,A ,,GE/URE ,,LIFE

            ,,*ANG-RAE ,,LEE

              ,PUBLI%$ BY
      ,RIV]H1D ,BOOKS1 ,NEW ,YORK
            ,COPY"R #AIII BY
             ,*ANG-RAE ,LEE
  ,FUR!R REPRODUC;N OR 4TRIBU;N 9 O!R
  ?AN A SPECIALIZ$ =MAT IS PROHIBIT$4

      ,TRANSCRIB$ 9 ,5GLI% ,BRL BY
     ,PAT ,CRIPE1 ,B]NICE ,NORMAN1
    ,BE? ,GOODMAN1 & ,G9NY ,SPADONI
          ,"EGRE5 ,BRL ,S]VICE
           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON

             ,9 #E ,VOLUMES
               ,VOLUME #A
         ,PAGES ;I-;IV & #A-ABF

          ,"U ! ,SPONSOR%IP (
  ,WA%+TON ,TALK+ ,BOOK & ,BRL ,LIBR>Y
           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON
                 #BJJC
                                     ;II
























                                    ;III










           ,= ,G>RETT ,H;GO1
             GRT FR & POET












                                     ;IV
























                   #A                 #A

  ,P "K ME "H4 ,X WASN'T ALW S4 ,B LIV+
?IRTY-ODD YE>S 9 ! SAME PLACE 2G9S 6%[
ON A MAN4 ,9 ! C\RSE ( S* "T1 )\T EV5
R1LIZ+ X1 "O TAKES ON ! "*I/ICS (! LO-
CAL;Y ! COLOR & /AMP (! PREVAIL+ DRESS &
GAIT & EV5 SPEE*--^? G5TLE BELLS (!
SIDEWALK PASS]SBY1 _! .,H[ .>E .Y\S &
.,GD ."DS & .,HELLOS4 ,& 9 K9D "! IS A
GRADUAL & A3RU+ RECOGNI;N ( "O'S FACE1 (
2+1 Z F> Z ANY"O C RECALL1 F >.D "H4
,"!'S NO L;G] A L+]+ OR VACANT />E1 & Y
C TA/E ! SMALL B UNEQUAL$ PL1SURE T -ES
) 2+ A FAMILI> SI<T 6! EYES4 ,9 MY CASE1
"EY"O "H "KS P]FECTLY :O ,I AM4 ,X'S A
SIMPLE DET]M9,N4 ,:5"E ,I /EP 96A %OP 9
! MA9 "P (! VILLAGE1 9V>IABLY "S"O W
SAY1 8,HEY1 X'S GD ,DOC ,HATA40
  ,! S5TI;T1 C]TA9LY1 IS V K9D1 & "O ,I
DEEPLY APPRECIATE4 ,"H1 FIFTY M9UTES
NOR? (! C;Y1 9 A PICTURESQUE T[N T ,I W
CALL ,B$LEY ,RUN1 ,I "SH[ 5JOY AN ALM
,ORI5TAL V5],N Z AN ELD]4 ,I SUPPOSE !
O!R OLD] FOLKS :O LIVE "H RCV _! DUE %>E
( G5]OS;Y & RESPECT1 B X SEEMS ,I     #B
AL"O RATE ! BLU/]Y GREET+1 ! SPECIAL
SALUT,N4 ,:5 ,I BUY MY PAP] EA* MORN+1 !
NEWS/& [N] W SAY1 )A T"O FEIGN+ GRAV;Y1
8,DOCTOR ,HATA1 ,I PRESUME40 ,&! "Y1
BU%Y-EYEBR[$ WOMAN AT ! DELI1 ^: HOMEB.D
"M ,I HELP$ Q (T5 9 H] F9AL YE>S1 ALW
R1*ES OV] ! REFRIG]AT$ GLASS C.T] &
WAVES H] PLUMP H&S & SAYS1 8,GONNA H !
USUAL1 ,DOC80 ,%E W9KS AT ME & MAKES
SURE 6PREP>E MY TURKEY BR1/ S&WI* H]F1
FOLD+ AN EXTRA W$GE ( PICKLE 96! BUT*]
PAP]4 ,I R1LIZE T X'S N J T ,I'M A FRLY
& \TGO+ SILV]-HAIR1 & T ,I G5U9ELY 5JOY
MEET+ P1 B AL 2C ,I'VE LIV$ "H Z L;G Z
ANY1 & MY "N1 AF ALL1 IS ,JAPANESE1 A
FACT T SEEMS BO? ODD & DELI<T;L 6P1 Z
WELL Z "SH[ T[N-A6IRM+4
  ,9 MY F/ YE>S 9 ,B$LEY ,RUN1 ?+S 7 A
BIT DI6]5T4 ,EV5 ! T[N _H ANO!R "N1
,B$LEYVILLE 7? MY ATTRIBU;N71 : 0 *ANG$
"S"T 9 ! E>LY #AIGJ'S 2C ! T[N BO>D DE-
CID$ X WASN'T A6LU5T-S.D+ 5\<4 ,! T[N 9
FACT WASN'T A6LU5T AT ! "T1 2+ J A %A2Y
TAN BRICK TRA9 /,N &! FEW /ORES T S]V$
X1 "S OLD] VILLAGE HOMES1 S"EAL NEW   #C
H\S+ DEVELOP;TS1 &! SURR.D+ DAIRY C[
PA/URES & WOOD$ M1D[S1 NO?+ FANCY AT
ALL1 : 0 H[ ,I 0 A# 6AF=D 6MOVE "H & OP5
A BUSI;S4 ,"! 7 P]H A FEW ?\S& RESID5TS1
MO/LY %OPKEEP]S & S]VICE P1 &! SMALL B$-
ROOM -MUN;Y :O 7 _! PATRONAGE4
  ,I'D R1D AB ! T[N 9 ! PAP]1 A BRIEF
SLICE-(-LIFE >TICLE )A PICTURE (A M1D[ T
_H BE5 -PLETELY CLE>$ = NEW SUBURBAN-
/YLE HOMES1 J :ITE /AKES 9 ! FROZ5 GR.D
6M>K ": ! /REETS WD BE4 ,X LOOK$ /]ILE &
DESOLATE1 L FRE% BLA/ GR.D1 N 9 ! L1/
HOPE;L1 & YET ,I FELT /RANGELY DRAWN 6!
T[N1 9 "P 2C (! P1CE;L PACE ( LIFE T !
>TICLE NOT$1 ! SIMPLE TRANQUILL;Y (!
OLD]1 VILLAGE SEC;N T MADE ME ?9K (!
SMALL C;Y ": ,I LIV$ MY Y\?1 ON ! S\?-
WE/]N COA/ ( ,JAPAN4 ,I _H ALR DRIV5 "?
! M E/ABLI%$ SUBURBS NE>] 6! C;Y & F.D
!M 4T9CTLY COLD1 Z WELL Z TOO EXP5SIVE4
,I'D ASK = DIREC;NS AT A G>AGE1 OR BUY
"S GUM AT A C&Y /ORE1 & AN AWKW>D QUIET
WD >ISE1 T C]TA9 CLIPP$;S1 & ?\< ,I N"E
HE>D ANY -;TS1 ,I CD TELL ,I WASN'T 2+
WELCOM$ 6REMA9 TOO L;G4               #D
  ,:5 ,I F/ >RIV$ 9 ,B$LEYVILLE1 FEW P
SEEM$ 6NOTICE ME4 ,N T !Y 7 M* DI6]5T F
^? 9 ! O!R T[NS1 AT L1/ N 9TR9SIC,Y4
,FUNDA;T,Y1 X SEEMS 6ME1 ! P 9 A "PICUL>
>EA >E GIV5 6A -MON SET ( 3DI;NS & 9FLU-
;ES1 L ! GR[? 9 A "P (A =E/4 ,"! MAY 2
_M TYPES ( FLORA1 B ONLY ! RESID5T SOIL
& CLIMATE PROVIDE = !M1 EI RI*LY OR
POORLY OR ) 9DI6];E4 ,I SUPPOSE X 0 2C
,B$LEYVILLE 0 / ,B$LEYVILLE !N1 & N YET
,B$LEY ,RUN 7?\< DESP]ATELY WANT+ 6BE71
& PRETTY M* ANYBODY NEW 6T[N 0 SE5 Z A
POSITIVE A4I;N 6! C5SUS & TAX BASE4 ,X 0
#AIFC1 & F :AT ,I'D SE5 DUR+ MY BRIEF
TRAVELS 9 ? C.TRY1 "EY"O =! MO/ "P LIV$
TGR1 EXCEPT1 ,I SUPPOSE1 = C]TA9 GR\PS1
S* Z ! BLACKS1 OR ! ,*9ESE 9 ! CITIES1
:O = "O R1SON OR ANO!R SEEM$ 6LIVE A"P4
,/1 ,I _H ASSUM$ T ONCE ,I SETTL$ "S-
PLACE1 ,I WD 2 TR1T$ Z ^? P 7 TR1T$1 & 9
FACT ,I 0 FULLY PREP>$ = X4 ,B :]"E ,I
W5T--& 9 "PICUL>1 "H 9 ,B$LEY ,RUN--X
SEEM$ P TOOK AN ODD 9T]E/ 9 TELL+ ME T
,I WASN'T .UN,'WELCOME4
  ,DID ? SUIT ME8 ,I C'T 2 SURE4 ,I   #E
D "K T ONCE ,I DECID$ 6REMA9 9 ? C.TRY1
& 6LIVE "H 9 ,B$LEY ,RUN1 ! "Q ( MY /A-
TUS MO/LY FAD$ AWAY1 6! PO9T X IS TD1 :
IS ALM NO?+2 & ,I "K1 TOO1 T ? M/ H BE5
B5EFICIAL 6ME OV] ! YE>S1 6H S TR\BL+ AN
ISSUE REMOV$ F ! DAILY TURNS ( MY LIFE4
,I DID H A FEW SMALL DI6ICULTIES F "T TO
"T1 B X 0 ALW J ! PLAY ( MIS*IEV\S BOYS1
:O 5JOY$ MAK+ FACES AT ME 9 ! %OP W9D[1
OR *ALK+ /ATE;TS \ FRONT ON ! SIDEWALK1
EV5 GO+ S F> Z 6SLA!R AXLE GR1SE ON !
DUMP/] H&LES4 ,I N"E REPORT$ ! 9CID5TS1
OR 3FRONT$ ! P]PETRATORS1 & EV5TU,Y ^!
ANNOY.ES C1S$4 ,LAT] ON1 AF ! BOYS _H
GR[N UP 96M51 "S (! "OS :O SETTL$ 9 T[N
WD -E 96! /ORE1 6BUY A B$ TRAY1 OR A
WALK]1 OR P]H AN ICE BAG =A FEV]I% *1 &
!Y WD SP1K 6ME Z IF !Y _H N"E D"O ! ?+S
,I KNEW !Y _H D"O1 !Y WD J MAKE A6A#
SMALL TALK & DOCILELY ASK MY ADVICE Z !Y
MI<T F ANY DOCTOR1 _! EYES WAV]+ & EX-
PECTANT4
  ,I %D M5;N N[ T ,I AM N A PHYSICIAN (
ANY K9D1 & T ,I ONLY RAN A M$ICAL &
SURGICAL SUPPLY /ORE 9 T[N1 ?\< =     #F
_M PATRONS X CAME 6BE REG>D$ Z AN 9=MAL
DROP-IN CL9IC1 ! K9D ( PLACE ": P CD
FREELY ASK "QS ( "S"O :O 0 EXP]I;ED &
"KL$GEA# Z WELL Z OP5 & FRLY1 A DEM1NOR
T Q A FEW DOCTORS1 UN=TUNATELY1 NO L;G]
F1TURE ^! "DS4
  ,I SAY ALL ? N 6BOA/ OR SELF-3GRATU-
LATE1 B 6REM9D MYF T ?\< ,I 0 "E WILL+
6HELP1 X 0 ! G5]\S ATTITUDE (! CU/OM]S T
DREW ME \ & GAVE ME 3FID;E1 & T E DEC5T
& GD ?+ T HAS -E 6ME :ILE ,I H LIV$ "H
IS DUE 6"S COROLL>Y ( T WELCOM+1 : ,I H
N"E LO/ SI<T (4 ,I "K "! >E ^? :O WD SAY
,I'VE TOO KE5LY S"\ APPROVAL & 3S5SUS1 &
IF OV] ! YE>S ,I'VE ]R$ ON ! SIDE ( 2+
GRATE;L1 WELL1 S 2 X4 ,I ?9K "O P]SON C
H>DLY "U/& :Y ANO!R HAS 3DUCT$ 8 LIFE 9
S* A WAY1 H[ HE CAME 6-MIT C]TA9 AC;NS &
N O!RS1 :E!R HE LOOKS ^U ! PA/ ) MO/LY
PL1SURE OR EQUANIM;Y OR REGRET4 ,X SEEMS
DI6ICULT 5 63SID] "O'S [N TRIUMPHS &
FAILURES ) P]FECT V];Y1 = X'S NO SECRET
T ! PA/ PROVES A MO/ UN/A# MIRROR1
TYPIC,Y TOO SEV]E & FLATT]+ ALL AT ONCE1
& N"E Z TRU?-REFLECT+ Z P WD L 6BE-   #G
LIEVE4
  ,9DE$1 ,I H L;G FELT T ,I \ 6PLACE MY
5]GIES T[>D ! RECKON+ ( :AT /&S 9 ! "H &
