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN HIS PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY OR A CHURCH IN BRAZIL WITHOUT IT BEING OBVIOUS THAT HE HAD DONE IT AND WHILE HERE
STOWEY RUMMEL WAS INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS A CRAFTER OF A GENUINE AMERICANA IN FOREIGN EYES AN ORIGINAL DESIGNER WHOSE INVENTIVE CHILDISHNESS WITH STEEL AND CONCRETE WAS MADE EVEN MORE BELIEVABLY SINCERE BY HIS
HE HAD LIVED FOR ALMOST THIRTY YEARS IN THIS SAME STONE FARMHOUSE WITH THE SAME WIFE A REMARKABLY CHILDISH THING IN ITSELF HE ROSE AT HALFPAST SIX EVERY MORNING MADE HIMSELF
THIS WAS AN ENORMOUSLY LONG BUILDING WHOSE WALLS WERE MADE OF ROCKS SOME OF THEM BROUGHT HOME FROM EVERY CONTINENT DURING HIS SIX YEARS AS AN OIL GEOLOGIST
THE DEBRIS OF HIS OTHER CAREERS WAS PILED EVERYWHERE A PILE OF WIRE CAGES FOR MICE FROM HIS TIME AS A GENETICIST AND A MICROSCOPE LYING ON ITS SIDE ON THE WINDOW SILL
HIS FILES DESK DRAFTING BOARD AND A HIGH STOOL FORMED THE ONLY CLEAN ISLAND IN THE CHAOS
EVERYWHERE ELSE HIS IDEAS LAY OR HUNG IN VISIBLE FORM HIS MODELS DRAWINGS TENFOOT CANVASES IN MONOCHROMES FROM HIS PAINTING DAYS AND UNDERFOOT A WINDFALL OF BROKENBACKED BOOKS THAT LOOKED
BICYCLE GEARSETS HE HAD ONCE USED AS THE BASIS OF THE DESIGN FOR THE CAMDEN CYCLY COMPANY PLANT HUNG ON A ROPE IN ONE CORNER AND OVER HIS DESK NEXT TO SEVERAL
HE WORKED STANDING WITH HIS LEFT HAND IN HIS POCKET AS THOUGH HE WERE MERELY STOPPING FOR A MOMENT SKETCHING WITH THE SURPRISED STARE OF ONE WHO WAS WATCHING ANOTHER PERSONS HAND
SOMETIMES HE WOULD GRUNT SOFTLY TO SOME INVISIBLE ONLOOKER BESIDE HIM SOMETIMES HE WOULD LOOK STERN AND MORALISTIC AS HIS PENCIL DID WHAT HE DISAPPROVED
IT ALL SEEMED IF ONE COULD HAVE PEEKED IN AT HIM THROUGH ONE OF HIS WINDOWS AS THOUGH THIS BROKENNOSED MAN WITH THE MUSCULAR ARMS AND WRESTLERS NECK WAS MERELY THE CARETAKER
THIS AIR OF DISENGAGEMENT CARRIED OVER TO HIS APPARENT ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS THINGS AND PEOPLE OFTEN MISTOOK IT FOR BOREDOM IN HIM OR A SURRENDER TO REPETITIOUS ROUTINE
BUT HE WAS NOT BORED AT ALL HE HAD FOUND HIS STYLE QUITE EARLY IN HIS CAREER AND HE THOUGHT IT QUITE WONDERFUL THAT THE WORLD ADMIRED IT AND HE COULD NOT
THERE ARE AFTER ALL FORTUNATE SOULS WHO HEAR EVERYTHING BUT ONLY KNOW HOW TO LISTEN TO WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM AND STOWEY WAS AS THINGS GO A
HE LEFT HIS HOME THE DAY AFTER NEW YEARS WEARING A MACKINAW AND SHEEPSKIN MITTENS AND WITHOUT A HAT
HE WOULD WEAR THIS SAME COSTUME IN FLORIDA DESPITE HIS WIFE CLEOTAS REMINDERS OVER THE PAST FIVE DAYS THAT HE MUST TAKE SOME COOL CLOTHES WITH HIM
BUT HE WAS TOO BUSY TO HEAR WHAT SHE WAS SAYING
SO THEY PARTED WHEN SHE WAS IN AN IMPATIENT HUMOR
WHEN HE WAS BENT OVER BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE STATION WAGON FEELING IN HIS TROUSER CUFFS FOR THE IGNITION KEY WHICH HE HAD DROPPED A MOMENT BEFORE SHE CAME OUT OF
FINDING THE KEY UNDER HIS SHOE HE STARTED THE ENGINE AND WHILE IT WARMED UP HE TURNED TO HER STANDING THERE IN THE DRIPPING FOG AND SAID DEFROST THE REFRIGERATOR
HE SAW THE SURPRISE IN HER FACE AND LAUGHED AS THOUGH IT WERE THE FUNNIEST EXPRESSION HE HAD EVER SEEN
HE KEPT ON LAUGHING UNTIL SHE STARTED LAUGHING WITH HIM
HE HAD A DEEP VOICE WHICH WAS FULL OF GOOD FOOD SHE HAD COOKED AND GOOD HUMOR AN EXPLOSIVE LAUGH WHICH ALWAYS CARRIED EVERYTHING BEFORE IT
HE WOULD SETTLE HIMSELF INTO HIS SEAT TO LAUGH
WHENEVER HE LAUGHED IT WAS ALL HE WAS DOING
AND SHE WAS MADE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM AGAIN THERE IN THE RUTTED DIRT DRIVEWAY STANDING IN THE COLD FOG MAD AS SHE WAS AT HIS GOING AWAY WHEN HE REALLY
SHE WAS FORTYNINE AT THIS TIME A LANKY WOMAN OF BREEDING WITH AN AUSTERE NARROW FACE WHICH HAD THE DISTINCTION OF A STEEPLE OR SOME ARCHITECTURE THAT HAD BEEN DESIGNED LONG AGO
HER EYEBROWS WERE DEFINITE AND HEAVY AND FORMED TWO LINES MOVING UPWARD TOWARD A HIGH FOREHEAD AND A GREAT HEAD OF BROWN HAIR THAT FELL TO HER SHOULDERS
THERE WAS AN AIR OF BLINDNESS IN HER GRAY EYES THE STARTLEDHORSE LOOK THAT ULTIMATELY COMES TO SOME WOMEN WHO ARE BORN AT THE END OF AN ANCESTRAL LINE LONG SINCE DIVORCED FROM
SHE WAS PERSONALLY SLOPPY AND WHEN SHE HAD COLDS WOULD BLOW HER NOSE IN THE SAME HANDKERCHIEF ALL DAY AND KEEP IT SOAKING WET DANGLING FROM HER WAIST AND WHEN
BUT JUST WHEN SHE SEEMED TO HAVE SUNK INTO SOME DEPRAVITY OF PEASANTHOOD SHE WOULD DISAPPEAR AND COME DOWN BATHED BRUSHED AND TAKING BREATHS OF AIR AND EVEN WITH HER BROKEN
SHE EVEN SPOKE DIFFERENTLY WHEN SHE WAS CLEAN AND SHE WAS CLEAN NOW FOR HIS DEPARTURE AND HER VOICE CLEAR AND RATHER SHARP
NOW DRIVE CAREFULLY FOR GODS SAKE SHE CALLED TRYING TO ATTAIN A HALF HUMOROUS RESENTMENT AT HIS DEPARTURE
BUT HE DID NOT NOTICE AND WAS ALREADY BACKING THE CAR DOWN TO THE ROAD SAYING TOOTTOOT TO THE STUMP OF A TREE AS HE PASSED IT THE SAME STUMP
SHE STOOD CLUTCHING HER SHAWL AROUND HER SHOULDERS UNTIL HE HAD SWUNG THE CAR ONTO THE ROAD
THEN WHEN HE HAD IT POINTED DOWN THE HILL HE STOPPED TO GAZE AT HER THROUGH THE WINDOW
SHE HAD BEGUN TO TURN BACK TOWARD THE HOUSE BUT HIS LOOK CAUGHT HER AND SHE STOOD STILL WAITING THERE FOR WHAT HIS EXPRESSION INDICATED WOULD BE A SERIOUS WORD OF FAREWELL
HE LOOKED AT HER OUT OF HIMSELF SHE THOUGHT AS HE DID ONLY FOR AN INSTANT AT A TIME THE LOOK WHICH ALWAYS SURPRISED HER EVEN NOW WHEN HIS UNCOMBABLE HAIR
NOW SHE KEPT HERSELF PROTECTIVELY READY TO LAUGH AGAIN AND SURE ENOUGH HE POINTED AT HER WITH HIS INDEX FINGER AND SAID TOOT ONCE MORE AND ROARED OFF INTO THE FOG HIS
SHE WALKED BACK TO THE HOUSE AND ENTERED FEELING HERSELF RETURNING SENSING SOME KIND OF OPPORTUNITY IN THE EMPTY BUILDING
THERE IS A DEATH IN ALL PARTINGS SHE KNEW AND PROMPTLY PUT IT OUT OF HER MIND
SHE ENJOYED GREAT PARTIES WHEN SHE WOULD SIT UP TALKING AND DANCING AND DRINKING ALL NIGHT BUT IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO HER THAT BEING ALONE ESPECIALLY ALONE IN HER HOUSE WAS
NOW SHE COULD LET OUT THE THREE PARAKEETS WITHOUT FEAR THEY WOULD BE STEPPED ON OR THAT STOWEY WOULD LET THEM OUT ONE OF THE DOORS SHE COULD DUST THE PLANTS THEN
SHE DID THIS NOW COMFORTABLY AWARE OF THE MIST RUNNING DOWN THE WINDOWS OF THE SILENCE OUTSIDE OF THE DARK AFTERNOON IT WAS GETTING TO BE
SHE FELL ASLEEP LEANING ON HER HAND HEARING THE HOUSE CREAKING AS THOUGH IT WERE A LIVING A PRIVATE LIFE OF ITS OWN THESE TWO HUNDRED YEARS HEARING THE BIRDS RUSTLING IN
EVERY FEW MINUTES SHE WOULD AWAKEN FOR A MOMENT TO REVIEW THINGS STOWEY YES WAS ON HIS WAY SOUTH AND THE TWO BOYS WERE AWAY IN SCHOOL AND NOTHING
THEN SHE FELL ASLEEP AGAIN AS SODDENLY AS A PERSON WITH FEVER AND WHEN SHE AWOKE IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE AND THE CLARITY WAS BACK IN HER EYES
SHE STOOD UP SMOOTHING HER HAIR DOWN STRAIGHTENING HER CLOTHES FEELING A THANKFULNESS FOR THE ENVELOPING DARKNESS OUTSIDE AND ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE FOR THE ABSENCE OF THE NEED
SHE WENT INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND TURNED ON THREE LAMPS THEN BACK INTO THE KITCHEN WHERE SHE TURNED ON THE CEILING LIGHT AND THE SWITCH THAT LIT THE FLOODS ON THE BARN
SHE KNEW SHE WAS FEELING AFRAID AND INWARDLY LAUGHED AT HERSELF
THEY WERE BOTH SO YOUNG AFTER ALL SO UNREADY FOR ANY FINAL PARTING
HOW COULD IT HAVE BEEN THIRTY YEARS ALREADY SHE WONDERED BUT YES NINETEEN PLUS THIRTY WAS FORTYNINE AND SHE WAS FORTYNINE AND SHE HAD BEEN MARRIED AT NINETEEN
SHE STOOD STILL OVER THE LEG OF LAMB RUBBING HERBS INTO IT QUITE SUDDENLY CONSCIOUS OF A NAUSEA IN HER STOMACH AND A FEELING OF WRATH A SENSATION OF VIOLENCE THAT
BUT THEY ALL SAID NO YOUR TIME WILL COME
ENJOY BEING A BRIDE WHILE YOU CAN
THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR COMPANY IN THE TINY WEANING HOUSE WHERE THE ALBRIGHT BOYS ALWAYS TOOK THEIR BRIDES TILL THEY COULD GET A HOUSE AND A FARM OF THEIR OWN 
SO WHEN THE BIG HOUSE FILLED UP AND RAN OVER THE SISTERSINLAW FOUND BEDS FOR EVERYONE IN THEIR OWN HOMES
AND THERE WAS STILL NOT ANYTHING THAT LINDA KAY COULD DO
SO LINDA KAY GAVE UP ASKING AND ACCEPTED HER REPRIEVE
WITHOUT SAYING SO SHE WAS REALLY GRATEFUL FOR TO ATTEND THE DYING WAS SOMETHING SHE HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED AND CERTAINLY HAD NOT IMAGINED WHEN SHE THOUGHT OF THE DUTIES SHE WOULD
SHE HAD MADE CURTAINS FOR ALL THE WINDOWS OF HER LITTLE HOUSE AND SHE HAD KEPT IT SPOTLESS AND NEAT SHABBY AS IT WAS AND COOKED GOOD MEALS FOR BOBBY JOE
SHE HAD DONE ALL THE THINGS SHE HAD PROMISED HERSELF SHE WOULD DO BUT SHE HAD NOT THOUGHT OF THIS
PEOPLE DIED SHE WOULD HAVE SAID IN HOSPITALS OR IN CARS ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT
BOBBY JOE WAS GONE ALL DAY NOW NOT COMING IN FOR DINNER AND SOMETIMES NOT FOR SUPPER
WHEN THEY FIRST MARRIED HE HAD BEEN WORKING IN THE FIELDS ALL DAY AND SHE WOULD GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE TO WHEREVER HE WAS WORKING TO TAKE HIM A FRESH
NOW THERE WAS NO WORK IN THE FIELDS NOR WOULD THERE BE TILL IT RAINED AND SHE DID NOT KNOW WHERE HE WENT
NOT THAT SHE COMPLAINED OR HAD ANY CAUSE TO
FOUR OR FIVE OF THE COUSINS FROM EAST TEXAS WERE ABOUT HIS AGE SO NATURALLY THEY RAN AROUND TOGETHER
THERE WAS NO REASON FOR HER TO ASK WHAT THEY DID
THUS A NEW PATTERN OF DAYS BEGAN TO DEVELOP FOR GRANNY ALBRIGHT DID NOT DIE
SHE LAY STILL ON THE BED HER HEAD HARDLY DENTING THE PILLOW SOMETIMES SHE OPENED HER EYES AND LOOKED AROUND AND SOMETIMES SHE TOOK A LITTLE MILK OR SOUP
THEY STOPPED EXPECTING HER TO DIE THE NEXT MINUTE BUT ONLY IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO
THOSE WHO HAD DRIVEN HUNDREDS OF MILES FOR THE BURIAL WOULD NOT GO HOME FOR SHE MIGHT DIE ANY TIME BUT THEY MIGHT AS WELL UNPACK THEIR SUITCASES FOR SHE MIGHT
SO THE PATTERN WAS ESTABLISHED
WHEN LINDA KAY HAD PUT UP HER BREAKFAST DISHES AND MOPPED HER LINOLEUM RUGS SHE WOULD GO TO THE BIG HOUSE
THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING SHE COULD DO THERE BUT THAT WAS WHERE EVERYONE WAS OR WOULD BE
BOBBY JOE AND THE BOYS WOULD COME BY SAY HOWS GRANNY AND SIT ON THE PORCH A WHILE
THE OLDER MEN WOULD BE THERE AT NOON AND MAYBE REST FOR A TIME BEFORE THEY TOOK THEIR GUNS OFF TO THE CREEK OR DROVE DOWN THE ROAD TOWARDS TOWN
THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN STAYED AT THE ALBRIGHTS
THE WOMEN KEEPING THEIR VOICES LOW AS THEY WORKED AROUND THE HOUSE OR SAT IN THE LIVING ROOM SOUNDED LIKE CHICKENS SHUT UP IN A COOP FOR THE NIGHT
THE CHILDREN HAD TO PLAY AWAY FROM THE HOUSE IN THE BARN LOFT OR THE PASTURE BEHIND THE BARN TO MAINTAIN A PROPER QUIETNESS
OFF AND ON ALL DAY SOMEONE WOULD BE WIPING AT THE POWDERY GRAY DUST THAT SETTLED OVER EVERYTHING
THE EVAPORATIVE COOLER HAD BEEN MOVED TO GRANNYS ROOM AND HER DOOR WAS KEPT SHUT SO THAT THE REST OF THE HOUSE STAYED OPEN THOUGH THERE WAS A QUESTION AS TO
THE DUST CLOGGED THEIR THROATS AND THE HEAT PARCHED THEM SO THAT THE WOMEN WERE ALWAYS MAKING ICE WATER
THEY HAD CLEANED UP AN OLD ICE BOX AND BEGUN TO BUY FIFTYPOUND BLOCKS OF ICE IN TOWN AS THE ELECTRIC REFRIGERATOR CAME NOWHERE NEAR PROVIDING ENOUGH ICE FOR THE CROWDS WHO ATE
ONE AFTERNOON AS THE WOMEN SAT CLUCKING SOFTLY A NEW CARLOAD OF PEOPLE PULLED UP AT THE GATE
IT WAS A CADILLAC BLACK GRAYED WITH THE DUST OF THE ROAD ITS WINDOWS CLOSED TIGHT SO YOU KNEW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO CLIMBED OUT OF IT WOULD BE COOL AND UNWRINKLED
THEY WERE AN OLD FAT COUPLE AS LINDA KAY DESCRIBED THEM TO HERSELF A THICK MIDDLEAGED MAN AND A GIRL ABOUT TEN OR TWELVE
THERE WAS MUCH EMBRACING MUCH EXCLAIMING
COUSIN ADA COUSIN JOHN COUSIN LURA COUSIN HOWARD AND HOW IS SHE ABOUT THE SAME JOHN ABOUT THE SAME
ALL THE WOMEN GOT UP AND OFFERED THEIR CHAIRS AND WHEN THEY WERE ALL SEATED AGAIN THE GUESTS MADE THEIR INQUIRIES AND THEIR EXPLANATIONS
WE WERE ON OUR VACATION IN CANADA HOWARD EXPLAINED IN A MUFFLED VOICE THAT MUST HAVE BEEN USED TO BOOMING AND THE NEWS DIDNT CATCH UP WITH US TILL WE WERE