N[1 ESPECI,Y GIV5 MY "E-DW9DL+ YE>S1 & S
? IS :AT ,I % D4 ,MY OLD /ORE1 ,SUNNY
,M$ICAL ,SUPPLY1 IS N[ RUN 0A "YI% ,NEW
,YORK ,C;Y C\PLE :O ?REE YE>S AGO PUR-
*AS$ X1 ) ALL ! /OCK & 9V5TORY1 &! TWO
"O-B$ROOM A"P;TS ABV4 ,!Y HAV5'T *ANG$
ANY?+1 RE,Y4 ,A FEW WEEKS AGO ,I NOTIC$
T ! GOLD-L1F LR+ ,I ORD]$ :5 ! T[N RE-
QUIR$ ALL ! VILLAGE %OPS 6PUT UP ! SAME
RU/IC /YLE ( SIGN IS N[ Q *IPP$ & DULL1
& NE$S REFURBI%+4 ,9 FACT ! :OLE /ORE-
FRONT IS LOOK+ W1!RWORN1 UNLIKE ! O!R
%OPS IMMLY 2S X ON ,*UR* ,/REET1 ! /,N]S
&! FLORI/S1 ^: W9D[S *ANGE REGUL>LY & H
COLOR;L SALE ANN\NCE;TS & 4PLAYS ( M]-
*&ISE4
  ,I "K Z WELL Z ANY"O T X'S *ALL5G+ =A
M$ICAL SUPPLI] 6CR1TE AN ATTRACTIVE
/OREFRONT1 T B$PANS & 9SUL9 KITS DON'T
MAKE =A NATUR,Y SC9TILLAT+ 4PLAY1 B )A
LL EF=T & CR1TIV;Y X'S N L;G 2F Y C -E
UP )A W9D[ T IS ALM PL1S+ 6LOOK AT4   #H
,& :ILE ,I N"E EXPECT$ CU/OM]S 6FLOCK
96! /ORE 2C ( S* ATT5;NS1 ,I DON'T "K H[
_M "TS "S"O POK$ 8 OR H] H1D 9 6-PLI;T
ME1 SAY+1 8,PRETTY Z A PICTURE10 OR
8,BE/ ON ! /REET10 OR 8,Y'VE GOT "S K9DA
/YLE1 ,DOC40
  ,?REE YE>S LAT]1 H["E1 ! /ORE / HAS !
V SAME 4PLAY F ! LA/ ,EA/] W9D[ ,I MADE
UP4 ,RE,Y1 X'S A SAD SI<T =! EYES4 ,"EY-
?+'S BE5 RU9$ 0"T & LI<T4 ,! PETALS (!
NYLON TULIPS >E D+Y ) DU/ & CRUMBL+1 &!
BLUE PLA/IC EYES (! /U6$ RA2ITS H FAD$
6A GLAZ$1 WAT]Y GRAY1 ! FUR UNEV5LY
TUFT$ & B>E & G5],Y FEE#-LOOK+4 ,! ONLY
?+ DI6]5T IS T ! W9D['S M]*&ISE HAS L;G
BE5 RECLAIM$3 ! G[NS UNP9N$ F ! WALLS1 !
POTTY N[ G"O1 & F9,Y1 LEFT MATT$ 9 !
PLA/IC GRASS1 ! FA9TE/ IMPRES.N (A PAIR
( OR?OP$IC %OES4
  ,I F9,Y DECID$ ! O!R "D 6CALL ON ! NEW
[N]S1 J 6SEE H[ !Y 7 DO+4 ,I TAKE A WALK
( "S L5G? DAILY1 "P ( MY RETIRE;T R\T9E1
& S X'S NO TR\# 6MAKE MY WAY D[N ,*UR*
,/REET1 : IS ! MA9 ?OR\<F>E (! T[N4 ,=!
F/ MON? OR S AF ,I SOLD ! BUSI;S 6!   #I
,HICKEYS1 ,I'D MAKE SURE 6DROP 0REGUL>-
LY1 P]H TWO OR ?REE "TS A WEEK1 6*ECK ON
!M & SEE IF !Y NE$$ ANY HELP OR ADVICE4
  ,9ITI,Y1 ,I "K1 !Y 7 Q HAPPY :5"E !
BELL ON ! DOOR T9K-T9KL$ & !Y SAW ME /EP
9SIDE1 ESPECI,Y ,MRS4 ,HICKEY4 ,! ,HICK-
EYS 7 BO? NEW 6! BUSI;S1 N J 6SELL+ M$I-
CAL SUPPLIES B 6SELL+ ANY?+1 & _! "O T5-
U\S QUALIFIC,N =! "W 0 T !Y 7 =M]LY
,,EMS "W]S1 "PN]S 9 FACT1 DRIV+ AN AMBU-
L.E TGR D[N 9 ! C;Y4
  ,I WORRI$1 ( C\RSE1 T ! ,HICKEYS 7
GRAVELY 9EXP]I;ED1 & T !Y'D PROBABLY
BORR[$ 5 M"OY T _! MON?LY PAY;TS 7 DAN-
G]\SLY HI<1 & T )A "Y * 9 T[1 !Y WD F9D
! DEM&S ( RUNN+ A RETAIL BUSI;S M SEV]E
?AN !Y _H "E ANTICIPAT$4 ,I DIDN'T SP1K
AB ^! 3C]NS1 Z ,I DID FEEL X 0 F9,Y "T
6SELL ! /ORE4 ,B ,I 0 3C]N$4 ,S :5"E ,I
VISIT$ !M1 ,I WD D :AT"E 0 NE$$1 CALL+
ON ANY PA/-DUE A3.TS AT ! C.TY HOSPITAL
& >EA RETIRE;T HOMES1 NEGOTIAT+ ) SUP-
PLI]S1 & EV5 *ECK+ ! /ORE BOOKS1 RECON-
CIL+ 9FL[S & \TFL[S4 ,I M/ ADMIT T AF !
NEW "DS ( 9ACTIV;Y1 ,I F.D X PL1S-   #AJ
URA# DO+ ! "W AG1 TALK+ 7& 9V>IABLY JOK-
+7 ) =M] BUSI;S 3TACTS1 APPRAIS+ NEW
PRODUCTS & BRO*URES1 & !N TAK+ MY DELI
S&WI* & PICKLES AT MY OLD DESK )A MUG (
GRE5 TEA1 A CANI/] ( : ,I ALW BR"\ ) ME
ON ^? "DS ,I ?"\ ,I MI<T DROP IN4
  ,MRS4 ,HICKEY WD ALW GREET ME W>MLY &
IMMLY ASK H[ !Y "\ 6D ? ?+ OR T1 & ,I'D
SET 6"W "R AWAY1 UNTIL 2F ,I KNEW X1 M
?AN HALF ! "D _H PASS$4 ,X 0 ,MR4 ,HICK-
EY1 9 RETROSPECT1 :O 0 "S"TS RETIC5T1 Z
HE WD LOOK UP & NOD WANLY :5 ,I 5T]$ !
/ORE1 & AF A FEW WEEKS ,I'D F/ *ECK 6SEE
IF ,MRS4 ,HICKEY 0 "! 2F DECID+ 6G IN-
SIDE4 ,& S X HAPP5$ Q UNEXPECT$LY "O "D1
:5 ,MR4 ,HICKEY ASK$ IF ,I MI<T LET !M
RUN ! BUSI;S !MVS1 T X 0 :AT !Y _H PD ME
=& IF ,I WD F9,Y HONOR T4
  ,I 0 3FUS$ =A MO;T1 MO/LY 0HIS T"O1 2C
X SEEM$ ,I 0 M]ELY "! AT _! [N WI%ES1 B
,I R1LIZ$ T HE 0 TELL+ ME 9 8 [N WAY T
!Y _H RCVD ORI5T,N 5\<4 ,MRS4 ,HICKEY
LOOK$ MORTIFI$ & EXCUS$ H]F 6G LOOK =
"S?+ 9 ! /OREROOM1 & ,MR4 ,HICKEY
POLITELY HELD OP5 ! DOOR = ME1 N     #AA
SAY+ ANY?+ M1 & ,I RESOLV$ !N N 64TURB
!M AG UNTIL !Y F.D X NEC 63TACT ME DI-
RECTLY1 :5 ,I %D 2 HAPPY 63TRIBUTE 9 ANY
WAY4
  ,: !Y _HN'T ASK$ ME 6D1 ,I ADMIT1 A
FEW "DS AGO :5 ,I /OPP$ BY4 ,B ! SORRY
/ATE (! W9D[ CASE1 &! SOB]+ TALK ,I _H
REC5TLY HE>D F "S ,*UR* ,/REET M]*ANTS
AB ! ILL;S ( _! SON MADE ME FEEL T ,I "\
6CALL ON !M AT L1/ ONCE AG4
  ,:5 ,I 5T]$ ! /ORE ,I F.D1 6MY SUR-
PRISE1 NO "O "!4 ,! %ELVES 7 /OCK$1 ?\<
"S:AT LI<TLY1 &! DESK & C.T] 7 HAPHAZ>D-
LY COV]$ ) VOLUMES ( PAP]S & C>BONS1 !
UNMANN$ CA% REGI/] APPE>+ "PICUL>LY EX-
POS$4 ,! AISLES _H N BE5 WAX$ 9 "S "T4
,AB ! :OLE PLACE "! 0 ! S5SE (A DW9DL+1
! FEEL+ Y GET :5 Y 5T] A H\SE P >E MOV+
\ (1 AN AL>M+ SP>E;S & 4>RAY T ALM SEEMS
6BE ! CAUSE (! L1V+1 :5 ( C\RSE X'S J !
RESULT4 ,I SD HELLO A FEW "TS T[>D !
BACK /OREROOM1 B ,I GOT NO ANSW]4 ,!N ,I
HE>D VOICES1 MU6L$1 -+ F :AT "O MI<T SEE
Z A CLOSET DOOR B 0 ACTU,Y ! BACK /AIR
6! SECOND-FLOOR HALL1 ": ! TWO       #AB
R5TAL A"P;TS W]E4 ,! DOORWAY 0 2H ! C.T-
]1 & NATUR,Y ,I W5T >.D1 & !N ,I CRACK$
OP5 ! DOOR1 6HE> :O MI<T 2 TALK+4 ,=A
MO;T1 ,I _H ! AL>M+ IDEA T ! ,HICKEYS 7
2+ RO2$1 & _H BE5 TAK5 UP/AIRS 6BE B.D &
GA7$4
  ,B ( C\RSE :AT ,I HE>D 0 _! VOICES1
SP1K+ S(TLY 6EA* O!R 9 A L[1 WE>Y DR"O1
Z IF !Y _H BE5 >GU+ AT L5G? & N[ SU45LY
W]5'T4 ,!Y 7 TALK+1 ,I CD TELL1 AB _!
SON1 ,PATRICK4 ,MRS4 ,HICKEY 0 SAY+ "S?+
AB GETT+ ON ,M$ICAID1 N[ T "! 0 NO PO9T
9 /RU7L+ ANYMORE4 ,MR4 ,HICKEY DIDN'T
ANSW]1 & ,I "U/OOD %E 0 TALK+ AB ! /ORE
& BUSI;S4 ,I ?"\ ,I %D L1VE !N1 = ,I
SU45LY DIDN'T L ! FEEL+ ( EAVESDROPP+ ON
!M1 :5 ! %OP TELEPH"O RANG \4 ,! S.D
FROZE ME =A MO;T1 & 2F ,I CD GET ON MY
WAY1 ,I HE>D A H1VY GALLOP DESC5D ! %ORT
/AIR1 & ,MR4 ,HICKEY OP5$ ! DOOR J Z ,I
SWUNG MY SELF >.D ! 5D (! C.T]4
  ,:5 HE SAW ME HE GL>$1 RAIS+ 8 F+] TO
SAY "S?+1 B ! TELEPH"O 0 R++ & HE SD 6ME
9/1D1 8,Y HOLD ON10 & HE PICK$ UP !
H&SET1 8 EYES UNWAV]+ 9 _! FIX ON    #AC
ME4 ,MRS4 ,HICKEY CAME D[N1 TOO1 & :5 %E
SAW ME %E BROKE 96AN EASY SMILE4 ,H]
FACE 0 WET1 H] NOSE & *EEKS HOTLY FLU%$
& ROSY1 & 9 SPITE ( ? X 0 WOND];L 6SEE
H] AG1 6REMEMB] :AT AN ATTRACTIVE &
PL1SANT "Y WOMAN %E WAS1 ) S* G5U9E W>M?
( _S4
  8,DOC ,HATA10 %E SD1 WIP+ H] NOSE )A
TISSUE4 8,X'S S NICE 6SEE Y AG4 ,GO%1
,I'M SORRY ,I'M L ?40 ,%E BLEW H] NOSE4
8,T'S T4 ,N[1 H[ H Y BE58 ,Y HAV5'T BE5
0IN S L;G40
  8,=GIVE ME10 ,I SD1 8B Y "K H[ BUSY P
>E1 :5 !Y H NO?+ 6D40
  ,%E LAU<$ LI<TLY AT ? & SD1 8,=A :ILE
,I WOND]$ IF MAYBE Y _H MOV$ 6,FLORIDA
OR "SPLACE4 ,B !N ,I ?"\ AB X & ,I KNEW
BETT]4 ,Y'RE N "S"O :O WD L1VE 8 HOME S
EASILY40
  8,Y'RE ABSOLUTELY "R10 ,I REPLI$4
8,2SS1 T K9D ( H1T HAS N"E AGRE$ ) ME40
  8,D Y / G ON YR TWO-H\R WALKS80
  8,E "D10 ,I ANSW]$4 ,MR4 ,HICKEY 0 /
QUIET1 HOLD+ ! H&SET 6HIS E>4 ,I SD 6H]1
8,:Y DON'T WE G TGR "S"T8 ,I H1D     #AD
UP "? ! /ATE P>K ^! "DS1 ON ! TRAILS "!1
: >E V PRETTY )! L1VES FULL & %AD+4 ,X'S
HILLY1 B N S H>D4 ,:AT D Y ?9K80
  ,B 2F %E CD ANSW]1 H] HUSB& BRUSQUELY
PUT D[N ! PH"O4 8,HE'S N HAV+ A GD MORN-
+10 HE SD 6H]1 9T]RUPT+ U Z ?\< HE _H
BE5 9 \R 3V]S,N ALL AL;G4 ,HE 0 LOOK+
/RAI<T AT 8 WIFE4 8,! NEW DOCTOR IS GO+
6SEE HM AT "O-?IRTY4 ,I BETT] GET UP "!