WE CAME ON AS SOON AS WE COULD
THERE WAS THE SUGGESTION OF ICE WATER AND IN SPITE OF THE PROTEST WERE NOT REALLY THIRSTY LINDA KAY TO ESCAPE THE STUFFY AIR AND THE SMOTHERING SOFT VOICES
SHE FILLED A BIG PITCHER AND SET IT WITH GLASSES ON A TRAY
CARRYING IT TO THE LIVING ROOM SHE IMAGINED THE PICTURE SHE MADE TALL AND ROUNDLY SLIM A BIT SOPHISTICATED IN HER YELLOW SHEATH WITH A GRACEFUL SWINGY WALK THAT SHE
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SHE WAS ASHAMED OF HERSELF FOR FEELING VAIN AT SUCH A TIME IN SUCH A PLACE AND SHE TOSSED BACK HER LONG YELLOW HAIR SMILING SHYLY AS SHE
HOWARD THE THICK MIDDLEAGED MAN WAS LOOKING AT HER
SHE FELT THE LOOK AND LOOKED BACK BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT HELP IT SEEING THAT HE WAS NEITHER AS OLD NOR AS THICK AS SHE HAD AT FIRST BELIEVED
AND WHO IS THIS HE ASKED WHEN SHE PASSED HIM A GLASS
OH THATS LINDA KAY MAMA ALBRIGHT SAID FONDLY
SHE MARRIED OUR BABY BOY BOBBY JOE THIS SUMMER
LETS SEE COUSIN ADA SAID
HES A RIGHT SMART YOUNGER THAN THE REST OH YES MAMA LAUGHED
HES TEN YEARS YOUNGER THAN ERNEST
WE DIDNT EXPECT HIM TO COME ALONG THOUGHT FOR THE LONGEST HE WAS A TUMOR
THIS JOKE WAS NOT FUNNY TO LINDA KAY AND SHE BLUSHED AS SHE ALWAYS DID THEN HEARING THE MUFFLED BOOM OF HOWARDS LAUGHTER BLUSHED REDDER
WHO IS HOWARD ANYWAY SHE ASKED BOBBY JOE THAT NIGHT
HE MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE
OH HES A SECOND COUSIN OR SOMETHING
HE GOT IN THE OIL BUSINESS OUT AT ODESSA AND LUCKED INTO SOME MONEY
HOW OLD IS HE GOSH I DONT KNOW
THIRTYFIVE I GUESS
HES BEEN MARRIED AND GOT THIS HALFGROWN KID
IF HE BOTHERS YOU DONT PAY HIM ANY MIND
HES JUST A BIG WINDBAG
BOBBY JOE WAS THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE
SAY DID YOU KNOW THEYRE FIXING TO HAVE A TWODAY ANTELOPE SEASON ON THE DOUBLE J HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ANTELOPE AGAIN WHEN THEY WOKE UP
LISTEN I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO KILL AN ANTELOPE
THERE NEVER WAS A SEASON BEFORE BUT NOW THEY WANT TO THIN EM OUT ON ACCOUNT OF THE DROUTH
DID HE EVER VISIT HERE WHEN HE WAS A KID LINDA KAY ASKED
WHO HOWARD
HELL I DONT KNOW
WHEN HE WAS A KID I WASNT AROUND
BOBBY JOE TOOK A GUN FROM BEHIND THE DOOR AND WITH A QUICK BYE NOW WAS GONE FOR THE DAY
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY HOWARD AND HIS DAUGHTER DEBORA DROVE UP IN THE CADILLAC
WERE GOING AFTER ICE HOWARD SAID AND THOUGHT MAYBE YOUD GO ALONG AND KEEP US COMPANY
THERE WAS REALLY NO REASON TO REFUSE AND LINDA KAY HAD NEVER RIDDEN IN A CADILLAC
DRIVING ALONG THE CALICHETOPPED ROAD TO TOWN HOWARD TALKED
FINALLY HE SAID TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF AND LINDA KAY TOLD HIM BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT HERSELF THAT SHE HAD HAD AN INTERESTING LIFE
SHE WAS SUCH A WELLROUNDED TEENAGER HAVING BEEN A TWIRLER FUTURE FARMERS SWEETHEART AND SECRETARY OF FUTURE HOMEMAKERS
IN HER SOPHOMORE YEAR SHE HAD STARTED GOING STEADY WITH BOBBY JOE WHO WAS A FOOTBALL PLAYER FUTURE HOMEMAKERS SWEETHEART AND PRESIDENT OF FUTURE FARMERS
IT WAS EASY TO SEE THAT THEY WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER AND THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED
BOBBY JOE WOULD BE A SENIOR THIS YEAR AND HE PLANNED TO GRADUATE
BUT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR LINDA KAY TO GO ON SINCE ALL SHE WANTED IN LIFE WAS TO MAKE A HOME FOR BOBBY JOE AND BLUSHING RAISE HIS CHILDREN
HOWARD SIGHED
YOU LUCKY KIDS HE SAID
ID GIVE ANYTHING IF I COULD HAVE FOUND A GIRL LIKE YOU
THEN HE TOLD LINDA KAY ABOUT HIMSELF
OF COURSE HE COULDNT SAY MUCH REALLY BECAUSE OF DEBORA BUT LINDA KAY COULD IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF WOMAN HIS WIFE HAD BEEN AND WHAT A RAW DEAL HE HAD GOT
IT MADE HER FEEL DIFFERENT ABOUT HOWARD
SHE WAS GOING TO TELL BOBBY JOE ABOUT HOW MISTAKEN SHE HAD BEEN BUT HE BROUGHT ONE OF THE COUSINS HOME FOR SUPPER AND ALL THEY DID WAS TALK ABOUT ANTELOPE
BOBBY JOE WAS TRYING TO GET LINDA KAY TO SAY SHE WOULD COOK ONE IF HE BROUGHT IT HOME
COOK A WHOLE ANTELOPE SHE EXCLAIMED
WHY I COULDNT EVEN COOK A PIECE OF ANTELOPE STEAK I NEVER EVEN SAW ANY
OH YOU COULD
I WANT TO ROAST THE WHOLE THING AND HAVE IT FOR THE BOYS
LINDA KAY TOLD HIM HE COULDNT DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT WITH HIS GRANDMA DYING AND HE SAID WELL THEY HAD TO EAT DIDNT THEY THEY WERENT ALL DYING
LINDA KAY FELT LIKE GOING OFF TO THE BEDROOM TO CRY BUT THEY WERE GOING UP TO THE BIG HOUSE AFTER SUPPER AND SHE HAD TO PUT ON A CLEAN DRESS AND
EVERY NIGHT THEY ALL WENT TO MAMA AND PAPA ALBRIGHTS AND SAT ON THE OPEN FRONT PORCH WHERE THEY COULD GET THE BREEZE
IT WAS FULLOFTHEMOON OR A LITTLE PAST AND NEARLY LIGHT AS DAY
THEY ALL SAT AROUND AND DRANK ICE WATER AND THE MEN SMOKED AND EVERYBODY HAD A GOOD TIME
ONCE IN A WHILE THEY SAID WHAT A SHAME IT WAS WITH GRANNY DYING BUT THEY ALL AGREED SHE WOULDNT HAVE WANTED IT ANY OTHER WAY
THAT NIGHT THE OLDER MEN GOT TO TALKING ABOUT GOING POSSUMHUNTING ON A MOONLIGHT NIGHT
BOBBY JOE AND TWO OR THREE OF THE OTHER BOYS DECLARED THEY HAD NEVER BEEN POSSUMHUNTING AND UNCLE BILL FARNWORTH FROM MAMA ALBRIGHTS SIDE OF THE FAMILY SAID HE WOULD JUST
AFTER THEY HAD LEFT SOME OF THE PEOPLE MOVED AROUND TO FIND MORE COMFORTABLE PLACES TO SIT
THERE WERE NOT MANY CHAIRS SO THAT SOME PREFERRED TO SIT ON THE EDGE OF THE PORCH RESTING THEIR FEET ON THE GROUND AND OTHERS LIKED TO SIT WHERE THEY COULD
HOWARD WHO HAD BEEN SITTING AGAINST THE WALL SAID HE NEEDED MORE FRESH AIR AND TOOK THE SPOT ON THE EDGE OF THE PORCH WHERE BOBBY JOE HAD BEEN SITTING
YOULL BE A DARN SIGHT MORE COMFORTABLE THERE HOWARD ERNEST SAID LAUGHING AND THEY ALL LAUGHED
LINDA KAY FELT THAT SHE WAS NOT EXACTLY MORE COMFORTABLE
BOBBY JOE HAD BEEN SITTING CLOSE TO HER TOUCHING HER ACTUALLY AND HOLDING HER HAND FROM TIME TO TIME BUT IT SEEMED AT ONCE THAT HOWARD SAT MUCH CLOSER
PERHAPS IT WAS JUST THAT HE HAD SO MUCH MORE FLESH SO THAT MORE OF IT
SEEMED TO COME IN CONTACT WITH HERS BUT SHE HAD NEVER BEEN SO AWARE OF
ANYONES
PERHAPS IT WAS JUST THAT HE HAD SO MUCH MORE FLESH SO THAT MORE OF IT SEEMED TO COME IN CONTACT WITH HERS BUT SHE HAD NEVER BEEN SO AWARE OF ANYONES
STILL SHE WAS NOT SORRY HE SAT BY HER BUT IN FACT WAS FLATTERED
HE HAD BECOME THE CENTER OF THE COMPANY SUCH STORIES HE HAD TO TELL
HE HAD SOLD OIL STOCK TO BOB HOPE AND BING CROSBY IN PERSON HE HAD HELPED FIGHT AN OILWELL FIRE THAT RAGED SIX DAYS AND NIGHTS
BUT TELL ME DOCTOR WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO CONDUCT THE HATCHING ALEX ASKED
THAT WILL HAVE TO BE IN THE HOTEL THE DOCTOR RETORTED CONFIRMING ALEXS ANTICIPATIONS
WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS TO GO TO THE MARKET WITH ME EARLY TOMORROW MORNING AND HELP SMUGGLE THE HEN BACK INTO THE HOTEL
THE DOCTOR PAID THE BILL AND THEY REPAIRED TO THE HOTEL ROOM NUMBER NINE TO INITIATE ALEX FURTHER INTO THESE UNDERTAKINGS
THE DOCTOR OPENED THE SMALLEST OF HIS CASES AN UNIMPOSING STRAW BAG AND EXPOSED THE CONTENTS FOR ALEXS INSPECTION
INSIDE CAREFULLY PACKED IN STRAW WERE SIX EGGS BUT THE EYE OF A POULTRY PSYCHOLOGIST WAS REQUIRED TO DETECT WHAT SCIENTIFICALLY VALUABLE SPECIMENTALIA LAY INSIDE TO ALEX THEY WERE MERELY
THERE WAS LITTLE ENOUGH TIME TO CONTEMPLATE THEM HOWEVER IN AN INSTANT THE DOCTOR WAS STALKING ACROSS THE ROOM WITH AN ANTIQUE LEDGER IN HIS HANDS THOROUGHLY EARED AND BIG AS
HE PLACED IT ON ALEXS LAP
THIS IS MY HEN LEDGER HE INFORMED HIM IN AN ABSORBED WAY
ITS BEEN GOING SINCE WHEN I WAS A JUNIOR IN COLLEGE
THAT FIRST ENTRY THERE IS THE VERMONT FLUMENOPHOBE THE EARLIEST AND ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF MY EIGHTYTHREE VARIETIES GREAT BIG SCAPULARS AND HARDLY ANY PRIMARIES AT ALL
COULDNT TAKE THEM NEAR A RIVER THOUGH OR THEYD SQUAWK LIKE A TURKEY COCK THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING
THE LEDGER WAS FULL OF MOST PRECISE INFORMATION DATE OF LAYING LENGTH OF INCUBATION PERIOD NUMBER OF CHICK REACHING THE FIRST WEEK SECOND WEEK FIFTH WEEK WEIGHT OF
BELOW THESE PARTICULARS WAS A SERIES OF ALPHABETAGAMMAS CONNECTED BY ARROWS AND CROSSES WHICH DENOTED THE LINEAGE OF THE BREED
ALEXS INSTRUCTION WAS RAPID FOR THE DOCTOR HAD TO GO OFF TO THE RUE ECOLE DE MEDECINE TO HEAR MORE SPEECHES WITH ONLY TIME FOR ONE SIP OF WINE TO SUSTAIN HIM THROUGH
BUT AFTER THE DOCTORS RETURN THAT NIGHT ALEX COULD SEE FROM THE HIGH WINDOW IN HIS OWN ROOM THE NOW FAMILIAR FIGURE CROUCHED ON A TRULY IMPRESSIVE HEAP OF TOWELS APPARENTLY
A KNOCKING AT ALEXS DOOR ROUSED HIM AT SIX OCLOCK THE FOLLOWING MORNING
IT WAS THE DOCTOR DRESSED AND READY FOR THE EXPEDITION TO THE MARKET AND ALEX WAS OBLIGED TO PREPARE HIMSELF IN HASTE
THE DOCTOR STOOD ABOUT WAITING FOR ALEX TO DRESS WITH A SHOW OF IMPATIENCE AND SOON THEY WERE MOVING AS QUIETLY AS COULD BE THROUGH THE STILLDARK HALLWAYS
THE MARKET WAS NOT FAR AND ONCE THERE THE DOCTORS SENSE OF IMMEDIACY LEFT HIM AND HE FELL INTO A STATE OF HARMONY WITH THE BIRDS AROUND HIM
HE STROKED THE HENS AND THEY RESPONDED WITH DELIGHTED CLUCKS HE GOBBLED WITH THE TURKEYS AND THEY AT ONCE WERE ALL ATTENTION HE QUACKED WITH THE DUCKS AND CACKLED WITH A
THE DAWN PROGRESSED AND IT SEEMED THAT THE DOCTOR WOULD NEVER BE DONE WITH HIS MINISTRATIONS WHEN QUITE ABRUPTLY SOMETHING BROKE HIS REVERY
IT WAS A FINE BROODY HEN WHITE WITH A MATERNAL EYE AND A STRIKING ABUNDANCE OF FEATHERS IN THE UNDER REGION OF THE ABDOMEN
THE DOCTOR WITH THE AIR OF A MAN WHOSE PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS HAVE FOUND SCOPE DREW ALEXS ATTENTION TO THOSE EXCELLENCES WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE ESCAPED HIM THE FINE COLOR IN COMB
ALL SEARCH WAS ENDED HE HAD FOUND HIS FOWL
THE PURCHASE WAS EFFECTED AND THEY MADE THEIR WAY TOWARDS THE HOTEL AGAIN THE HEN WITH WHOM SOME SORT OF COMMUNICATION HAD BEEN SET UP NESTLING IN THE DOCTORS ARMS
THE CLOCKS STRUCK SEVENTHIRTY AS THEY APPROACHED THE HOTEL ENTRANCE AND HOPES THAT THE CHAMBERMAID AND PATRONNE WOULD STILL BE ABED BEGAN TO RISE IN ALEXS WELL EXERCISED BREAST
THE DOCTOR WAS WEARING A LONG NEW ENGLAND GREATCOAT HARDLY NECESSARY IN THE JUNE WEATHER BUT A GARMENT WHICH PROVED WELL ADAPTED TO THE SEQUESTRATION OF HENS
ALEX ENTERED FIRST AND WAS FOLLOWED BY THE DOCTOR WHO FOR ALL HIS CARE MANIFESTED A PERCEPTIBLE BULGE ON HIS LEFT SIDE WHERE THE HEN WAS CRADLED
THEY ADVANCED IN A LINE ACROSS THE ENTRANCE HALL TO THE STAIRWAY AND UP WITH GINGERLY STEPS TOWARDS THE FIRST LANDING
IT WAS THEN THAT THEY HEARD THE TREAD OF ONE DESCENDING AND IN SOME PERTURBATION GLANCING UP SAW THE PATRONNE COMING TOWARDS THEM AS THEY GAINED THE LANDING
BONJOUR MESSIEURS VOUS ETES MATINALS SHE GREETED THEM PLEASANTLY
ALEX EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAD BEEN OUT FOR A STROLL BEFORE BREAKFAST WHILE THE DOCTOR EDGED AROUND BEHIND HIM ATTEMPTING TO HIDE THE PROTUBERANCE AT HIS LEFT SIDE BEHIND ALEXS ARM AND BACK
VOUS VOULEZ VOS PETITS DEJEUNERS TOUT DE SUITE ALORS THEIR HOSTESS ENQUIRED
ALEX TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NO HURRY FOR THEIR BREAKFASTS TRYING AT THE SAME TIME TO EFFECT A SPEEDY SEPARATION OF THE PERSONS BEFORE AND BEHIND HIM
THE DOCTOR HE NOTICED WAS ATTEMPTING A TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE STAIRS BUT BEFORE THE MOVEMENT COULD BE COMPLETED A DISTINCT AND AUDIBLE CLUCK RUFFLED THE AIR IN THE HOLLOW OF
EYES SWERVED IN THE PATRONNES HEAD ALEX COUGHED LOUDLY AND THE DOCTOR WITH A SFORZANDO OF CHICKEN NOISES FLOATING BEHIND HIM TOOK TO THE STAIRS IN LONGSHANKED LEAPS
COMMENT EJACULATED THE SURPRISED WOMAN LOOKING AT ALEX FOR AN EXPLANATION BUT HE PARTING FROM HER WITHOUT CEREMONY ONLY OFFERED A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE DOCTORS PROVINCIAL AMERICAN SPEECH AND
WITH THAT HE HURRIED UP THE STAIRS FOLLOWED BY HER SUSPICIOUS GAZE