N[40 ,HE REG>D$ ME =A L;G1 AWKW>D MO;T4
,!N HE SD1 8,:AT D Y WANT "H1 OLD MAN80
  8,JAMES60
  8,HOLD ON1 ,ANNIE4 ,I'D J L 6"K :AT HE
WANTS F U4 ,X C'T 2 AN A3ID5T T HE'S -E
TD4 ,YR BU4Y ,MR4 ,F9* AT ! BANK DIDN'T
ASK Y 6DROP BY1 DID HE80
  ,X 0 A /RANGE NO;N1 & ,I _H NO REPLY4
  8,WELL1 Y C TELL HM ANYWAY HE'LL H !
:OLE PLACE SOON4 ,LOCK1 /OCK & B>REL4
,WE WI% WE CD SELL X1 B D Y "K :AT !
PLACE IS WOR?8 ,I BET Y H AN IDEA40
  8,I C'T SAY1 ,MR4 ,HICKEY40
  8,SURE Y C'T4 ,Y ONLY SAY NICE ?+S1 ,I
GUESS4 ,%D ,I TELL Y8 ,AB TWO-?IRDS :AT
Y SOLD X 6U =4 ,I'D H 6F9D ANO!R     #AE
HUNDR$ GR& 6CLE> ! MORTGAGE1 .AF SELL+
X4 ,S X LOOKS L =ECLOSURE 9/1D40
  8,HE'S N 9 ! L1/ AT FAULT1 ,JAMES10
,MRS4 ,HICKEY SCOLD$4 8,S J PL1SE %UT UP
N[40
  8,? ISN'T BLAME1 DE>4 ,I'M N BLAM+
ANYBODY10 ,MR4 ,HICKEY REPLI$4 ,HE 0 RE-
G>D+ ME ) M* UMBRAGE4 8,? IS J 9=M,N4
,MR4 ,HATA APPRECIATES "K+ :AT'S HAPP5+
9 8 T[N4 ,WE DON'T NE$ A MAYOR 2C WE H
,MR4 ,HATA4 ,I'M SORRY--.,DOC ,HATA4 ,I
N"E "U/OOD :Y Y'RE CALL$ T :5 X'S OBVI\S
Y'RE N A DOCTOR40
  8,I DON'T REF] 6MYF Z "O40
  8,T Y DON'T4 ,T'S TRUE4 ,B Y SEEM 6L !
TITLE4 ,& ,I ?9K X FITS Y1 TOO40
  ,MRS4 ,HICKEY SD1 8,"S"TS ,I DESPISE
Y1 ,JAMES40
  8,"S"TS .,I DESPISE ME10 H] HUSB& RE-
PLI$1 SU45LY LOOK+ HURT4 ,HE />$ D[N AT
8 FEET4 ,!N HE TRI$ 6EMBRACE H]1 B %E
TURN$ AWAY4 8,OH1 HELL ) X10 HE SD1
SNAT*+ 8 W9DBR1K] F ! RACK ON ! WALL4
8,HELL ALL40 ,HE M>*$ \1 L1V+ ! DOOR
WIDE OP54                            #AF
  ,MRS4 ,HICKEY GA!R$ H]F & %UT ! DOOR
2H HM4 ,%E 0 Q ANGRY1 ?\< X 0 CLE> %E 0
AL DEEPLY EMB>RASS$ & SORRY = ME4 ,I
TOLD H] %E %DN'T WORRY AB MY FEEL+S 2+
HURT1 = X 0 OBVI\S H] HUSB& 0 "U A T]RI#
/RA94 ,MRS4 ,HICKEY ?ANK$ ME = MY K9D;S1
& ?\< ,I ASS5T$1 ,I DIDN'T TRULY FEEL T
X 0 K9D;S1 ON MY "P4 ,N RE,Y AT ALL4 ,X
0 AN "U/&+1 IF ANY?+4 ,= ,I %D SAY T ,I
"K F EXP]I;E T ! BE>+ ( ^? 9 EXTREME
CIRCUM/.ES C "S"TS 2 UNT[>D & EV5 %OCK+1
& WE M/ TRY \R BE/ 6"U/& :AT IS ACTUAL &
ESS5TIAL 6A P]SON1 & :AT IS 0ANY 9DIC,N
ANOMAL\S1 A MO;T>Y LAPSE T IS BETT] =-
GOTT5 ?AN 3SID]$ "T & "T AG1 6LL AVAIL4
  ,MRS4 ,HICKEY ASK$ IF ,I MI<T /AY &
TALK A LL :ILE1 & ,I 0 GLAD TO4 ,%E TOLD
ME M AB H] SON4 ,X 0 TRUE :AT ,I'D HE>D1
T 8 HE>T 0 3G5IT,Y 41S$1 & HE 0 N[ 9 UR-
G5T NE$ (A TRANSPLANT4 ,HE 0 ON ! N,NAL
REGI/RY1 ( C\RSE1 & 2C ( 8 AGE & 3DI;N
ALM AT ! TOP (! LI/1 B ! DYSFUNC;N _H
A3EL]AT$1 &! DOCTORS N[ TOLD !M T HE 0 9
R1L DANG]1 T X 0 -+ D[N 6A MATT] (
MON?S1 IF A SUITA# DONOR WASN'T      #AG
LOCAT$4 ,? 2SS ! FACT T AF TWO &A HALF
YE>S1 !Y 7 ALM \ ( 9SUR.E4
  ,I _H AL VISIT$ ON ! "D !Y 7 69=M !
BANK :AT _! DECI.N 0 AB REF9ANC+ _!
MORTGAGE1 : 0 SIX MON?S 9 >RE>S4 ,BUSI;S
WASN'T BOOM+1 GIV5 T ! LOCAL ECONOMY 0 9
RECES.N 7: SEEM$ 62FALL ! >EA1 UN=TU-
NATELY =! ,HICKEYS1 A %ORT "T AF !Y B"\
MY /ORE71 & T ,SUNNY ,M$ICAL ,SUPPLY N[
_H 6-PETE )A FRAN*ISE (A L>GE REGIONAL
SUPPLI]1 : _H OP5$ 9 ! NEI<BOR+ T[N (
,HI<BRIDGE4
  ,& YET ) ALL ? NEGATIVE;S1 ,MRS4
,HICKEY 0 / *E];L1 JOK+ & KI4+ & TRY+ TO
PUT ! BE/ FACE ON ?+S1 TELL+ ME H[ %E
TOOK /R5G? F ,PATRICK1 :O N"E ONCE COM-
PLA9$ AB SLEEP+ AT ! HOSPITAL1 OR EAT+ !
FOOD4 ,I _H N"E ACTU,Y MET ! BOY1 ?\< ,I
?"\ ,I CD SEE HM EASILY 9 8 "M1 ^: SAN-
GU9;Y & RESOLVE ,I ADMIR$ )\T B.D4 ,I
PICTUR$ HM ) H] FAIR COLOR+ & GI4Y SPRAY
( FRECKLES1 &! SAME SEA-BLUE EYES1 & !N1
TOO1 POSSESS$ (! ODD CALM T V "Y *N C
"S"TS H1 EV5 :5 !Y "U/& T D>K FATES MAY
2 NE>4                               #AH
  ,EV5TU,Y "S CU/OM]S CAME IN1 & ,I URG$
,MRS4 ,HICKEY 6ATT5D 6!M1 :ILE ,I %D 2
GETT+ ON HOME4 ,B 2F ,I CD L1VE ! /ORE
%E _H -E OV] 6SEE ME \4
  8,WD Y L 6-E SEE HM "S"T80 %E ASK$ ME4
8,WE TAKE %IFTS1 S Y WDN'T H 6WORRY AB
,JAMES1 IF Y CAME :5 ,I 0 "!4 ,I CD CALL
Y F ! ROOM40
  8,I'D 2 V HAPPY 6MEET HM10 ,I SD4
8,ANY"T Y WI% 6CALL ME40
  ,MRS4 ,HICKEY SEEM$ PL1S$1 & %E /EPP$
\TSIDE4 ,X 0 A SOCIAL CU/OM1 /RANGELY
5\<1 T %E'D PICK$ UP F WAT*+ ME YE>S 2F1
! POLITE DUTY (A HO/ OR PROPRIETOR 9
BI4+ A RESPECT;L GDBYE4 ,X BR"\ A W>M
FEEL+ 6MY *E/ 6H H] -E \ A3OMPANY+ ME4
,B ! CU/OM]S 7 / 9SIDE1 & ,I ASK$ H]
PL1SE 6G BACK & ATT5D 6!M4 ,I V NE>LY
B[$1 Z IF T MI<T 3V9CE H]1 B !N %E DID G
IN1 & ,I'D ALR TURN$ D[N ! /REET :5 %E
CALL$ \ 6ME ONCE M4
  8,I J REMEMB]$10 %E SD1 H] FACE B"R5+
Z %E APPROA*$ ME4 ,%E 0 HOLD+ A DU/Y
BOX1 ! K9D PHOTOGRAPHIC PAP] -ES IN4 8,I
0 CL1N+ \ ! /OREROOM LA/ WEEK1 &     #AI
,I F.D ? 9 AN OLD BRIEFCASE4 ,I'M SORRY1
,I CDN'T HELP B LOOK 9SIDE4 ,"! >E ALL
K9DS ( N1T PICTURES 9 "!40
  ,I CD H>DLY REMEMB] L1V+ ANY?+ P]SONAL
2H 9 ! /ORE4
  8,I NOTIC$ "!'S A "Y WOMAN 9 _M ( !M10
,MRS4 ,HICKEY SD4 8,%E'S V PRETTY4 ,%E'S
9 Q A FEW1 ) Y4 ,IS %E A RELATIVE80
  8,YES10 ,I HE>D MYF REPLY1 A3EPT+ !
BOX F H]4 8,Y M/ 2 TALK+ AB ,SUNNY40
  8,SUNNY8 ,DID Y "N ! /ORE AF H]80
  ,I SD1 8,I SUPPOSE ,I DID40
  8,": IS %E N[80
  8,%E CAME F ,JAPAN10 ,I SD1 8_M YE>S
AGO1 & /AY$ = "S S*OOL+4 ,%E W5T BACK40
  8,WELL1 %E'S C]TA9LY LOVELY4 ,%E M/ 2
A GR[N WOMAN N[40
  8,YES10 ,I SD1 TAK+ MY L1VE4 8,I
HAV5'T SE5 H] 9 Q A L;G "T4 ,B ?ANK Y40
  8,W Y CALL AB \R WALK80
  8,YES40
  8,& ,PATRICK1 TOO80
  8,YES40
  ,2F %E CD SAY ANY M ,I QKLY MADE MY
WAY D[N ,*UR* ,/REET1 FOLL[+ X 6!    #BJ
TRA6IC SQU>E ": X MEETS ,RIV] & !N ,M.T-
VIEW1 : IS ! /REET ,I LIVE ON4 ,Z ,I
CLIMB$ ! G5TLE RISE (! OLD ROAD1 ,I WI%$
T ,I _HN'T SPOK5 9A3URATELY AB ,SUNNY TO
,MRS4 ,HICKEY1 B ! MO;T1 L S _M O!RS1
PASS$ TOO SWIFTLY1 Z ,I DIDN'T FEEL ,I
CD EXPLA9 ?+S )\T FUR!R -PLIC,N & EMB>-
RASS;T4 ,I W5T ! HALF-MILE 6! ROAD'S
CRE/1 ": ! H\SE ,I B"\ NE>LY ?IRTY YE>S
AGO /&S AMID A COPSE ( MATURE ELM & OAK
& MAPLE4 ,9SIDE1 ! H\SE 0 W>M & LI<T$4
,Z USUAL ,I'D LEFT ! LAMPS ON 9 ! HALL &
KIT*51 & ,I TURN$ !M (F 2F GO+ UP/AIRS4
,I (T5 PREP>$ MYF AN E>LY D9N] ( S\P
NOODLES OR A CASS]OLE ( OD5 ) RICE1 B ,I
DECID$ 6G /RAI<T UP 6MY B$ROOM & R1D4 ,X
WASN'T UNTIL ! MI4LE (! EV5+ T ,I /OPP$1
:5 X O3URR$ 6ME T ,I %D AT L1/ H A
SNACK1 S T ,I WDN'T TOSS 9 MY SLEEP OR
WAKE UP FAMI%$4 ,I PUT ON MY ROBE & W5T
\ 6! /AIRS1 B 9/1D ( DESC5D+1 ,I W&]$
D[N ! HALLWAY1 6! F> DOOR1 6! ROOM ":
,SUNNY ONCE LIV$4
  ,= "S MO;TS ,I /OOD 2F ! DOOR4 ,:5 ,I
F9,Y OP5$ X1 ,I 0 SURPRIS$ 0! SU45   #BA
*ILL2 ! H1T+ DUCTS _H L;G BE5 %UT1 & AN
ICY CURL ( AIR LAPP$ PA/ MY B>E FEET4 ,I
REMEMB]$1 !N1 H[ X _H TAK5 L;G] ?AN ,I
EXPECT$ 6CLE> ! ROOM -PLETELY3 X 0
CRAMM$ FULL ( H] FURNI%+S1 E SORT (
BRIC-A-BRAC & NO;N & WALL HANG+4 ,%E _H
LEFT ! H\SE 9 A HURRY4 ,9 ! FOLL[+ WEEKS
,I "W$ ON ! ROOM 9 MY SP>E "T1 9 ! EV5+S
& ON ! WEEK5DS4 ,I REMEMB] PAT*+ & RE-
PA9T+ ! CEIL+ & WALLS1 MAK+ SURE 6FIX
ALL ! M>S 9 ! PLA/]4 ,"! 7 L>G] POCKS1
96: ,I F.D X EASY 5 6SPADE ! FILL]4 ,B X
0 ! SMALL] "OS1 "PICUL>LY ! TACK HOLES1
: SEEM$ 6NUMB] 9 ! HUNDR$S1 T TOOK !
GRTE/ "P ( MY "T4 ,9 ! 5D1 ,I F.D MYF
DO+ ! "W 9 HALF-FOOT SQU>ES1 PRESS+ 9 !
PA/E )! TIP (A F+]1 SMOO?+ X \1 & X
WASN'T UNTIL M* LAT]1 Z ,I'D DRIFT 96!
ROOM 69SPECT = MISS$ HOLES1 RUNN+ MY H&
OV] ! SURFACES1 T ! :OLE PROJECT 0 Q
SATISFACTORILY D"O4