WHEN ALEX ENTERED HIS ROOM THE DOCTOR WAS ALREADY PREPARING A NEST IN THE STRAW CASE SIX EGGS READY FOR THE HENS ATTENTIONS
THERE WAS NO REFERENCE TO THE INCIDENT ON THE STAIRS HIS POWERS BEING ABSORBED BY THIS MORE IMMEDIATE BUSINESS
THE HEN APPEARED TO HAVE NO DOUBTS AS TO HER DUTIES AND WAS QUICK TO SETTLE DOWN TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THEM
ONE PART OF HER AUDIENCE WAS TOTALLY ENGAGED THE CONNOISSEUR WITNESSING A PECULIARLY FINE PERFORMANCE OF SOME ANCIENT CLASSIC THE OTHER PART THE GUEST OF THE CONNOISSEUR ATTENTIVE AS ONE
THE SPECTACLE PROGRESSED TOWARDS A DENOUEMENT WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY STILL REMOTE THE AUDIENCE ATTENDED
TIME ELAPSED BUT THE DOCTOR WAS OBVIOUSLY UNCONSCIOUS OF ITS PASSAGE UNTIL AN UNWELCOME KNOCK ON THE DOOR INTERRUPTED THE PROCESSES OF NATURE
STARTLED HE JUMPED UP TO PULL HEN AND CASE OUT OF VIEW AND ALEX WENT TO THE DOOR
HE OPENED IT A CRACK AND IN DOING SO MADE AS MUCH SHUFFLING COUGHING AND SCRAPING NOISE AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO DROWN EMANATIONS FROM THE HEN WHO HAD BEGUN TO PROTEST
IT WAS GISELLE THE FILLE DE CHAMBRE COME TO CLEAN THE ROOM AND WHILE SHE STOOD BEFORE HIM WITH EARS PRICKED UP AND REGARD ALL CURIOSITY EXPLAINING HER ERRAND
GISELLE WAS RELUCTANT BUT ALEX SUCCEEDED IN PERSUADING HER TO COME BACK IN FIVE MINUTES AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT AGAIN
WHO WAS THAT YOUNG FELLER THE DOCTOR INSTANTLY ASKED
THAT WAS THE FILLE DE CHAMBRE THE ONE YOU THOUGHT COULDNT GET THE EGGS OUT
SHE LOOKED MIGHTY INTERESTED THOUGH
ANYHOW SHES COMING BACK IN FIVE MINUTES TO DO THE ROOM
THE DOCTORS MIND WAS WORKING AT A GREAT SPEED HE ROSE TO PUT HIS GREATCOAT ON AND ADDRESSED ALEX IN A MUTED VOICE
HAVE YOU GOT OUR KEYS HANDY RIGHT IN MY POCKET
ALL RIGHT
NOW YOU GO OUTSIDE AND BECKON ME WHEN ITS SAFE
THE HALL WAS EMPTY AND ALEX BECKONED THEY CLIMBED THE STAIRS WHICH CREAKED VERY LOUDLY TO THEIR SENSITIVE EARS AND REACHED THE NEXT FLOOR
A GUEST WAS LOCKING HIS ROOM THEY PASSED BEHIND HIM AND GOT TO ALEXS ROOM UNNOTICED
THE DOCTOR SAT DOWN RATHER WEARILY CARESSING THE HEN AND REMARKING THAT THE CITY WAS NOT THE PLACE FOR A POULTRYLOVING MAN BUT NO SOONER WAS THE REMARK OUT THAN A KNOCK
AT THE DOOR ALEX MANAGED TO PERSUADE THE INCREASINGLY ASTONISHED FILLE DE CHAMBRE TO RETURN IN TEN MINUTES
IT WAS EVIDENT THAT A SECOND TRANSFER HAD TO BE EFFECTED AND THAT IT HAD TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN THE TIME THE FILLE FINISHED THE DOCTORS ROOM AND THE TIME SHE BEGAN ALEXS
THEY WAITED THREE MINUTES AND THEN CREPT OUT ON TIPTOE THE HALLS WERE EMPTY AND THEY PASSED DOWN THE STAIRS TO NUMBER NINE AND LISTENED AT THE DOOR
A BUSTLE OF SHEETS BEING SMOOTHED AND PILLOWS BEING ARRANGED INDICATED THE FILLE DE CHAMBRES PRESENCE INSIDE THEY LISTENED AND SUDDENLY A STEP TOWARDS THE DOOR ANNOUNCED ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACT
THE DOCTOR SHOT DOWN TO THE LAVATORY AND TURNED THE DOORKNOB BUT TO NO EFFECT THE LAVATORY WAS OCCUPIED
ALTHOUGH A LOOK OF ALARM PASSED OVER HIS FACE HE DID NOT ARREST HIS MOVEMENTS BUT DISAPPEARED INTO THE SHOWER ROOM JUST AS THE CHAMBERMAID EMERGED FROM NUMBER NINE
ALEX SUPPRESSED THOSE EXPRESSIONS OF RELIEF WHICH OFFERED TO PREVAIL IN HIS FACE AND ESCAPE FROM HIS THROAT UNWARRANTED THEY WERE IN ANY CASE FOR AS HE STOOD FACING THE FILLE DE
THE EVENTS OF THE LAST QUARTER OF AN HOUR MYSTERIOUS TO ANY BIRD ACCUSTOMED ONLY TO THE PREDICTABLE LIFE OF COOP AND BARNYARD HAD OVERCOME THE DOCTORS HEN AND SHE GAVE OUT
THE DOCTORS WITS HAD NOT LEFT HIM HOWEVER FOR ALL HIS SIXTYEIGHT YEARS AND THE WAILS WERE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY LOST IN THE SOUND OF WATER RUSHING OUT FROM THE SHOWERHEAD
ALEX NODDED TO THE MAID AS THOUGH NOTHING UNUSUAL WERE TAKING PLACE AND ENTERED THE DOCTORS ROOM
SHORTLY THE DOCTOR HIMSELF ENTERED HIS HAIR SOMEWHAT WET FROM THE SHOWER BUT EVIDENTLY SATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOME OF THEIR ADVENTURES
WITHOUT COMMENT HE OPENED THE CLOSET AND FROM ITS SHELVES CONSTRUCTED A HIGHBOARD AROUND THE EGG CASE WHICH HE HAD PLACED ON THE FLOOR INSIDE
NEXT THE HEN WAS NESTED AND ALL SEEMED WELL
THE TWO MEN SAT FOR SOME TIME SAVORING THE PLEASURE OF ESCAPE FROM PERIL AND THE RELIEF SUCH ESCAPE BRINGS BEFORE THEY GOT UP AND LEFT THE HOTEL THE DOCTOR TO
ALEX RETURNED TO THE HOTEL RATHER WEARY AND WITH NO NEW PROSPECTS OF A ROLE IN THE LATE AFTERNOON BUT FOUND THE DOCTOR IN AN EBULLIENT MOOD
AT THE TIME ALEX ARRIVED HE WAS ENGAGED IN SOME SORT OF INTIMATE COMMUNICATION WITH THE HEN WHO HAD SETTLED HERSELF ON THE NEST MOST PEACEFULLY AFTER THE OCCURRENCES OF THE MORNING
CHICKENS HAVE SHORT MEMORIES THE DOCTOR REMARKED THATS WHY THEY ARE BETTER COMPANY THAN MOST PEOPLE I KNOW AND HE WENT ON TO BREAK SOME IMPORTANT NEWS TO ALEX
WELL HE BEGAN IT SEEMS LIKE SOME PEOPLE IN PARIS WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM ME THAN THOSE FELLERS OVER AT THE CONFERENCE HOUSE DO
THEYVE GOT A BIG VULTURE FROM TANGANIKA AT THE ZOO HERE WITH A WIFE FOR HIM TOO VERY RARE BIRDS BOTH OF THEM THE ONLY VULTURIDAE OF THEIR SPECIES
SEEMS LIKE SHES WILLING BUT THE MALE JUST FLOPS AROUND ALL DAY LIKE THE BASHFUL BOY WHO TOOK JEANNIE MAY BEHIND THE BARN AND THEN DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND THE
GOING DOWNSTAIRS WITH THE TRAY WINSTON WISHED HE COULD HAVE GIVEN IN TO MISS ADA BUT HE KNEW BETTER THAN TO DO WHAT SHE SAID WHEN SHE HAD THAT LITTLEGIRL LOOK
THERE WERE TIMES IT WASNT RIGHT TO MAKE A PERSON HAPPY LIKE THE TIMES SHE CAME IN THE KITCHEN AND ASKED KNOW WE DONT KEEP PEANUT BUTTER FOR A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH
YOU IN THIS HOUSE HE ALWAYS TOLD HER
WHY WINSTON SHED CRY I JUST NOW SAW YOU EATING IT OUT OF THE JAR BUT HE KNEW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR HER TO KEEP HER FIGURE
IN THE KITCHEN LEONA HIS LITTLE YOUNG WIFE WAS READING THE MORNING PAPER