                                     #BB
























                   #B                #BC

  ,MY H\SE ISN'T ! GR&E/ 9 \R T[N1 B X'S
G5],Y "KN T (! HOMES ON ,M.TVIEW1 "O (!
ORIG9AL /REETS 9 ,B$LEY ,RUN1 ! TWO-/ORY
,TUDOR REVIVAL AT NUMB] #EG IS "O (!
SPECIAL PROP]TIES 9 ! >EA4 ,X SEEMS X'S
E O!R WEEK N[ T ,I RCV A C>D OR NOTE F A
R1LTOR1 ASK+ IF ,I MI<T 3SID] PUTT+ X UP
= SALE4 ,! LOCAL "OS1 ( C\RSE1 "K MY
SITU,N1 & Z ,I'M RETIR$ & LIVE AL"O 9 ?
L>GE H\SE1 ) XS IMPRESSIVE FL[] & H]B
G>D51 & FLAG/"O SWIMM+ POOL1 & L1D$
GLASS & WR"\-IRON 3S]VATORY1 !Y >E "R TO
HOPE T ,I MI<T D Z ,MRS4 ,HICKEY _H ?"\
,I'D D"O1 & MOVE 6"O ( ^? NEW DEVELOP;TS
9 A WELCOM+LY W>M PLACE L ,BOCA ,RATON
OR ,SCOTTSDALE4
  8,N[ -E ON1 ,DOC10 ,LIV ,CRAW=D ( ,T[N
,R1LTY SD 6ME ON ! PH"O V E>LY ? MORN+1
8T IMM5SELY B1UTI;L H\SE ( YRS IS AL V
HI<-MA9T5.E4 ,Y DON'T WANT 6BE WORRY+ AB
CLO7$ GUTT]S & F.D,N CRACKS ANYMORE1 D
Y80
  8,I DON'T M9D S M* ACTU,Y10 ,I TOLD
H]4                                  #BD
  8,B H[ >E Y GO+ 6FEEL TW5TY YE>S F
N[80
  ,I REM9D$ H] T ,I WD 2 9 MY N9ETIES BY
!N4
  8,ALL ! M S10 %E ANSW]$ B"RLY4 ,I
?ANK$ H] = H] V OPTIMI/IC WI%ES = MY
H1L?1 & SD ,I WD LET H] "K :5 ,I 0 R1DY4
  8,Y N"E "K UNTIL Y >E1 ,DOC4 ,B "S"TS
X'S TOO LATE40
  8,GD;S1 ,LIV40
  8,J SAY+1 ,DOC4 ,LI/51 ,I'M AB 6MEET
"S BUY]S1 & ,I ?9K !Y'D J LOVE YR H\SE
6D1?4 ,!Y'RE "Y & HI<-P[]$1 & !Y'RE V
DESP]ATE 6F9D A PLACE ON A ,M.TVIEW-TYPE
/REET4 ,!Y'RE ALR TALK+ AN OV]BID1 =! "R
K9D ( PLACE1 : YRS IS 9 SPADES40
  8,B X'S N = SALE1 "!'S NO PRICE--0
  8,I "K T1 ,DOC4 ,I'M J DO+ A DRIVE-BY
) !M1 ! :OLE NEI<BORHOOD1 B :5 ,I SL[
D[N 9 FRONT ( YR PLACE1 C ,I AT L1/ TELL
!M Y'RE 3SID]+80
  8,I DON'T ?9K ? IS ! BE/ "T = ME1 ,LIV
'''40
  8,F9E1 ,DOC1 ?ANKS4 ,GOTTA G40
  ,!N CLICK1 %E'S G"O4 ,B RE,Y1 9    #BE
FACT ,I DON'T M9D H] OPPORTUNISM1 H]
WI%;L PLUCK1 ! WAY H] VOICE POSITIVELY
R+S )! JOY\S VIBRANCY ( -M]CE 7A NOTE ,I
SORELY MISS74 ,9 FACT ,I'VE _H S"EAL M>-
KET APPRAISALS D"O 9 REC5T YE>S1 )! 3S5-
SUS 2+ T MY H\SE HASN'T FALL5 9 PRICE 7Z
"EY?+ ELSE 9 ! C.TY HAS1 ESPECI,Y -M]-
CIAL PROP]TIES L MY =M] /ORE71 B HAS EV5
APPRECIAT$ "S:AT2 X SEEMS T OLD]1 8V9-
TAGE0 HOMES 9 Z PRI/9E 3DI;N Z M9E R>ELY
2COME AVAILA#1 & :5 !Y D "!'S N EV5 "T 5
6/ICK ! SIGN ON ! FRONT LAWN 2F !Y'RE
SOLD4
  ,IF ,I 7 6L1VE ? PLACE1 ": WD ,I G8
,MR4 ,/>K1 :O SEV5 YE>S AGO B"\ ,MURA-
SAN'S ,SMOKE & ,PIPE1 REC5TLY ASK$ :Y ,I
DIDN'T ?9K AB GO+ BACK & LIV+ \ ! RE/ (
MY "DS 9 ,JAPAN4 ,I /OP 9 AT 8 %OP "S
AFNS1 NE> ! 5D ( MY "D4
  8,IMAG9E10 HE SD 6ME1 ALM MUSIC,Y1
WAV+ 8 ,*UR*ILL-L5G? CIG>1 8SP5D+ "O'S
"DS 0A S]5E LAKE "S": NE> ,KYOTO1 WE>+
SILK5 :ITE ROBES & SIPP+ R>E SAKE S]V$
0"K+ MAID5S4 ,I C SEE Y "!1 ,DOC4 ,L A
DR1M ,I C SEE Y40                    #BF
  ,MR4 ,H>RIS1 A RETIR$ 9SUR] :O SEEMS
6PASS MO/ ( 8 WAK+ H\RS 9 ,MURASAN'S1
A4$1 8,I'M DRAWN 6! OLD C.TRY MYF1 ,DOC1
?\< M9E1 ( C\RSE1 IS ,WALES4 ,E YE> ,I
WOND] :E!R ,I %D SELL \ & PILGRIM "!1 TO
CLAIM MY ANCE/RAL S1T40 ,HE TOOK A
L5G?Y1 P5SIVE DRAG F 8 PIPE4 8,B !N1 (
C\RSE1 ,I R1LIZE MY ,MURIEL ALR HAS X40
  8,& 9 A SL+10 ,MR4 ,/>K A4$4 ,!Y BO?
CACKL$ L OLD WOM51 BL[+ SMOKE E : WAY4
  ,I APPRECIAT$ _! 9T]E/1 & :AT ,I TOOK
Z _! FRLY 3C]N1 & ,I BORE ! NO;N ) ME =
"S "DS4 ,"S"TS ,I / ?9K ( ,JAPAN1 ?\< M*
LESS 9 REC5T "TS ?AN 9 MY F/ YE>S 9 ,B$-
LEY ,RUN1 :5 X SEEM$ X 0 E "D ,I WOND]$
H[ L;G ,I CD LA/1 & : MORN+ ,I'D RISE &
"K ,I'D H 6RETURN1 ?\< ( C\RSE 6:AT ,I
CDN'T "K4
  ,! O!R "Q 9 ANY RETIRE;T IS1 :AT WD ,I
D8 ,^! >E ?+S ,LIV ,CRAW=D _C A4RESS
DEEPLY4 ,B EV5 IF %E C F9D ME1 Z %E
SAYS1 A 8PRIME Z]O-C>E 3DO )A #AHJ;DG
VIEW (! OC1N10 H] JOB /OPS "!1 = :ILE ,I
MI<T H A DEC5T PLACE 6LIVE1 ,I'D H TO
FIGURE \ = MYF .H[ 6LIVE "!1 & :Y4   #BG
,&! RETIRE;T LIFE/YLE DOESN'T IMMLY DRAW
ME4 ,I DON'T FI%1 = EXAMPLE1 & ,I DON'T
PLAY BRIDGE4 ,I'M N A COLLECTOR ( FIGU-
R9ES1 OR EXOTIC BIRDS1 OR ANTIQUE TOYS4
,I'M N A 3NOISSEUR ( DR9K4 ,I DON'T RE,Y
D.E1 &! RELAT$ IDEA ( -PANION%IP = "S"O
L ME SEEMS AT ONCE -PLICAT$ & VAGUE4 ,"!
>E LECTURES AT ! JUNIOR COLLEGE1 & R1D+
9 B$1 B MO/ ( :AT ,I -E ACR SEEMS 6SU7E/
T OLD] FOLKS L ME MI<T 2 BETT] (F J
FALL+ ASLEEP ="E4
  ,:AT'S LEFT1 P]H1 IS GOLF1 B ,I'VE
PLAY$ ! GAME NO M ?AN A DOZ5 "TS 9 MY
LIFE1 & !N X 0 ALW )! SAME GR\P (
M$ICAL-SUPPLY :OLESAL]S1 :O = S"EAL YE>S
9 A R[ 9VIT$ ME ON A SPR+ JUNKET 6,MYR-
TLE ,B1*4 ,I D REMEMB] "! 2+ A C]TA9 RE-
LAX,N 6^? TRIPS4 ,WE'D WAKE UP LATE &
/AY ON ! C\RSE UNTIL DUSK1 & !N EAT A
H1VY D9N] AT A RAUC\S L\NGE OR /RIPT1SE
CLUB ": ! O!RS WD DR9K L MADM5 UNTIL !
E>LY H\RS1 :5 ,I'D H 6DRIVE U BACK 6!
HOTEL4 ,& Z M* Z ,I "U/OOD T !Y PROBABLY
LIK$ ME WELL 5 & F.D MY -PANY 7& 3V5I5T
/EW>D%IP ( !M7 PL1S+1 :AT ,I LOOK$   #BH
=W>D 6EA* YE> ) G5U9E FOND;S 0 2+ ) FEL-
L[ BUSI;SM51 & PASS+ ^? EASY1 JOCUL>
H\RS ( CAM>AD]IE 0! POOL OR GRE5SIDE OR
9 A SMOKY B>1 :5 WE SPOKE ( NO?+ PROF.D
OR 3SEQU5TIAL B / SEEM$ 6MAKE ! "T "SH[
WOR?:ILE4
  ,I "S"TS MISS ^? TRIPS1 & O!RS ,I TOOK
REGUL>LY :5 ,I 0 "Y] & M ACTIVELY 9VOLV$
9 ! M SOCIAL ASPECTS (! BUSI;S1 ! ?REE-
"D ,BAHAMA 3F];E CRUISES &! L>GE1 FR5ET-
IC 3V5;NS 9 UNUSUAL CITIES L ,NEW ,OR-
L1NS & ,M9N1POLIS4 ,ALL ^? _M BOI/]\S1
V>I\S FOLKS4 ,I DIDN'T CRAVE _! -PANY Z
M* Z ! OPPORTUN;Y 6WAT* !M 9 _! 5JOY;T &
R"EIE4 ,B ,I SUPPOSE ,I AL TOOK EASY -=T
!N 9 JOK+ & LAU<+ ) PRETTY M* ANYBODY1 &
P SEEM$ 6RESPOND )A SURPRIS+ W>M?1 & ,I
0 (T5 9VIT$ 6LATE-NI<T SUITE "PIES &
NEXT-"D C;Y T\RS ) ? GR\P OR T4
  ,ONCE1 ,I EV5 MET A ,JAPANESE G5TLEMAN
F ! ,SAN ,FRANCISCO ,BAY >EA1 :O [N$ A
/ORE T S.D$ M* L M9E1 & _H OP5$ 9 ! V
SAME YE>4 ,HE 0 ,AM]ICAN-BORN1 8 GR&P>-
5TS AM;G ^? :O _H L;G AGO SETTL$ 9
,HAWAII & !N ,CALI=NIA4 ,I ?9K WE    #BI
BO? B"R5$ ON SI<T+ EA* O!R4 ,& YET "! 0
AN UNEXPECT$ AWKW>D;S4 ,Y WD ?9K WE WD H
PL5TY 64CUSS1 2+ ( L RACE & AGE & O3UPA-
;N1 B \R 3V]S,N 0 O4LY HALT+ & /RA9$4
,"! 0 A V DI6ICULT MO;T1 ON 2+ 9TRODUC$
6EA* O!R1 :5 X 0 UNCLE> :E!R WE WD %AKE
H&S OR B[4 ,NEI ( U WI%$ 6(F5D ! O!R1 &
2+ PE]S1 X 0 ESPECI,Y DI6ICULT = "O MAN
6ASSUME A PO/URE ( NATURAL AU?OR;Y1 OR
ACQUIESC;E4 ,P]H _H WE BE5 AL"O1 & N /&+
9 FRONT (! O!R 3V5;NE]S1 WE MI<T H B[$
OR %AK5 H&S OR D"O BO? )\T A FL9*1 & G"O
ON 6BE FRS4 ,B Z X HAPP5$1 WE EX*ANG$
ONLY ! MILDE/ PL1SANTRIES1 & ,I S5S$ T
HE 0 IMMLY UNSETTL$ 0MY A35T 7: 0 M*
/R;G] TW5TY YE>S AGO ?AN X IS N[71 = HE
SEEM$ 6SP1K ) 9CR1S+ S(T;S1 Z IF 6DIM9I%
8 P]FECT ,AM]ICAN-S.D+ VOICE4 ,I F/ WON-
D]$ IF HE FELT HE WASN'T ,JAPANESE 5 =
ME1 OR :E!R ,I ?"\ MYF N ,AM]ICAN 5 =
HM4 ,B LAT] ON1 AF RETURN+ HOME1 ,I ?"\
P]H X 0 T WE FELT DI6]5T F "EY"O 0VIRTUE
( 2+ TGR 7^! TWO ,JAPANESE 9 A 3V5;N
CR[D71 & T X 0 ? FACT T MADE U R1LIZE1
=A MO;T1 \R SU45 & UNMISTAKA# S5SE   #CJ
( N FITT+ IN4
  ,I REMEMB] ALL ? N[ 2C X SEEMS 6ME !
TRU] FEEL+ (! "T 0 "SH[ T UNCOM=TA# "O1
R ?AN ! COLLEGIAL ATMOSPH]E (! 3V5;N OR
( MY GOLF+ TRIPS1 & X MAKES ME N[ 3SID]
MY _M GD YE>S "H 9 ,B$LEY ,RUN 9 A
SLI<TLY DI6]5T LI<T4 ,= :AT ,I DIDN'T
LET ,LIV ,CRAW=D "K ? MORN+ IS T ,I'M
PROBABLY NE>] 6ACTU,Y SELL+ MY H\SE ?AN
,I'VE "E BE5 2F4 ,I "K ,I TOLD ,MRS4
,HICKEY O!RWISE 9 ! /ORE LA/ WEEK1 B M &
M ! "T FEELS "R 6ME1 N S M* F A F9ANCIAL
VIEWPO9T B F A S5SE ( "O'S "T 9 A PLACE1
& T "T 2+ CLOSE 6D"O4 ,X'S N T ,I FEEL
,I'VE US$ UP ? H\SE1 ? T[N1 ? "P (! _W1
T ,I'VE GOTT5 ALL ,I'M GO+ 6GET1 B M T ?
FEEL+ ,I'VE -E 6EXPECT1 ? HAPPY BL5D (
FAMILI>;Y & HOMEY;S & :AT M/ 2 2L;G+1 IS
/RANGELY 2G9N+ 64TURB ME4
  ,:AT US$ 63C]N ME GRTLY AB L1V+ 0 !
AWKW>D IMPRES.N Y C "S"TS H1 SAY :5 Y
F9D YRF ON AN "EY"D /REET1 OR 9 A /ORE1
OR 9 :AT WD O!RWISE 2 A %IMM]+1 V]DANT
P>K1 & Y ?9K N AB ! SURR.D+S B AB YRF1 &
H[ P W /OP & ?9K 7MO/ "TS1 UNNO-     #CA
TICEABLY7 AB :O Y MAY BE1 H[ Y FIT 96!
PICTURE1 :AT ? MAY SAY1 & S ON & S =?4
,I'VE N"E RE,Y LIK$ ? K9D ( ?9K+1 EI _!S
OR M9E1 & H ALW WI%$ 6BE 9 A SITU,N L !
"O ,I H /1DILY FA%ION$ = MYF 9 ? T[N1
":1 IF ,I DON'T H _M 9TIMATES OR CLOSE
FRS1 ,I'M AT L1/ A QUANT;Y "KN1 "SBODY
L;G AGO C.T$4 ,MO/ "EY"O 9 ,B$LEY ,RUN
"KS ME1 ?\< AT ! SAME "T ,I'VE ACTU,Y -E
6DEVELOP AN UNEXPECT$ 3DI;N ( TRANSP>;E
"H1 A WALK+ CASE ( O!RS' C]TITUDE1 T TO
SPY ME ON MY WAY D[N ,*UR* ,/REET IS
M]ELY NOT+ ! EXPRES.N (A NATURAL LAW4
.,DOC .,HATA1 !Y C SAY ) SURETY1 .HE
.-ES .>.D4
  ,& YET "! IS A 4COMFIT+ ASPECT 6ALL ?
RAPPORT4 ,I DON'T "K H[ OR :5 X HAPP5$1
OR IF X IS TRULY HAPP5+ N[1 B ,I'M SURE
"S?+ IS AFOOT1 = ,I KEEP /EPP+ \TSIDE MY
H\SE1 WALK+ XS GR.DS1 PE]+ AT ! HI<LY
ANGL$ %APE ( XS RO(S1 ! W>M COLOR & "T-
TEXTUR$ FACADE1 LOOK+ AT X Z ?\< ,I 7
DO+ S =! V F/ "T1 :5 ,I WOND]$ IF ,I WD
"E 9 MY LIFE CALL S* A H\SE MY HOME4
  ,S AF SP1K+ ) ,LIV ,CRAW=D1 ,I     #CB
*ANG$ 96MY TRUNKS & WALK$ \ ! ,FR5*
DOORS (! KIT*5 & PA/ ! G>D5S 6! POOL4 ,I
SWIM EA* MORN+1 DO+ TW5TY-FIVE /1DY
L5G?S1 RA9 OR %9E4 ,X IS ,JULY B HAS BE5
UNS1SONABLY COOL & DRY1 &) ALL ! %ADE F
! T[]+ TREES1 ! WAT] IS BRAC+ 9 XS *ILL1
: IS 9 FACT H[ ,I PREF] X4
  ,S N[ ,I 2G9 MY SWIM ! WAY ,I ALW D1
TAK+ A %ALL[ DIVE F ! F> SIDE & GLID+
"UWAT] = M* (! F/ L5G?4 ,X'S ALW A SLI<T
%OCK 6! SY/EM1 & "!'S ! B>E SECOND :5
,I'M SURE MY HE>T HAS /OPP$1 SKIPP$ 9 XS
"T1 ?\< ,I'LL KEEP GO+ & G5TLY RISE1 TO
2G9 MY CRAWL4 ,B ? MORN+1 2N ! SURFACE (
! LI<T.S WAT] 7! POOL BOTTOM & SIDES 7
PA9T$ A D>K BATTLE%IP GRAY1 6MAT* ! /"O
SURR.D71 ,I SU45LY H ! ?"\ T ,I'M N
SWIMM+ 9 MY [N POOL AT ALL1 B AM "SPLACE
ELSE1 9 A NEI<BOR+ POOL OR EV5 A POND1 &
MY *E/ GIVES A BUCKLE & ,I ACTU,Y SWALL[
"S WAT]4 ,GASP+1 ,I PEEL (F MY GO7LES1 &
!Y LAZILY DRIFT "S": 6! BOTTOM4 ,:5 MY
EYES CLE>1 ( C\RSE1 ,I AM NO": ELSE B
HOME4
  ,I DECIDE N 6SWIM ANYMORE1 & ,I    #CC
PULL MY ROBE TI<T >.D ME & /EP QKLY IN-
SIDE4 ,I'M %IV]+1 ALM UNCONTROLLABLY1 &
9/1D ( TAK+ A W>M+ %[]1 ,I H ! ODD -PUL-
.N 6/>T A LOG FIRE 9 ! FAMILY ROOM HE>?4
,SITT+ CR\*$ 2F X1 >RANG+ ! K9DL+1 ,I
C'T HELP B REMEMB] A /ORY ,I ONCE R1D 9
AN OLD BOOK ( ,SUNNY'S1 "O %E M/ H US$ 9
A HI<-S*OOL CLASS4 ,I F.D X AM;G O!RS ON
! %ELVES 9 ! FAMILY ROOM1 & X _H ALL
SORTS ( 9T]E/+ M>K+S & NOTES 9 ! M>G9S4
,! /ORY1 : %E _H DOG-E>$1 IS AB A MAN :O
DECIDES "O "D 6SWIM 9 O!R P'S POOLS1 "O
AF ANO!R 9 8 NEI<BORHOOD & T[N1 :1 Z DE-
SCRIB$1 SEEMS V M* L ,B$LEY ,RUN4 ,!
MAN1 ! /ORY GOES1 HAS RESOLV$ TO 8SWIM
ACR ! C.TRY10 & AF "S TRAVAIL ( WALK+ 9
ON 8 NEI<BORS & SCAL+ PROP]TY WALLS &
CROSS+ BUSY P>KWAYS1 HE F9,Y MAKES X
BACK 6HIS [N HOME1 :1 6HIS DESP]ATE 3FU-
.N1 HE F9DS LOCK$ UP & DES]T$4
  ,I'M N SURE IF ,I'VE "E APPRECIAT$
FULLY ! MORAL OR DEEP] M1N+S (! /ORY1 :
X NO D\BT HAS1 B N"E!.S X MAKES ME ?9K (
_M NO;NS1 ! F/ 2+ T ! MAN HAS 2GUN1 :E!R
"K+ X OR N1 A SORT ( QUE/ OR J\R-    #CD
NEY1 & ULTIMATELY F9DS HMF1 IF 9 _SUAL
4ILLU.N4 ,?1 NATUR,Y1 SEEMS R1SONA#4
,ANO!R ?"\ IS T HE HAS SIMPLY G"O MAD1
OR P]H SU6]S A P]5NIAL /ATE ( UPP]-
MI4LE-CLASS DRUNK5;S1 & 8 PROJECT IS "O
( ESCAPE1 6FREE HMF F ! R1LITIES ( 8
FALL5 /,N4 ,OR T 7& ? ,I DRAW MO/LY F !
SIDE NOTES1 SCRIB#D 9 S"EAL H&S7 HE IS
MAK+ FIT;L PASSAGE1 9 A METAPHORICAL
S5SE1 "? ! EPIC 8S1SONS0 ( LIFE4
  ,SITT+ 2F ! FIRE1 ,I WOND]1 TOO1 :E!R
"S"O WAT*+ ME SWIM EA* MORN+ 9 ! PE].S
QUIET (! POOL1 /1DILY PULL+ MY WAY BACK
& =?1 WD ?9K ,I 0 5T]+ A SIGNIFICANT PE-
RIOD 9 LIFE1 A "T 9 : ALL ,I WD D 0 SWIM
E "D 9 MY BACKY>D1 A LOVELY PLACE ( MY
[N MAK+4 ,& :ILE ? MAY SEEM A ROMANTIC1
EV5 TRIUMPHANT PICTURE ( NE>-5D1 :AT WE
MI<T WELL HOPE 6A*IEVE AT ! />T ( \R
ADULT LIVES1 X /RIKES ME T X CD 2 A SC5E
( "S SAD;S Z WELL1 (A B1UTY EMPTY &
COLD4 ,X IS AN UNN]V+ ?+1 B :5 ,I 0 "U-
N1? ! WAT]1 GLID+ 9 T BLACK *ILL1 MY
M9D'S EYE SU45LY SEEM$ 6C>RY 6A
P]SPECTIVE HI< ABV1 F ": ,I CD SEE   #CE
! EXACT+1 TELL+ %APES ( ALL3 ! S"PAN
SURFACES (! POOL DECK1 ! TI<T-CLIPP$
MANICURES (! G>D51 ! V5]A# H\SE & TREES1
! FET*+1 N>R[ /REET4 ,& :AT CAU<T ME1
TOO1 0 T ,I KNEW "! 0 AL A MAN 9 T WAT]1
AMID/ X ALL1 A SECRET SWIMM] :O1 IF HE
CD *OOSE1 MI<T ALW G SIL5T & UNSE54
  ,( C\RSE1 :5 Y R1D "S?+ L A /ORY1 Y C
F9D YRF ?9K+ TOO L;G AB ALL SORTS (
ID1S1 : USU,Y -PLICATE R ?AN SETTLE !
"QS AT H&4 ,& :ILE WE "U/& T >T & LIT]A-
TURE M1N 6D ? 6U1 IS "! N A S]I\S1 ?9K+
P]SON :O "S"TS WI%ES ! "QS WD 2 ANSW]$
DIRECTLY 0A R1D+1 ) CL>;Y & RESOLVE1 S T
HE MI<T MOVE /1DILY ONW>D1 6BE FUR!R EN-
LI<T5$1 IMPROV$8
  ,! FIRE SPUTT]S & NE$S QK FUEL1 & S ,I
DECIDE 6TAKE ! OPPORTUN;Y 6BURN !
DECADES-OLD FILES & PAP]S & O!R EXPIR$ &
USE.S DOCU;TS PACK$ 9 ! OAK DRAW] UNITS
T L9E "O WALL (! FAMILY ROOM4 ,I'VE BE5
SECRETLY EAG] 6GET RID ( S* /UFF Z C.EL$
*ECKS & MORTGAGE & BANK /ATE;TS1 & ,I'M
P]V]SELY PL1S$ 6F9D T ,I'VE KEPT X ALL S
ORD]LY1 : MAKES ! 4POSAL "SH[        #CF
WORRY-FREE & SIMPLE4 ,I HAV5'T YET *ANG$
96REGUL> CLO!S1 & ?\< MY ROBE IS DAMP 9
! S1T F MY SWIM TRUNKS1 ,I NO L;G] FEEL
*ILL$ 9 ! ROOM4 ,SOON 5 ! FIRE IS BURN+
FI]CELY )! %1VES ( PAP]S1 Z TOO M* GOES
9 AT ONCE1 ! FLAMES NE>LY DY+ \ F ! S"M-
+2 B !N 9 A -BU/IVE RU% !Y 2G9 L1P+ UP &
\1 6LICK ! "USIDE (! M># MANTEL4 ,I'M
O4LY UNCONC]N$4 ,"! IS A PUR;Y 9 ! />TL+
H1T1 XS CRAVE & 9T5T1 & ,I DON'T /OP
FE$+ 9 PAP]S UNTIL ,I -E 6! FOLD]S (!
MO/ CURR5T DOCU;TS1 : ,I LUCKILY NOTICE
2F MISTAK5LY TOSS+ !M IN4 ,I SET !M D[N
ON ! C>PET & PULL ! PROTECTIVE SCRE5 2F
! FIRE1 & ,I G 96! KIT*51 ": MY BR1KFA/
IS WAIT+4
  ,I AL NE>LY ?R[ "S OLD PHOTOGRAPHS 96!
FLAMES1 ?\< N A3ID5T,Y4 ,? IS ALW A DIF-
FICULT ?+ 6D1 EV5 ) PICTURES ( NO GRT
3SEQU;E1 : ^! >E4 ,"! >E SCORES ( !M1 9
RU2]-B&$ %OE BOXES1 TUCK$ AT ! BACKS (!
FILE DRAW]S--9SUR.E %OTS (! /ORE & XS
/OCK & EQUIP;T1 & !N _M O!RS (! H\SE &
XS FURNI%+S1 ! PROJECTS ( /1DY 3/RUC;N (
! PATIO & POOL1 ! HOT-H\SE1 ! RE-    #CG
RO(+ (! G>AGE1 & !N ! V>I\S C>S & MAJOR
TOOLS & EQUIP;T ,I'VE [N$ "? ! YE>S4 ,I
SUPPOSE X IS ! CATALOG ( MY LIFE1 MY BE-
+'S FILL ( GD =TUNE1 ?\< :AT AN E/ATE
APPRAIS] MI<T A3ID5T,Y F9D & ?9K NO?+ (
4C>D+4
  ,I 0 N"E "O 6KEEP ALBUMS & FRAM$ P]-
SONAL PICTURES1 & X 0 ONLY DUR+ ! "T
,SUNNY LIV$ ) ME T ,I US$ MY CAM]A = ^?
R1SONS4 ,I 2LIEVE T AM;G ! PHOTOGRAPHS
,I RCVD F ,MRS4 ,HICKEY1 "!'S "O ( ,SUN-
NY AT ! PIANO1 F H] F/ YE> ) ME1 :5 %E
NE$$ A TELEPH"O BOOK ATOP ! B5* 6SIT 9 !
"R POSI;N4 ,/RANGELY 5\<1 "! ISN'T1 AM;G
! BOXES ,I F.D1 A PICTURE (! PIANO XF1 A
,BALDW9 BABY GR&4 ,! BOX T ,MRS4 ,HICKEY
GAVE ME ,I /[$ UP/AIRS1 N 9 MY ROOM B 9
! HALL TA# DRAW]1 J \TSIDE ! EMPTY B$-
ROOM4 ,I HAV5'T LOOK$ AT ! PHOTOGRAPHS
YET1 B ,I C 3JURE "S ( !M F MY MEMORY1
IMAGES (! TWO ( U1 "H & "!1 POS+ AMID !
*AOS ( R5OV,NS4
  ,SUNNY1 ,I'M AFRAID1 ALW HAT$ ! H\SE4
,9 ^? "DS ! PLACE WASN'T Z -POS$ Z X IS
N[1 & X SEEM$ E DOOR & MOLD+ &       #CH
CAB9ET NE$$ REPLAC+1 ! LI<TS FLICK]+ &
BURN+ BR[N1 ! PLUMB+ FIT;L & SPA/IC1 !
OLD /RUCTURE NO?+ M ?AN T1 J SIMPLY OLD1
& SLID+ SWIFTLY 96A F9AL1 4HONORA# /ATE4
,I _H B"\ X ON ! 3FID;E (! AG5T 7N ,LIV
,CRAW=D1 B "S"O V M* L H]71 :O ASSUR$ ME
X 0 A SOLID 9VE/;T1 & AL 2C MY /ORE 0 J
2G9N+ 6D A /1DY BUSI;S1 ! NE>BY C.TY
HOSPITAL HAV+ F9,Y OP5$1 &! L& CLE>$ &
F.D,N LAID =! L>GE RETIRE;T HOME ON
,QUAK]'S ,RIDGE4 ,I PD 4#DE1JJJ = X1 P]H
TOO M* !N4 ,9SIDE1 ! H\SE 0 D>K & SPA-
CI\S & POORLY H1T$1 J ! TYPE ( CR1KY1
MURMUR+ /RUCTURE !Y MAKE UP AT AMUSE;T
P>KS 6AMUSE & F"R5 GUE/S4
  ,I REMEMB] F/ WALK+ ,SUNNY 96! FOY]1 )
ALL T D>K WOOD PANEL+ T 0 / UP ON !
WALLS & CEIL+1 SMELL+ F ! 9SIDE ( ROT &
DU/1 ! LI<TS FAD+ N[ & !N1 & %E ACTU,Y
2GAN 6TITT] & CRY4 ,I DIDN'T "K :AT 6D =
H]1 Z %E SEEM$ N 6WANT ME 6T\* H]1 &= "S
MO;TS ,I /OOD A"P F H] :ILE %E WEPT1 ?
%IV]+ LL GIRL ( SEV54 ,%E _H LE>N$ "S
,5GLI% AT ! ORPHANAGE1 S ,I ASK$ H] N TO
WORRY OR 2 AFRAID1 T ,I WD D MY      #CI
BE/ 6MAKE A PL1SANT HOME1 & T %E %D 2
HAPPY 6BE 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 & H A "F N[
& MAYBE A "M "S"D SOON4 ,%E KEPT CRY+ B
%E LOOK$ AT ME & ,I SAW H] =! F/ "T1 !
HELP.S BLACK ( H] EYES1 & ,I CD D LL
ELSE B B5D D[N & HOLD H] UNTIL %E /OPP$4