HER LEGS HUNG DOWN LONG AND THIN AS SHE SAT ON THE HIGH STOOL
HERE WINSTON SAID GENTLY WHATS THESE DISHES DOING NOT WASHED THE ENORMOUS PLATES WHICH HAD HELD MR JACKS FOUR FRIED EGGS AND FIVE STRIPS OF BACON WERE STILL STACKED IN THE
LEAVE ME ALONE LEONA SAID
CANT YOU SEE IM BUSY SHE LOOKED AT HIM IMPUDENTLY OVER THE CORNER OF THE PAPER
THIS IS MOVING DAY WINSTON REMINDED HER AND I BET YOU LEFT THINGS EVERY WHICH WAY UPSTAIRS YOUR CLOTHES ALL OVER THE FLOOR AND THE BED NOT MADE
LEONA HIS EYE HAD FASTENED ON HER LEG BENDING HE TOUCHED HER KNEE
IF I CATCH YOU ONE MORE TIME DOWN HERE WITHOUT STOCKINGS SHE TWITCHED HER LEG AWAY
FUSS FUSS OLD MAN
SHE HAD AN ALLEY CATS MANNERS
WINSTON STACKED MISS ADAS THIN PINK DISHES IN THE SINK
THEN HE SPREAD OUT THE LAST LIST ON THE COUNTER
TO BE LEFT BEHIND WAS PRINTED AT THE TOP IN MISS ADA FINE HAND
WINSTON TOOK OUT A PENCIL ADMIRED THE POINT AND WROTE SLOWLY AND HEAVILY CLOTHES STAND
SIGHING LEONA DROPPED THE PAPER AND STOOD UP
I GUESS I BETTER GET READY TO GO
WINSTON WATCHED HER FUMBLING TO UNTIE HER APRON
HERE
CAREFULLY HE UNDID THE BOW
HOW COME YOUR BOWS IS ALWAYS COCKEYED SHE TURNED AND PUT HER ARMS AROUND HIS NECK
I DONT WANT TO LEAVE HERE WINSTON
NOW LISTEN TO THAT
HE DREW BACK EMBARRASSED AND PLEASED
I THOUGHT YOU WAS SICK TO DEATH OF THIS BIG HOUSE
SAID YOU WORE YOURSELF OUT CLEANING ALL THESE EMPTY ROOMS
AT LEAST THERE IS ROOM HERE SHE SAID
WHAT ROOM IS THERE GOING TO BE IN AN APARTMENT FOR ANY CHILD I TOLD YOU WHAT MISS ADAS DOCTOR SAID
I DONT MEAN MISS ADA WHAT YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT THAT I MEAN OUR CHILDREN
SHE SOUNDED AS THOUGH THEY ALREADY EXISTED
IN SPITE OF THE HUNDRED THINGS HE HAD ON HIS MIND WINSTON WENT AND PUT HIS ARM AROUND HER WAIST
WEVE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT
ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD
WEVE ONLY BEEN MARRIED FOUR YEARS JANUARY
FOUR YEARS SHE WAILED
THATS A LONG TIME WAITING
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU HE BEGAN AND WAS ALMOST GLAD WHEN SHE CUT HIM OFF TOO MANY TIMES AND FLOUNCED TO THE SINK WHERE SHE
TOO MANY TIMES WAS THE TRUTH OF IT WINSTON THOUGHT
HE HARDLY BELIEVED HIS REASON HIMSELF ANY MORE
ALTHOUGH IT HAD SEEMED A GOOD REASON TO BEGIN WITH NO COUPLE COULD AFFORD TO HAVE CHILDREN
HOW YOU GOING TO WORK WITH A CHILD HANGING ON YOU HE ASKED LEONA
YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS JOB DONT YOU HE DOUBTED WHETHER SHE HEARD HIM OVER THE RUNNING WATER
HE SAT FOR A WHILE WITH HIS HANDS ON HIS KNEES WATCHING THE BEND OF HER BACK AS SHE GATHERED UP HER THINGS A COMB A BOTTLE OF ASPIRIN TO
SHE MADE HIM SAD SOME DAYS AND HE WAS NEVER SURE WHY IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH HER BACK THE THINNESS OF IT AND THE QUICK JERKY WAY
SHE WAS TOO YOUNG THAT WAS ALL TOO YOUNG AND THIN AND STRAIGHT
WINSTON IT WAS MR JACK BELLOWING OUT IN THE HALL
WINSTON HURRIED THROUGH THE SWINGING DOOR
IVE BEEN BURSTING MY LUNGS FOR YOU MR JACK COMPLAINED
HE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR TIGHTENING HIS TIE
HE HAD ON HIS GRAY TWEED OVERCOAT AND HIS CITY HAT AND HIS BRIEF CASE LAY ON THE BENCH
I DONT KNOW WHAT YOU THINK YOUVE BEEN DOING ABOUT MY CLOTHES HE SAID
THIS COAT LOOKS LIKE A RAG HEAP
THERE WERE A FEW BLADES OF LINT ON THE SHOULDER
WINSTON TOOK THE CLOTHESBRUSH OUT OF THE CLOSET AND WENT TO WORK
HE GAVE MR JACK A REAL GOINGOVER HE BRUSHED HIS SHOULDERS AND HIS BACK AND HIS COLLAR WITH LONG FIRM STROKES
HEY MR JACK CRIED WHEN THE BRUSH TIPPED HIS HAT DOWN OVER HIS EYES
WINSTON APOLOGIZED AND QUICKLY SET THE HAT RIGHT
THEN HE STOOD BACK TO LOOK AT MR JACK WHO WAS PULLING ON HIS PIGSKIN GLOVES
WINSTON ENJOYED SEEING HIM START OUT HE WORE HIS CLOTHES WITH STYLE
WHEN HE WAS GOING TO TOWN NOTHING WAS GOOD ENOUGH HE HAD CURSED AT WINSTON ONCE FOR LEAVING A FLECK OF POLISH ON HIS SHOELACE
AT HOME HE WOULDNT EVEN WASH HIS HANDS FOR SUPPER AND HE WANDERED AROUND THE YARD IN A PAIR OF SWEATY OLD CORDUROYS
THE VELVET SMOKING JACKETS PEARLGRAY WINE AND BLUE WHICH MISS ADA HAD BOUGHT HIM HUNG BRUSHED AND UNWORN IN THE CLOSET
GOODBY WINSTON MR JACK SAID GIVING A FINAL SET TO HIS HAT
LOOK OUT FOR THOSE MOVERS WINSTON WATCHED HIM HURRY DOWN THE DRIVE TO HIS CAR A HANDSOME FINELOOKING MAN IT MADE HIM PROUD TO SEE
AFTER MR JACK DROVE AWAY WINSTON WENT ON LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW
HE NOTICED A SPECK OF DIRT ON THE SILL AND SWIPED AT IT WITH HIS FINGER
THEN HE LOOKED AT HIS FINGER AT THE WRINKLED HEAVY KNUCKLE AND THE THICK NAIL HE USED LIKE A KNIFE TO PRY UP SLIT AND OPEN
FOR THE FIRST TIME HE BE SAD ABOUT THE MOVE
THAT HOUSE WAS TEN YEARS OFF HIS LIFE LET HIMSELF
EACH BRASS HANDLE AND HINGE SHONE FOR HIS REWARD AND HE KNEW HOW TO GET AT THE DUST IN THE CHINA FLOWERS AND HOW TO TAKE DOWN THE LONG GLASS DROPS WHICH HUNG
HE KNEW THE HOUSE LIKE A BLIND MAN THROUGH HIS FINGERS AND HE DID NOT LIKE TO THINK OF ALL THE TIME AND RAGS AND POLISHES HE HAD SPENT ON KEEPING IT
TEN YEARS AGO HE HAD COME TO THE HOUSE TO BE INTERVIEWED
THE TULIPS AND THE BIG PINK PEONIES HAD BEEN BLOOMING ALONG THE DRIVE AND HE HAD WALKED UP FROM THE BUS ALMOST SINGING
MISS ADA HAD BEEN OUT BACK IN A STRAW HAT PLANTING FLOWERS
SHE HAD TALKED TO HIM RIGHT THERE WITH THE HOT SUN IN HIS FACE WHICH MADE HIM SWEAT AND FEEL ASHAMED
WINSTON HAD BEEN SURPRISED AT HER FOR THAT
STILL HE HAD LIKED THE WAY SHE HAD LOOKED IN A FRESH NEAT COTTON DRESS CITRON YELLOW IF HE REMEMBERED
SHE HAD HAD A DIGNITY ABOUT HER EVEN BAREFOOT AND ALMOST TOO TAN
SINCE THEN THE FLOWERS SHE HAD PLANTED HAD SPREAD ALL OVER THE HILL
ALREADY THE JONQUILS WERE BLOOMING IN A FLOCK BY THE FRONT GATE AND THE PERIWINKLES WERE COMING ON BLUE BY THE PORCH STEPS
IN A WEEK THE HYACINTHS WOULD SPIKE OUT
AND THE DOGWOOD IN EARLY MAY FOR MISS ADAS ALFRESCO PARTY AND AFTER THAT THE JAPANESE CHERRIES
NOW THE YARD LOOKED WET AND BALD THE TREES BARE UNDER THEIR BUDS BUT IN A WHILE MISS ADAS FLOWERS WOULD BLOOM LIKE A MARCHING PARADE