  ,& S AF H] >RIVAL1 X SEEM$ T MY E SP>E
MO;T AWAY F ! /ORE 0 DEVOT$ 6FIX+ !
H\SE1 AT F/ ATTEMPT+ ! R5OV,NS MYF1 & !N
CALL+ 9 TRADESM51 & F9,Y1 AF 4APPO9T;TS
) SL[1 %O4Y "W &! HI< EXP5SE1 AG TAK+ ON
! PROJECTS SOLO4 ,& "! 7 _M PROJECTS1
TOO NUM]\S 6REMEMB]1 B "O T /&S \ IS !
SMALLE/ ( !M1 ! "T ,I _H 6*ANGE ! MIRROR
& VAN;Y 9 H] BA?ROOM UP/AIRS4
  ,I 0 CL1N+ ! H\SE Z ALW T ,SUN"D MORN-
+1 VACUUM+ & DU/+ & 49FECT+ ! KIT*5 &
BA?ROOMS4 ,SUNNY 0 NE>LY T5 YE>S OLD1 &
?\< %E 0 M ?AN CAPA# ( HELP+1 ,I DIDN'T
?9K X 0 "R 6H H] D S* ?+S4 ,! H\SE 0 / A
T]RI# MESS1 & 2C ,I FELT "! 0 S M* IM-
PROV+ 6D1 X 0 CLE> ,I %DN'T 9CLUDE MY
DAU<T] 9 ! MUNDANE DRUDG]IES4 ,MY WI%1 Z
,I _H ALW EXPLA9$ 6H]1 0 T %E /UDY H>D &
PRACTICE H] PIANO & R1D Z _M BOOKS   #DJ
Z %E CD BE>1 &( C\RSE1 :5 "! 0 FREE "T1
PLAY ) H] FRS F S*OOL4 ,A *'S "DS >E TOO
%ORT1 & MY S5SE !N 0 T ,I %D LET H] FO-
CUS ON ACTIVITIES T WD MO/ DIRECTLY B5E-
FIT H]4
  ,& S1 2SS ! MAJOR ONGO+ R5OV,NS1 ,I
TOOK UP G5]AL MA9T5.E (! H\SE )! USUAL
C>E & ?OR\<;S1 B Z X HAPP5$ E WEEK "S?+
SEEM$ 6/ALL MY EF=TS4 ,"EY?+ WD G SMOO?-
LY UNTIL A CAB9ET DOOR WDN'T CAT*1 OR A
H+E 2GAN 6SQU1K1 OR A DRA9 0 TOO SL[1 &
!N A VISE-L TI<T;S CAME OV] ME4 ,T "T 9
,SUNNY'S BA?ROOM1 TRY+ 6RUB \ A P]SI/5T
CL\DY /A9 9 ! VAN;Y1 ,I "SH[ CRACK$ !
MIRROR1 & MY F+]S 2GAN BLE$+ F ! $GES (!
SPID]Y GLASS4 ,I M/ H KEPT RU2+ & BLOT-
T+1 = X 0 ONLY "S MO;TS LAT] T ,I R1LIZ$
,SUNNY 0 WAT*+ F ! DOORWAY1 H] SPL9T]$
REFLEC;N LOOK+ UP AT ME4
  ,H] R.D FACE1 PRETTY & D>K 9 -PLEXION1
0 S]5E & QUIET4
  8,H Y ALR F9I%$ PRACTIC+ YR ,*OP980 ,I
ASK$ H]4
  8,YES40
  8,I CDN'T HE> Y4 ,:AT 7 Y PLAY-    #DA
+80
  8,NOCTURNES10 %E SD1 />+ AT MY H&4 8,!
"OS Y L4 ,F ,OPUS ,N9E & ,?IRTY-TWO40
  8,I M/ H BE5 VACUUM+10 ,I SD1 WRAPP+ A
RAG AB MY F+]S4 8,WD Y PLAY "S ( !M AG80
  8,OKAY4 ,B C ,I HELP Y N[80
  8,NO1 DE>10 ,I SD 6H]1 TRY+ 6/AY !
?RO2+ 9 MY H&1 MY >M4 8,:Y DON'T Y PLAY
"S M8 ,YR T1*] WI%ES T Y PRACTICE M ?AN
Y D4 ,Y M/ PU% YRF4 ,X MAY 2 DI6ICULT =
Y 6SEE1 B EV5 GRT TAL5T IS EASILY WA/$40
  8,YES40
  8,SUNNY80
  8,YES10 %E SD1 FOLD+ ! LACY HEM ( H]
GRE5 DRESS = ,SUN"D S*OOL1 ": ,I WD TAKE
H] 9 ! AFN4
  8,PL1SE L1VE ! LIV+ ROOM DOORS OP51 S
! MUSIC C TRAVEL4 ,&1 ,SUNNY80
  8,YES40
  8,Y %D D :AT WE TALK$ AB LA/ WEEK4 ,AB
A4RESS+ ME40
  8,YES1 .,POPPA10 %E SD1 SAY+ ! ^W S(T-
LY B CLE>LY4
  ,%E W5T D[N/AIRS & ,I /OOD 2F ! BROK5
MIRROR1 WAIT+ =! F/ NOTES 6RISE UP   #DB
! /AIRS4 ,%E 2GAN PLAY+ ,OPUS #CB1 #A1 A
PIECE %E 0 PREP>+ = AN UPCOM+ RECITAL1 &
"O ,I ESPECI,Y LIK$4 ,! -POSI;N CALM$
ME4 ,ASIDE F ! LYRICAL1 IMPAS.N$ MUS+S1
"! >E UNLIKELY PAUSES 9 ! PIECE1 NE>-
SIL;ES T MAKE X SEEM Z IF ! P]=M] HAS
SU45LY DECID$ 6C1SE1 _C G ON1 EV5 HAS
4APPE>$4 ,^! SIL;ES >E RE,Y Q MAGICAL &
HAUNT+4 ,& J AT ! MO;T X SEEMS ! PIANI/
HAS /OPP$1 ! LOVELY NOTES RESUME4
  ,Z ,I LI/5$1 ,SUNNY PLAY$ B1UTI;LLY1 )
A /YLE & PRES5T,N M* 2Y H] YE>S4 ,%E 0 Z
TE*NIC,Y ADV.ED Z O!R GIFT$ *N1 B %E AL
SEEM$ 6H A DEEP "U/&+ (A GIV5 PIECE (
MUSIC1 H] PLAY+ RI* ) AN >RE/+1 MATURE
FEEL+4 ,& YET 9 ! 5D1 %E N"E ATTA9$ !
VIRTUOS;Y ! BE/ "Y P]=M]S M/ H 9 ORD] TO
2 PROMOT$ 6! NEXT RANKS4 ,9 -PETI;NS
,SUNNY 0 MO/LY MAGNIFIC5T1 B X SEEM$ T
"! 7 ALW A FEW DI6ICULT & EV5 /RANGELY
BL"U+ MO;TS 9 H] P]=M.ES1 P]PLEX+ PAS-
SAGES M>R+ :AT 0 O!RWISE :OLESALE SURETY
& BRILLI.E4 ,X 0 P]FEC;N--OR EV5 NE>-
P]FEC;N--T "SH[ ELUD$ H]1 & Z %E GREW
UP1 ! NO;N ( ATTEMPT+ X SEEM$ TO     #DC
FALL F>!R & F>!R F H] DESIRE4 ,E>LY 9
HI< S*OOL %E C1S$ PRACTIC+ S]I\SLY1 &
EV5TU,Y %E DROPP$ PLAY+ ALT4
  ,WE _H _M >GU;TS & BAD FEEL+S OV] H]
QUITT+1 &=A L;G "T DUR+ T P]IOD ! TWO (
U H>DLY AC"KL$G$ EA* O!R 9 ! H\SE4 ,%E 0
OLD 5 !N 6MOVE AB Z %E PL1S$1 & H] FRS )
C>S WD (T5 PICK H] UP 9 ! MORN+S 2F
S*OOL1 & N DROP H] (F UNTIL LATE 9 !
EV5+1 T5 OR ELEV5 AT NI<T4 ,I'D HE> ! C>
ROLL UP ! COB#/"O DRIVE1 ! SWEEP ( XS
LI<TS 9 MY W9D[1 ! SLAM (! PASS5G] DOOR1
H] RE/.S KEYS1 ! LOCK1 ! QK %U6LE T
TRAIL$ /RAI<T 6H] ROOM4 ,& !N ! QUIET
AG4 ,? W5T ON1 ,I'M AFRAID1 = _M MON?S4
,9 ! MORN+S %E SEEM$ 6WAIT UNTIL ,I _H
2GUN MY SWIM 6-E D[N/AIRS1 :5 %E WD L1VE
! H\SE & WALK D[N ! BLOCK 6AWAIT H]
RIDES4
  ,P]H ,I GREW TOO A3U/OM$ 6\R 4T.E4
,9ITI,Y ,I _H TRI$ 6L1VE 9DIC,NS T ,I 0
UNHAPPY ) \R REL,N%IP1 PUTT+ \ A B[L &
SPOON &A BOX ( C]1L = H]1 A GLASS (
JUICE1 A S(T-BOIL$ EGG1 B EA* MORN+ :5
,I CAME 9 F MY SWIM ! SETT+ 0 J Z    #DD
,I _H LEFT X1 UNMOV$1 UNT\*$4 ,I KNEW
%E'D SE5 X4 ,I _H WAT*$ H] ONCE F !
POOL1 MY GO7L$ EYES SKIMM+ AL;G ! SUR-
FACE (! WAT]2 %E /OOD />+ AT ! PLACE AT
! TA#1 Z IF X 7 "S K9D ( MUSEUM 4PLAY1 N
6BE 4TURB$1 & !N %E TURN$ AWAY4 ,B ,I
3T9U$ EA* MORN+1 & EV5TU,Y ,I 2GAN SITT+
D[N 6EAT ! BR1KFA/ MYF1 ) M A TA/E (
SORR[ ?AN SPITE4 ,X WASN'T L;G 2F ,I
MO/LY =GOT AB ,SUNNY REFUS+ MY (F]+S1 &
X 2CAME SIMPLY HABIT1 "P ( MY WAK+ RITU-
AL T ,I / D N[1 )\T FAIL4
  ,B !N "EY?+ EV5TU,Y %IFTS1 A3OMMO-
DATES4 ,WE 2GAN -MUNICAT+ AG AT "S PO9T1
= NO OBVI\S R1SONS4 ,? WD PROVE A %ORT
"T 2F %E LEFT ! H\SE = GD4 ,"! 0 LL
W>M?1 ,I "K1 B AT L1/ %E 0 HE>+ ME1
MEET+ MY EYES4 ,& "! 0 TALK+1 :5 X SUIT$
U4 ,"O "D ,I W5T \ 6SKIM L1VES & TWIGS F
! POOL1 ": %E 0 SUNBA?+1 & %E ASK$ IF ,I
0 GO+ 6SELL ! PIANO4
  8,! PIANO80 ,I REP1T$1 SURPRIS$ 0! NO-
;N4 8,IS "! A R1SON :Y ,I %D8 ,I DON'T
"U/&4 ,2SS1 Y MI<T WANT 62G9 PLAY+ AG
"S"D40                               #DE
  ,%E DIDN'T ANSW]1 TURN+ OV] ONTO H]
BACK4 ,%E _H ON WRAP->.D SUNGLASSES1 & 0
LY+ 9 ! RECL9] 9 ! FULL SUN4 ,%E _H J
TURN$ SEV5TE5 T ,JUNE & 9 ! FALL WD />T
H] F9AL YE> AT ,B$LEY ,RUN ,HI< ,S*OOL4
,I ?"\ %E 0 SP5D+ TOO M* "T GO+ 6! S5-
IORS' PO/-GRADU,N "PIES1 /AY+ \ MO/ (!
NI<T & !N SLEEP+ LATE1 ONLY -+ \ ( H]
ROOM 6LIE 9 ! SUN4 ,I _H (T5 ASK$ H] IF
%E WD TAKE BETT] C>E ) H] SK91 HAV+ SE5
C]TA9 PATI5TS -E 96! /ORE SU6]+ F MELA-
NOMA1 B 9 ^? "DS X 0 DESIRA# 6BE TANN$ Z
D>K Z "O CD GET1 & ,SUNNY 0 "O :O N"E _H
TR\# 9 T REG>D4
  8,X'S /UPID 6H ! PIANO1 :5 NO "O'S "E
GO+ 6PLAY X40
  8,I HOPE T'S N TRUE10 ,I REPLI$4
  8,X IS TRUE10 %E SD T]SELY1 SL++ H]
=E>M OV] H] FACE4 8,I DON'T L HAV+ 6SEE
X E "D4 ,X SITS "! = NO R1SON40
  8,X DOESN'T BO!R ME4 ,I L X40
  ,%E DIDN'T REPLY IMMLY 6?4 ,I KEPT "W-
+1 GA!R+ ! FLOTSAM )! L;G NET4 ,AF A MO-
;T1 %E SPOKE UP AG4 8,I ?9K Y L :AT X
SAYS40                               #DF
  8,I DON'T Q "U/&10 ,I SD4
  8,( C\RSE Y DON'T10 %E ANSW]$4 8,I'M
SAY+1 Y L HAV+ X >.D = :AT X SAYS4 ,AB
ME4 ,H[ ,I'VE FAIL$40
  8,T'S N 9 ! L1/ TRUE40
  8,SURE X IS10 %E ANSW]$1 ALM A6ABLY4
,B "! 0 R1L DEF1T 9 H] VOICE AL1 A *'S
BROAD WELL+ ( X4
  ,I TOLD H]1 8,IF ANY?+1 ,SUNNY1 ,I %D
SEE X Z A SYMBOL ( MY [N FAILURE1 9 IN-
SPIR+ ! BE/ 9 Y40
  8,T'S "R4 ,I'VE FAIL$ D\BLY4 ,F/ MYF1
& !N MY GD POPPA1 :O'S LOV$ & RESPECT$
0ALL40
  8,Y C ALW TWI/ MY ^WS10 ,I TOLD H]4
8,B Y %DN'T TAKE "EY?+ ,I D S S]I\SLY4
,I'M N DO+ ANY?+ WR;G 0KEEP+ ! PIANO4 ,I
WD L Y 6PLAY AG1 YES1 ? IS TRUE1 B N 2C
( ME4 ,N ANYMORE4 ,I ?9K X WD IMPROVE Y1
L R1D+ A BOOK WD IMPROVE Y4 ,OR EV5 "S?+
Z SIMPLE Z SWIMM+1 : ,I'VE TAK5 6HE>T4
,I DON'T 2LIEVE ,I'VE "E -PELL$ Y 6D
ANY?+4 ,I'VE MADE SU7ES;NS1 ADVIS$ AB
C]TA9 ?+S1 L TAK+ UP ! PIANO1 B ,I TRY
6FOLL[ YR 9T]E/S4 ,?\< Y DON'T       #DG
SEEM 6L _M ?+S ANY L;G]1 : ,I ?9K ,I C
FAIRLY SAY40
  8,Y .ONLY FAIRLY SAY40
  8,PL1SE1 ,SUNNY1 ,I DON'T ALW 5JOY YR
^W GAMES40
  8,SORRY1 ,DOC40
  8,I WI% Y WDN'T CALL ME T40
  8,I WON'T1 !N10 %E SD1 ) "S F9AL;Y4
,!N %E ROSE F ! *AISE4 ,%E WRAPP$ ! T[EL
>.D H] WAI/ & H1D$ =! H\SE1 & ,I DIDN'T
SEE OR HE> H] =! RE/ (! "D4 ,I ?"\ P]H T
? WD 2 ! />T ( ANO!R /RA9$ P]IOD = U1 B
! NEXT "D %E LEFT A NOTE SAY+ %E 0 GO+
6,J"OS ,B1* ) H] FRS1 & WD 2 /AY+ 9 !
C;Y OV] ! WEEK5D1 AT "S"O'S A"P;T4 ,%E
SIGN$ H] "N & A4$ A 8,DON'T WORRY60 ON !
5D4 ,I 0 WORRI$1 ( C\RSE1 & 0 ANNOY$ T
%E _HN'T M5;N$ H] PLANS =! WEEK5D E>LI]1
B "P ( ME 0 AL GRTLY APPRECIATIVE (!
FACT (! NOTE1 PL1S$ 0! SIMPLE ?+ ( X1 :
%E WD H N"E ?"\ 6L1VE ME "S MON?S 2F4