SHE HAD DUG A HOLE FOR EACH BULB EACH TREE WORE A TAG WITH HER WRITING ON IT WHERE WOULD SHE GO FOR HER GARDENING NOW SOMEHOW WINSTON DIDNT THINK SHED
SIGHING HE HURRIED TO THE LIVING ROOM
HE HAD A THOUSAND THINGS TO SEE TO
STILL HE COULDNT HELP THINKING WERE ALL GETTING OLD GETTING SMALL THE SNAIL IS PULLING IN HER HORNS
IN THE LIVING ROOM MISS ADA WAS STANDING BY THE WINDOW WITH A SHEAF OF LISTS IN HER HAND
SHE WAS LOOKING OUT AT THE GARDEN
WINSTON SHE SAID GET THE BASKET FOR THE BREAKABLES
WINSTON HAD THE BIG STRAW BASKET READY IN THE HALL
HE BROUGHT IT IN AND PUT IT DOWN BESIDE HER
MISS ADA WAS LOOKING FINE SHE HAD ON HER EASTER SUIT BLUE WITH LAVENDER BINDING
HALFWAY ACROSS THE HOUSE HE COULD HAVE SMELLED HER MORNING PERFUME
IT HUNG IN ALL HER DAY CLOTHES SWEET AND STRONG SOMETIMES WHEN HE WAS PRESSING WINSTON RAISED HER DRESSES TO HIS FACE
FROWNING MISS ADA STUDIED THE LIST
WELL LETS SEE
THE CHINA LEMON TREE
THE ALABASTER COCKATOO
WINSTON FOLLOWED HER AROUND THE ROOM COLLECTING THE SMALL FRAIL OBJECTS CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY AND WRAPPING THEM IN TISSUE PAPER
NEITHER OF THEM TRUSTED THE MOVERS
WHEN THEY CAME TO MR JACKS PHOTOGRAPH TWENTY BY TWELVE INCHES IN A CURLY SILVER FRAME MISS ADA SAID BY RIGHTS I OUGHT TO LEAVE THAT SEEING HE WONT TAKE
SHE SMILED AT WINSTON AND HE SAW THE HATEFUL HARD GLITTER IN HER EYES
HE PICKED UP THE PHOTOGRAPH AND BEGAN TO WRAP IT
AT LEAST YOU COULD LEAVE IT FOR THE MOVERS MISS ADA SAID
WHAT POSSESSED YOU TO TELL ME A CLOTHESHORSE WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA WINSTON FOLDED THE TISSUE PAPER CAREFULLY
HES USED IT EVERY DAY EVERY MORNING I LAY OUT HIS CLOTHES ON IT
WELL THATS OVER NOW
AND IT WAS HIS MAIN PRESENT LEAVE THAT FOOL PICTURE OUT SHE ADDED SHARPLY
WINSTON LAID IT IN THE BASKET
MR JACK SETS STORE BY THAT
REALLY WINSTON
IT WAS MEANT TO BE MY PRESENT
BUT SHE WENT ON DOWN THE LIST
WINSTON WAS RELIEVED THOSE PRESENTS HAD BEEN ON HIS MIND
HE HAD ONLY AGREED WITH MISS ADA ABOUT GETTING THE VALET BUT HE HAD ACTUALLY SUGGESTED THE PHOTOGRAPH TO MR JACK
YOU KNOW WHAT SHE LIKES WINSTON HE HAD SAID WEARILY ONE EVENING IN NOVEMBER WHEN WINSTON WAS PULLING OFF HIS OVERSHOES
TELL ME WHAT TO GET HER FOR CHRISTMAS
SHES BEEN TALKING ABOUT A PICTURE WINSTON HAD TOLD HIM
PICTURE YOU MEAN PICTURE OF ME BUT WINSTON HAD PERSUADED HIM
ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT THEY HAD HAD A DISAGREEMENT ABOUT IT
WINSTON HAD HEARD BECAUSE HE WAS SETTING UP THE LIQUOR TRAY IN THE NEXT ROOM
THROUGH THE DOOR HE HAD SEEN MR JACK WALKING AROUND WAITING FOR MISS ADA
FINALLY SHE HAD COME DOWN WINSTON HAD HEARD HER SHAKING OUT THE SKIRT OF HER NEW PINK SILK HOSTESS GOWN
HOW DO YOU LIKE IT SHE HAD ASKED
MR JACK HAD SAID YOU LOOK ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS OLD
IS THAT A COMPLIMENT I DONT KNOW
HE HAD STOOD AT A LITTLE DISTANCE STUDYING HER AS THOUGH HE WOULD WALK AROUND NEXT AND LOOK AT THE BACK OF HER HEAD
LOVIE YOU MAKE ME FEEL NAKED
MISS ADA HAD GIGGLED AND SHE WENT SWEEPING AND RUSTLING TO THE COUCH AND SANK DOWN
YOU LOOK LIKE THAT PICTURE I HAVE AT THE OFFICE MR JACK HAD STARTED
NOT A LINE NOT A WRINKLE
I LOOK LIKE AN OLD MAN COMPARED AND HE HAD PICKED UP HIS PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE RED CHRISTMAS BOW STILL ON IT
LOOK AN OLD MAN
WILL YOU WEAR PINK WHEN YOURE SIXTY DARLING I LOVE THAT PHOTOGRAPH
IM GOING TO PUT IT ON MY DRESSER
I GUESS ITS CHILDREN MAKE A WOMAN OLD
A MAN GETS OLD ANYHOW
AFTER A MINUTE HE WENT ON PEOPLE MUST THINK THE CURSE IS ON ME SEEING YOU FRESH AS AN APPLE AND ME OLD AND GRAY
ILL GIVE YOU A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE FRAMED IF YOU LIKE MISS ADA HAD SAID
NO
ALL I WANT IS A PICTURE WITH A FEW LINES
MAKE THE MAN PUT THEM IN IF HE HAS TO
AFTER THAT THEY HAD SAT FOR FIVE MINUTES WITHOUT SAYING A WORD
THEN MISS ADA HAD STOOD UP RUSTLING AND RUSTLING AND GONE UPSTAIRS
WAS IT LOVE I HAD NO DOUBT THAT IT WAS
DURING THE REST OF THE SUMMER MY SCHOLARLY MANIA FOR MAKING PLASTER CASTS AND SPATTER PRINTS OF CATSKILL FLOWERS AND LEAVES WAS ALL BUT SURPASSED BY THE CONSTANTLY RENEWED IMPRESSIONS OF JESSICA THAT MY
NOTHING IN ALL THE PRECEDING YEARS HAD HAD THE POWER TO BRING ME CLOSER TO A KNOWLEDGE OF PROFOUND SORROW THAN THE BREAKUP OF CAMP THE PACKING AWAY OF MY CAMP UNIFORMS
IN FINAL SEPARATION FROM THEM IN THE RAILROAD TERMINAL ACROSS THE RIVER FROM NEW YORK I WOULD NEARLY CRY
MY PARENTS WELCOMING ARMS WOULD SEEM WOEFUL INADEQUATE UNWANTED
BUT THAT YEAR WAS DIFFERENT FOR JUST AS THE CITY IN THE FORM OF MY STREET CLOTHES HAD INTRUDED UPON MY MOUNTAIN NIGHTS SO AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SUMMER
THESE LETTERS BECAME THE CENTER OF MY EXISTENCE
I LIVED TO SEE AN ENVELOPE OF HERS IN THE MORNING MAIL AND TO LOCK MYSELF IN MY ROOM IN THE AFTERNOON TO REREAD HER LETTER FOR THE TENTH TIME AND FINALLY PREPARE AN
MY MEMORY HAS CATALOGUED FOR EASY REFERENCE AND WITHDRAWAL THE IMAGE OF HER PINK SCENTED STATIONERY AND THE UNSLOPED ALMOST PRINTED CONFIGURATIONS OF HER NEAT STUDIOUS HANDWRITING WITH WHICH SHE INVITED
IN MY LETTERS I TOOK ON A PERSONALITY THAT DIFFERED FROM THE SELF I KNEW IN REAL LIFE
THEN EPISTOLATORY ME WAS A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT DISPATCHING EXCITING CABLES AND COMMUNIQUES FULL OF DASH AND WIT AND GLAMOR QUOTING FROM THE BOOKS I READ IMITATING THE GRAND STYLES OF THE
THE LETTERS TOOK THEIR SOURCE FROM A STREAM OF MY IMAGINATION IN WHICH I WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A YOUNG MAN NOT UNLIKE MY BUNKMATE ELIOT SANDS HE OF THE PORCH STEPS ANECDOTES 
LIKE ELIOT IN MY FANTASIES I HAD A PROUD BEARING AND WITH A SKILL THAT WAS VAGUELY CONTINENTAL I WOULD LEAD JESSICA THROUGH AN EVENING OF DANCING AND HANDSOME DESCRIPTIONS
THE NIGHT AFTER READING HER LETTER ABOUT HER SURGEON UNCLE IT MUST HAVE BEEN LATE IN SEPTEMBER I HAD A VISION OF MYSELF RETURNED IN RAGGED UNIFORM FROM THE FRONT NEARLY