  ,! FIRELOG CRACKS %>PLY 9 ! FAMILY
ROOM1 & ,I WANT 6*ECK X B ! PH"O R+S1 &
X'S ,LIV ,CRAW=D4 ,I C H>DLY HE>     #DH
H]4 ,%E S.DS Z IF %E'S HALF A _W AWAY4
  8,DOC10 %E SAYS1 OBVI\SLY %\T+4 8,HANG
UP6 ,W Y HANG UP8 ,I'LL H 6CALL Y BACK60
  ,9 A FEW SECONDS %E CALLS AG1 & X'S
BETT] ? "T4 8,SORRY1 ,DOC1 B ? C> PH"O
IS J ROTT54 ,OR MAYBE X'S ! C>4 ,I H TO
OP5 ! :OLE DOOR 6HE> ANY?+4 ,Y C IMAG9E
:AT HELL T IS ON ! ,SAW ,MILL ,P>KWAY40
  8,": >E Y N[80
  8,ACTU,Y1 ,DOC1 ,I'M "R \TSIDE YR
PLACE4 ,9 ! /REET4 ,I'M N AL"O4 ,C ,I
PUT Y ON SP1K]80
  8,I DON'T ?9K X'S ! "R "T--0
  8,DON'T WORRY AB X1 ,DOC1 WE'LL /AY "R
"H 9 ! C>1 ,I PROMISE4 ,WE WON'T BUDGE40
,%E S.DS Z IF %E'S TALK+ D[N 96A HOLE1
OR T ,I'M LI/5+ 6H] F "O4 8,MEET ,K>5 &
,DEXT] ,ELL+S4 ,!Y'RE F ! C;Y40
  8,HI1 ,DOCTOR ,HATA60 !Y SAY1 9 ILL
H>MONY4
  8,HELLO40
  ,"!'S A PAUSE4
  8,Y H A B1UTI;L H\SE60 ! WOMAN SAYS4
,H] HUSB& !N A4S1 8,X'S RE,Y /UNN+4 ,A
W9N]40                               #DI
  8,?ANK Y10 ,I SAY1 HOP+ V M* ,LIV
,CRAW=D W -E BACK4 ,%E DOES1 & SU45LY
%E'S CUT ! C\PLE \1 ! S.D -+ %>P] AG1 J
! TWO ( U4
  8,!Y'RE S HAPPY ,I BR"\ !M BY10 ,LIV
,CRAW=D SAYS1 CLE>LY SP1K+ = ALL 9VOLV$1
8EV5 ?\< ,I TOLD !M Y W]5'T R1DY 6SELL
YET4 ,B !Y'LL 2 PATI5T & WAIT = YR DECI-
.N1 H["E L;G X TAKES40
  8,X MAY 2 "S "T10 ,I W>N H]4
  8,HE SAYS Y GUYS W 2 ! F/ 6"K10 %E
SAYS AWAY F ! PH"O4 ,N[ BACK4 8,LI/51
,DOC1 WE'RE GO+ 6! VILLAGE = BRUN*1 AT
,S6UZI'S4 ,IF Y'RE FREE1 Y "\ 6JO9 U4 ,I
"K Y PROBABLY H LOTS ( PLANS =A B"R
,SUN"D MORN+40
  8,I 0 J SWIMM+10 ,I TELL H]1 ?\< N[ MY
SUIT IS NE>LY DRY4 8,& ,I'M EAT+ "R N[40
  8,GO%6 ,Y %D H TOLD ME Y 7 EAT+6 ,I'LL
/OP PE/]+ Y4 ,WE'RE L1V+ "R N[4 ,I'LL
CALL Y TM4 ,OR MAYBE WE C H LUN*4 ,LET'S
D T '''40
  ,B Z %E IS TALK+ ,I S5SE 9 ! AIR A
L1N1 TI<T SC5T1 ALM *EMICAL1 & !N X
TURNS S(T]1 96! FAT ODOR ( SMOKE4    #EJ
,I DON'T SEE ANY1 B :5 ,I CRANE >.D 6!
DOORWAY ,I SEE ! SEC;N ( C>PET 9 FRONT (
! FIRE />T+ 6SMOLD]4 ,! H1VY LOGS 9 !
FIREPLACE >E CRACKL+1 RO>+4 ,LIV ,CRAW=D
IS M5;N+ "TS WE MI<T MEET1 & ,I AM /
LI/5+ 6H]1 ACTU,Y ?9K+ AB :AT %E IS SAY+
AB A LUN*1 EV5 ?\< A BUR/ ( FLAMES IS
IMM95T4
  8,DOC80
  ,& !N X HAPP5S1 ! FIRE1 MIRACUL\SLY
APPE>+ F ! DEEP PILE (! RUG ": X MEETS !
M># FLOOR+4 ,! FLAMES >E N HI<1 OR
FI]CE2 !Y >E N SPR1D+1 &! :OLE SI<T1 "S-
H[1 IS A 4APPO9T;T4 ,X ALL SEEMS P]FECT-
LY 3TROLL$1 ! WAY FIRES BURN 9 ! MOVIES
& AT !ME P>KS1 )A %UT-(F QUAL;Y1 & V
COLOR;L4 ,B :AT "! IS VOLUMES ( IS
SMOKE1 : N[ BELL[S & RISES UP 9 GRT
FLUMES AG/ ! CEIL+4 ,UP/AIRS1 ,I HE> !
PI]C+ R+ (! SMOKE AL>M4
  8,OH1 ,DOC '''0 ,LIV ,CRAW=D SAYS 9 A
S+S;G VOICE4 8,T S.DS L YR SMOKE AL>M40
  8,YES10 ,I SAY1 TRY+ 6F9D ! DOORS \ 6!
PATIO4 8,! FAMILY ROOM IS ON FIRE40
  8,:AT80                            #EA
  8,I BETT] GET (F N[10 ,I TELL H]1 SUD-
D5LY DROPP+ 6MY KNEES4 ,I HE> ,LIV
,CRAW=D'S VOICE1 N[ T9Y & BL1T+1 ! CORD-
.S PH"O "S": 2H ME4 ,! SMELL IS AW;L1 &
,I FEEL Z ?\< ,I AM "UWAT] AG1 MY EYES
CLOS$1 HOLD+ MY BR1?1 GLID+ 9 ! ABYSS1 &
,I TRY MY BE/ 6MOVE1 9 MY [N M1SUR$
CRAWL1 MY ONLY FLY+4
