FOR MANY NIGHTS AFTERWARD THE IDEA OF HER HAVING BEEN SO CLOSE TO ME IN THAT IMAGINED BED WOULD RETURN AND FILL ME WITH OBSCURE AND PAINFUL DESIRES WOULD CAUSE ME TO
THE WEEKS WENT BY AND THE LONGER OUR SEPARATION GREW THE MORE UNBOUNDED AND ALMOST UNBEARABLE MY FANTASIES BECAME
THEY CAUSED MY LOVE FOR JESSICA TO BECOME WARMER AND AT THE SAME TIME MORE HOPELESS AS IF MY ADOLESCENT SELF KNEW THAT ONLY TORMENT WOULD EVER BRING ME THE COURAGE TO ASK
AS IT TURNED OUT JESSICA TOOK MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS
HAVING RECEIVED PERMISSION TO GIVE A CAMP REUNIONHALLOWEEN PARTY SHE ASKED THAT I COME AND BE HER DATE
I WENT AND MUM AND NERVOUS ALL BUT MADE A FOOL OF MYSELF
AGAIN AMONG THOSE JUBILANTLY REUNITED BUNKMATES I WAS SHY WITH JESSIE AND ACTED AS I HAD DURING THOSE EARLY SATURDAY MORNINGS WHEN WE ALL SEEMED TO BE PLAYING FOR EFFECT TO BE
I REMEMBER STANDING IN A CORNER WATCHING JESSICA ACT THE HOSTESS SERVING SOFT DRINKS TO HER GUESTS
SHE WAS WEARING HER DARK HAIR IN TWO THICK BRAIDS TO ATTAIN AN AMERICAN GIRL EFFECT SHE THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE TO HALLOWEEN
IT MADE HER LOOK SWEET AND SCHOOLGIRLISH I WAS EXCITED TO BE WITH HER BUT I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS IT
YET A MOMENT DID COME THAT NIGHT WHEN THE ADVENTUROUS LETTER WRITER AND FANTASIST SEEMED TO STRIDE OFF MY FLASHY PAGES OUT OF MY MIND AND PLANT HIMSELF IN REALITY
IT WAS LATE WE WERE PLAYING KISSING GAMES AND JESSICA AND I WERE CALLED ON TO KISS IN FRONT OF THE OTHERS
WE BLUSHED AND WERE FLUSTERED AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE FLEETEST BRUSH OF LIPS UPON CHEEK
THE KISS OUTRAGED OUR FRIENDS BUT IT WAS DONE AND MEANWHILE HAD RELEASED IN ME ALL THE REMOTE EXCITING PREMONITIONS OF LUST ALL THE MYSTERIOUS SENSATIONS THAT I HAD IMAGINED A TRULY
IT WAS AT THAT PARTY THAT FINALLY OVERCOMING MY TIMIDITY INSPIRED BY TALES ONLY HALFUNDERSTOOD AND OVERHEARD AMONG OLDER BOYS I ASKED JESSIE TO SPEND NEW YEARS EVE WITH ME
LOVINGLY SHE ACCEPTED AND SO GREAT WAS MY EMOTION THAT ALL I COULD THINK OF SAYING WAS YOURE AMAZING YOU KNOW LATER WE AGREED TO THINK OF HOW
WE WOULD WRITE TO ONE ANOTHER AND MAKE A DEFINITE PLAN
SHE WAS TERRIBLY PLEASED
AMONG MY SCHOOL AND NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS DURING THE NEXT MONTHS I BRAGGED AND SWAGGERED AND POMPOUSLY DESCRIBED MY IMPENDING DATE
BUT THOUGH I BOASTED AND GAVE OFF A DAPPER FRONT I WAS BENEATH IT ALL FRIGHTENED
IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER BEEN COMPLETELY ALONE WITH A GIRL I LOVED
I HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT SUBJECTS ONE DISCUSSED WHEN ALONE WITH A GIRL OR HOW ONE BEHAVED SHOULD I HOLD HER HAND WHILE WALKING OR ONLY WHEN CROSSING THE STREET 
I FORCED CONFIDENCE INTO MYSELF
I MADE INQUIRIES I READ A BOOK OF ETIQUETTE
IN DECEMBER I WROTE HER WITH AUTHORITY THAT WE WOULD MEET ON THE STEPS OF THE HOTEL ASTOR A RENDEZVOUS SPOT THAT I HAD LEARNED WAS THE MOST SOPHISTICATED
WE WOULD ATTEND A FILM AND LATER ON I STATED WE MIGHT GO TO THE MAYFLOWER COFFEE SHOP OR CHILDS OR TOFFENETTIS FOR WAFFLES
I SET THE HOUR OF OUR MEETING FOR SEVEN
AT FIVE OCLOCK THAT NIGHT IT WAS ALREADY DARK AND BEHIND MY CLOSED DOOR I WAS DRESSING AS CAREFULLY AS A GROOM
I WORE A NEW DOUBLEBREASTED BROWN WORSTED SUIT WITH A FAINT HERRINGBONE DESIGN AND WIDE LAPELS LIKE A DEVILS EARS
MY CAMPMADE LEATHER WALLET BULKY WITH TWISTED RAISED STITCHES AROUND THE EDGES I STUFFED WITH MONEY I HAD BEEN SAVING
HATLESS IN AN OVERCOAT OF ROUGH BLUE WOOL I WAS GIVEN A PROUD FAREWELL BY MY MOTHER AND FATHER AND I SET OUT INTO THE STRANGELY STILL STREETS OF BROOKLYN
I FELT SUPERIOR TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS I WAS LEAVING BEHIND FELT OLDER THAN MY YEARS AND WAS FULL OF COMPLIMENTS FOR MYSELF AS I HEADED INTO THE SUBWAY THAT WAS CARRYING
TIMES SQUARE WHEN I ASCENDED TO IT WITH MY FELLOW SUBWAY TRAVELLERS ALL DRESSED AS IF FOR A HUGE WEDDING IN A FAMILY OF WHICH WE WERE ALL DISTANT MEMBERS 
HEAVYCOATED SEVERELOOKING POLICEMEN SAT ASTRIDE NOBLE HORSES ALONG THE CURBSIDE TO PREVENT THE REVELLERS FROM SPILLING OUT IN FRONT OF THE CRAWLING TRAFFIC
THE NIGHT WAS COLD BUT THE CROWD KEPT ONE WARM
THE GIANT ELECTRIC SIGNS AND MARQUEES WERE LIT UP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE BLACKOUT REGULATIONS HAD BEEN INSTITUTED AND THE ATMOSPHERE WAS ALIVE WITH THE FEELING THAT VICTORY WAS JUST AROUND THE
CARDBOARD NOISEMAKERS SUBSTITUTES FOR THE UNAVAILABLE TIN MODELS WERE BEING HAWKED AND BOUGHT AT MAKESHIFT STANDS EVERY FEW YARDS ALONG BROADWAY AND ONES EARS WERE CONTINUALLY SERENADED BY THE HORNS RASPS
AN OLD GENTLEMEN NEXT TO ME HELD A BOY SCOUT BUGLE TO HIS LIPS AND BLASTED AWAY AT EVERY FOURTH STEP AND DURING THE INTERIM SHOUTED OUT V FOR VICTORY HIS NEIGHBORS
THERE WAS A GREAT SENSE OF CAMARADERIE
HOW DID ONE JOIN THEM WHERE WERE THEY ALL WALKING TO WAS I SUPPOSED TO BUY A FUNNY HAT AND A RATTLE FOR JESSICA IT WAS A QUARTER OF SEVEN WHEN
I LOOKED OVER THEIR FACES AND FELT A TWINGE THEY ALL LOOKED SO MUCH MORE KNOWING THAN I
I LOOKED AWAY
I LOOKED FOR JESSICA TO MATERIALIZE OUT OF THE CLOGGING CURDLING CROWD AND AS THE TIME PASSED AND I WAITED A FIEND CAME TO LIFE BESIDE ME AND WHISPERED IN MY
ITS THICK SUBSTANTIAL OUTLINE CALMED ME
BUT WHEN I SAW THAT IT WAS ALREADY TEN PAST SEVEN I BEGAN TO WONDER IF SOMETHING HAD GONE WRONG
SUPPOSE HER FATHER HAD CHANGED HIS MIND AND HAD REFUSED TO LET HER LEAVE SUPPOSE AT THIS VERY MOMENT HER FATHER WAS CALLING MY HOUSE IN AN EFFORT TO CANCEL THE PLANS 

WHOLE PLATOONS WERE TAKING UP NEW POSITIONS ON THE STEPS ARRIVING AND DEPARTING WHILE I STAYED GLUED LIKE A SIGNPOST TO ONE SPOT
AT TWO HOTEL DOORMEN CAME THUMPING DOWN THE STEPS CARRYING A SAWHORSE TO BE SET UP AS A BARRICADE IN FRONT OF THE HABERDASHERY STORE WINDOW NEXT TO THE ENTRANCEWAY AND
MY HEART ALMOST STOPPED BEATING