                                     #EB
























                   #C                #EC

  ,H[ GD X IS 6SEE OLD FRS & COLL1GUES
AG4 ,EV5 "H1 9 ! GRAY-GRE5 CORRIDORS (!
ADULT W>D (! C.TY HOSPITAL1 "O F9DS T
FELL[%IP HAS N BE5 =GOTT5 9 ! %IFT+ RU%
6E6ICI5CY & PR(ITS4 ,"! IS ,3NIE ,KALA-
JIAN1 ! H1D NURSE (! ADULT UNIT1 :O
SEEMS 6D ALL %E C 6MAKE SURE H] "Y /AFF
IS ATT5TIVE 6ME1 & ,RYKA ,MURN[1 ! HOS-
PITAL ADM9I/RATOR1 ^: "F _H T]RI# DISC
PRO#MS & CAME 6MY /ORE Q (T5 2F HE DI$4
,"! IS ,JOHNNY ,B>NES1 ! H1D PH>MACI/ (!
HOSPITAL & AL A RIS+-IN-!-RANKS SEMIPRO-
FES.NAL B[L]1 :O HAS PLAY$ 9 T\RNA;TS
UP/ATE & 9 ,ONT>IO & 9 ! ,MIDWE/4 ,&(
C\RSE1 "! IS ,R5NY ,BAN]JEE1 ! HOSPITAL
PUR*AS+ MANAG]1 :O -ES 0MY ROOM E FEW
H\RS 6SEE IF ,I NE$ ANY?+4 ,HE *A9-
SMOKES1 S HE /OPS 0AF 8 _M BR1KS4 ,HE
APPE>S N[ AT BR1KFA/ "T1 BE>+ A FOIL-
WRAPP$ PLATE 3TA9+ A BACON-&-*EESE OME-
LETTE & TOA/$ BAGEL F ! NEI<BOR+ D9]4
,HE LOOKS SEV]ELY AT MY HOSPITAL TRAY1 :
,I H ONLY 2GUN 6PICK AT4
  8,DON'T "E T\* T /UFF AG10 HE      #ED
SAYS )\T LEV;Y4 8,Y H NO IDEA :AT GOES
ON 9 ,FOOD ,S]VICES40 ,HE PEELS (F !
FOIL & H&S ME A PLA/IC =K4 ,HE PULLS UP
A *AIR NEXT 6! B$ :ILE ,I EAT4 ,I'M N
HUNGRY1 B ,I FEEL ,I'M A# 6EAT 2C HE'S
BR"\ X AL;G1 2C HE IS ) ME4 8,I US$ TO
DATE "S"O :O "W$ "!1 A ,PU]TO ,RICAN
GIRL "ND ,JULIA4 ,%E 0 V SWEET1 B %E
TOLD ME H[ !Y RE,Y OP]ATE4 ,!Y CALL X
,8,JAI ,ALAI10' 2C Y C USE ANY SURFACE =
PREP>+ ! FOOD--! FLOOR1 ! WALLS1 :AT"E4
,= 5T]TA9;T !Y =M HAMBURG] PATTIES 0FL++
GR.D BEEF UP AG/ ! CEIL+1 !N CAT*+ X ON
! WAY D[N40
  ,R5NY ,BAN]JEE1 ?\< ,EA/ ,9DIAN (
BLOOD1 IS :AT ,I (T5 ?9K ( Z A V ,AM]I-
CAN SORT ( MAN--B>REL-*E/$1 TALL1 ) AN
EASY1 DIRECTIVE WAY ( GE/UR+4 ,"! IS !
FEEL+ :5 HE SP1KS 6Y 9 8 LILT+ A35T T
HE'S A4RESS+ O!RS 9 ! ROOM1 :O M/ 2 LIS-
T5+ 9T5TLY4 ,EXCEPT T ,R5NY IS AL PO-
LITE4 8,MY SECRET ^W 6Y1 ,DOC1 IS T Y
GET \ ( ? PLACE Z SOON Z Y >E A#4 ,OR
EV5 2F4 ,I'LL H A ^W )! ATT5D+1 IF Y L4
,BETT] 6BE 9 YR [N HOME1 9 E RE-     #EE
SPECT4 ,I'VE HE>D ! DAMAGE WASN'T V SE-
V]E40
  8,N AT ALL10 ,I ANSW]1 MY LUNGS IT*Y1
H1VY-FEEL+4 8,"S C>PET 0 RU9$1 & CUR-
TA9S4 ,! FAMILY ROOM &! KIT*5 NE$ RE-
PA9T+4 ,"! IS G5]AL CL1N+ 6BE D"O4 ,A
R1LTOR IS TAK+ C>E ( ?+S "R N[40
  8,Y'RE SELL+ ! H\SE80 ,R5NY ,BAN]JEE
ASKS1 A NOTE ( 3C]N 9 8 VOICE4
  8,NO10 ,I SAY4 8,%E'S J LOOK+ AF ! RE-
PAIRS = ME4 ,%E LETS 9 ! "W]S4 ,%E'S BE5
A GRT HELP1 RE,Y40
  8,LIV ,CRAW=D10 ,HE SAYS1 Z IF "! CD 2
NO "O ELSE4
  8,Y "K H]80
  8,WE DAT$10 HE ANSW]S MATT]-(-FACTLY4
8,L;G "T AGO4 ,& WE'LL PROBABLY DATE "O
"D AG4 ,I H A T]RI# W1K;S = T WOMAN4
,X'S Q SPECIFIC4 ,"S?+ 9 ME WANTS 6H&
OV] ALL MY M"OY 6H]4 ,I HATE ! FEEL+1 B
X'S TRUE40
  8,%E HAS A /R;G PRES;E10 ,I SAY1 9 WAY
( SUPPORT4
  8,Y "\ 6BE C>E;L YRF1 ,DOC4 ,I M1N )
YR H\SE1 ( C\RSE4 ,MAKE SURE Y "K    #EF
:AT Y WANT4 ,I "K ,LIV'S ! "O :O PULL$ Y
\4 ,H] PICTURE 0 ALL OV] ! PAP]4 ,B :AT
IF Y DIDN'T LIVE 9 S* A PRETTY H\SE8 ,Y
H 6WOND] '''40
  ,WE H A HE>TY LAU< AT ?1 & ?\< ,I />T
C\<+ & HACK+1 X IS A PL1SANT FEEL+1 6BE
TALK+ ) "S"O L ,R5NY ,BAN]JEE4 ,! CIR-
CUM/.ES >E N ID1L1 YET X SEEMS 6ME T
LIFE'S MO;TS DON'T H 6BE S "R OR N "R
ANYMORE1 S FRAU<T & WEI<T$ ) 8VALUE10 B
J ( !MVS1 :AT !Y >E1 : 9 ? CASE IS MYF &
,R5NY ONCE AG %>+ LI<T "TS & JOKES &
NO;NS4 ,S9CE ,I RETIR$ F ! M$ICAL BUSI-
;S1 NEI ( U HAS CALL$ ! O!R 7HAV+ NO?+
SPECIFIC 6CALL AB71 B N"O ( T SEEMS AWK-
W>D OR /RA9+ N[1 & LY+ "H 9 ? L>GI% ROOM
7C\RTESY ( ,RYKA ,MURN[71 ,I FEEL Z =TU-
NATE Z A MAN MY AGE %D "RLY 2 A# 6FEEL1
:O'S _H SMOKE 9HAL,N &A RAC+ HE>T &A GD
"P ( 8 H\SE BADLY DAMAG$ 0SMOKE4 ,LIV
,CRAW=D DID1 ) DANG] 6H]F1 PULL ME \1
:ILE H] F"R5$ CLI5TS CALL$ EM]G5CY S]V-
ICES ON H] C> PH"O1 & YE/]"D %E S5T A
L>GE B\QUET ( :ITE ROSES1 : SIT ON !
W9D[SILL 9 ! BRASSY AUTUMN LI<T4     #EG
,!Y >E B1UTI;L1 & ,I'M V GRATE;L = !M1
EV5 ?\< 9 ! ,JAPANESE TRADI;N :ITE IS !
SIGNAL COLOR ( D1?4 ,B ,I DON'T M9D EV5
?1 & P]H X'S "R T ,LIV ,CRAW=D %D 2 !
BE>] ( ^! TID+S1 ! M]C5>Y ANGEL :O HAS
SAV$ MY LIFE4
  8,"S"TS ,I ACTU,Y F9D MYF MISS+ T
DAMN$ WOMAN'S -PANY10 ,R5NY ,BAN]JEE
SAYS1 LOOK+ OV] AT ! FL[]S4 8,C Y 2LIEVE
T8 ,& ,I 0 ! "O :O BROKE ?+S (F1 ,DOC4
,I PRACTIC,Y _H 6?R[ H] \ ( MY A"P;T4 ,I
*ANG$ ! LOCKS1 ?\< X DIDN'T D ANY GD40
  8,IS T S80
  8,ABSOLUTELY1 ,DOC4 ,! LOCAL LOCKSMI?S
LOVE H] 2C %E MAKES SURE 6S5D !M BUSI;S4
,%E C GET 96ANY H\SE 9 ! C.TY4 ,TRULY4
,B X DOESN'T MATT] N[4 ,%E DOESN'T BO!R
ME ANYMORE4 ,I N"E F9D H] 9 MY B$ :5 ,I
GET HOME40
  ,I NOD AT ?1 = LACK (A BETT] ANSW]4
,!N WE SIT QUIETLY =A MO;T1 Z ,I F9I% !
BR1KFA/ HE HAS BR"\ ME4 ,"O (! QUALITIES
,I H ALW ADMIR$ IS ,R5NY'S UNFL9*+ =?"R-
;S1 M 9TIMATE ?AN EMO;NAL1 : ! L;G
HIATUS 9 \R FR%IP DOESN'T SEEM 6H    #EH
DULL$4 ,( C\RSE ,I N"E KNEW T HE & ,LIV
,CRAW=D 7 9 A REL,N%IP1 B EV5 J ! IDEA
APP1LS 6ME2 ,I "K !Y SAY OPPOSITES AT-
TRACT1 B 9 ? CASE ,I IMAG9E T _! SIMIL>-
ITIES 9 "* MADE = AN EXCIT+ & VOLATILE
MIX1 R1DY FUEL =! FIRE4
  8,:O 0 T WOMAN Y US$ 6SP5D "T )1
,DOC80 HE SAYS1 WALK+ >.D ! B$1 6! W9D[4
8,I REMEMB] Y /ROLL+ >.D ! VILLAGE )A
F9E LOOK] ON YR >M4 ,AM ,I "R80
  8,I'M N SURE IF Y >E40
  8,-E N[1 ,DOC1 DON'T PLAY CUTE ) ME4
,%E 0 Q TALL1 IF ,I REMEMB] CORRECTLY4
,/ATUESQUE1 9 FACT4 ,:AT 0 H] "N8 ,Y IN-
TRODUC$ U ONCE1 YE>S AGO1 AT A VILLAGE
FE/IVAL4 ,I'M N MISTAK5 AB ?40
  8,A WOMAN80
  8,YES1 YES10 HE SAYS1 MIR?;LLY ANNOY$4
8,A WOMAN40
  8,P]H !N Y >E TALK+ AB ,M>Y ,BURNS40
  8,T'S "R6 ,EXACTLY4 ,! /RIK+ WID[1
,M>Y ,BURNS4 ,:AT "E CAME ( H]8 ,I ?"\ Y
TWO 7 V M* ! ITEM40
  8,WE 7 ALW FRLY40
  ,R5NY LAU<S1 ALM A GU6AW1 Z HE     #EI
PLUCKS A ROSE F ! VASE4 8,FRLY1 Y SAY4
,HMM4 ,I RECALL SEE+ "S COO+ & NUZZL+ 2N
! L9D5 TREES1 :5 !Y TURN$ ON ! /R+ LI<TS
=! EV5+ 9 ! P>K40
  8,COO+ & NUZZL+80
  8,YES10 HE SAYS1 8,I'M SURE T'S :AT X
WAS40
  8,MR4 ,BAN]JEE10 ,I SAY4 8,I'M N SURE
H[ 6RESPOND 6^! T]MS40
  8,NO RESPONSES NE$$4 ,I H AN EXCELL5T
MEMORY4 ,I SEE X N[1 V CLE>LY40 ,HE CA/S
8 GAZE PA/ MY %\LD]1 (F & F>AWAY4 ,8
BR[N FACE HAS ! LU/R\S %E5 ( MELT$ *OCO-
LATE4 8,I SEE ,DOC ,HATA & ,MRS4 ,BURNS1
9 SILH\ETTE1 0! SWAN POND4 ,H[ !Y /ROLL
MAJE/IC,Y4 ,S V V5]A#4 ,& LOOK1 "H !Y >E
AG1 9 A W9D[ BOO? AT ,JOL5E'S ,D9]1
SPOON+ *]RY ICE CR1M F A %>$ DI%4 ,D ,I
SEE !M ONCE M8 ,AH1 AT ! ,JULY ,F\R? PA-
RADE1 /&+ \TSIDE ,SUNNY ,M$ICAL ,SUPPLY1
WAV+ AT ! PROCES.N4 ,>E !Y HOLD+ H&S8 ,I
C'T SEE40
  8,I'M SURE !Y >5'T10 ,I SAY 9 MOCK DE-
F5SE1 AC"KL$G+ ! SC5ES HE IS CALL+ UP4
,R5NY ,BAN]JEE IS REMEMB]+ COR-      #FJ
RECTLY1 ( C\RSE2 ,I 0 ) ,M>Y ,BURNS 9 ^?
PLACES 7IF N EXACT "TS71 & ,I 0 M ?AN
3T5T 6BE ) H]1 6SP5D ! IDLE H\RS TGR1 9
! P>K OR A RE/AURANT OR ! LOCAL MOVIE
!AT]4 ,& YET Z M* Z ,I HAPPILY RECALL ^?
MO;TS1 "! IS AN UN=M$ QUAL;Y 6!M Z WELL1
Z IF !Y >E "S"O ELSE'S MEMORIES & RE-
FLEC;NS1 ?\< "SH[ AVAILA# ONLY 6ME1 TO
KEEP & 6HOLD4 ,_! W>M? IS FLEET+1 L A
W9T] SUN PASS+ "? CL\DS1 & :AT ,I H LEFT
IS ! N]V\S H1T ( MY RETORTS4 ,B ,R5NY
,BAN]JEE PU%ES ON4
  8,M>Y ,BURNS IS A LOVELY WOMAN1 A
LOVELY WOMAN4 ,IF ,I CD M>RY A WOMAN :O
WD LOOK L T :5 %E GOT OLD]6 ,IF "! 7 A
GU>ANTEE6 ,AMAZ+4 ,OH1 ,DOC1 ,I RECALL A
/RIK+ FIGURE Z WELL4 ,FIRM1 A?LETIC4
,I'M SORRY 6SAY ?1 B T'S "O WELL-BUILT
WOMAN4 ,Y / SEE H] F "T 6"T80
  8,I'M SORRY 6SAY ,I DON'T40
  8,:AT'S ?80 HE SAYS1 8 FACE ALL CLAMOR
& 4APPO9T;T4
  ,I TELL HM1 8,%E PASS$ AWAY LA/ YE>40
  8,H[ T]RI#10 HE SAYS1 OBVI\SLY /UNN$4
8,I'M S SORRY4 ,S SORRY4 ,I N"E      #FA
HE>D ANY?+40
  8,YES4 ,X 0 LIV] C.ER40
  8,I IMAG9E X M/ H BE5 Q SU4510 HE
SAYS1 / )A FUNNY LOOK ON 8 FACE4 ,HE
SITS D[N AG 9 ! B$SIDE *AIR4
  8,YES10 ,I ANSW]4 ,I WI% 6EXPLA91 B ,I
R1LIZE "! IS NO?+ ELSE 6SAY4 ,[+ 6\R
H1L?-RELAT$ C>E]S1 WE H -E 6"K T ) LIV]
C.ER1 X C "S"TS 2 A MATT] ( MON?S1 : X 0
9 ,M>Y ,BURNS'S CASE1 F DIAGNOSIS 65D4
  8,I'M SORRY N[ ,I TALK$ AB H] L T10
,R5NY ,BAN]JEE SAYS4 8,I DIDN'T "K H]1 B
,I M1N = YR SAKE4 ,I'M A V /UPID MAN "S-
"TS4 ,I HOPE Y'LL =GIVE ME1 ,DOC4 ,MAYBE
,I "\ 6L1VE N[1 & LET Y RE/40
  8,PL1SE1 PL1SE10 ,I TELL HM1 8"!'S NO
NE$ 6G "R N[4 ,I 0 V HAPPY 6HE> YR -PLI-
;TS4 ,& ,I'M SURE ,MRS4 ,BURNS WD H BE5
Z WELL4 ,? IS AN UNNEC FEEL+4 ,I M/ IN-
SI/4 ,Y'VE D"O NO?+ B *E] ME ) YR VIS-
IT40
  8,I'M A FOOL10 HE GRUM#S1 KNOCK+ ON 8
[N H1D4 8,A BIG FOOL40
  8,NONS5SE1 ,I'M N UPSET1 OR (F5D$4
,I'M V PL1S$1 9 FACT1 & LOOK1 Y'VE   #FB
EV5 BR"\ ME A HOT BR1KFA/ Z WELL4 ,: IS
DELICI\S40
  ,HE NODS W1KLY4 8,I SEE ,I NEGLECT$ TO
BR+ Y C(FEE40
  8,Y PROBABLY REMEMB]$ T ,I DON'T DR9K
C(FEE40
  ,R5NY ,BAN]JEE SMILES4 8,I DIDN'T1 B
X'S NICE ( Y 6SAY4 ,I ACTU,Y D H 6GET
BACK UP/AIRS IF ,I'M GO+ 6D "S "W TD1 B
,I'LL 2 3T5T 6/AY L;G]1 :AT"E Y WI%40
  8,Y "K ,I'M N "O 6GET 9 ! WAY ( "S"O &
8 "W10 ,I SAY HAPPILY4 8,B P]H ,I W SEE
Y TM8 ,DOCTOR ,WEIL WANTS ME 6/AY UNTIL
,W$NES"D MORN+4 ,MY BR1?+ FEELS GD1 B ,I
GUESS HE'S 3C]N$ AB 9FEC;N40
  8,WEIL'S OV]CAUTI\S4 ,& HE'S PRETTY M*
A HORSE'S ASS40
  8,HE IS NEW1 ISN'T HE80 ,I ASK4
  8,A C\PLE YE>S10 ,R5NY ANSW]S4 8,"Y
HOT%OT F ! C;Y4 ,"EYBODY >.D "H LOVES
HM4 ,I DON'T4 ,HE'S (FICI\S & >ROGANT4
,X SEEMS !Y H 6TRA9 !M L T N[40 ,HE
TURNS =! DOOR4 8,I'LL BR+ BR1KFA/ AG TM4
,NO1 NO1 ,I W4 ,NO >GU;TS4 ,:AT D Y
WANT1 OMELETTE1 PANCAKES1 QUI*E      #FC
LORRA9E80
  8,I'LL L1VE X 6Y10 ,I TELL HM4
  8,F9E !N4 ,RE/ WELL1 ,DOC40
  8,SEE Y TM40
  8,W 2 D"O4 ,& ,I'M S SORRY1 AG40
  8,NO MATT]40
  8,GDBYE1 !N40
  8,GDBYE40

  ,! FACT WAS1 ,I DIDN'T SEE ,M>Y ,BURNS
AT ! 5D4 ,X 0 F MUTUAL ACQUA9T.ES T ,I
LE>N$ %E 0 ILL1 & 0*.E1 ? ONLY A FEW
WEEKS 2F %E DI$4 ,B ,I DIDN'T CALL ON H]
AT H] H\SE OR "H AT ! HOSPITAL1 ": %E
SP5T ! F9AL "DS ( H] LIFE4 ,AT ! "T1 X
DIDN'T SEEM T ,I %D1 &! LA/ ?+ ,I WI%$
6D 0 6UPSET H] OR CAUSE H] 4TRESS 9 ANY
WAY4 ,B ( C\RSE1 ,I "S"TS ?9K T ,I %D H
VISIT$ H]1 SAT 0H] B$ & HELD H] H& & SD
:AT"E ^WS CD H L5T H] -=T4
  ,:5 ,I SAW ! NEWSPAP] NOTICE1 ,I
DIDN'T Q 2LIEVE T %E _H PASS$ AWAY4 ,I
R1D ! SMALL PR9T _M "TS OV]1 R1D+ H]
FULL "N AG & AG1 ! A4RESS ( H] H\SE ON
,M.TVIEW 7! SAME /REET Z M9E71 !     #FD
"N ( H] L;G-D1D HUSB&1 & H] SURVIVORS &
": !Y 7 LIV+4 ,%E _H TWO *N & FIVE GR&-
*N1 N"O ( :OM ,I'D "E MET4 ,I DID LE>N
S"EAL FACTS AB H] T ,I 0 SURPRIS$ ,I
_HN'T F.D \ 2F4 ,= EXAMPLE1 %E 0 A SUMMA
CUM LAUDE GRADUATE ( ,M.T ,HOLYOKE ,COL-
LEGE1 & S]V$ Z A ,,WAVE DUR+ ! ,SECOND
,_W ,W>4 ,"! 0 A PICTURE )! NOTICE1 B "O
TAK5 F H] E>LY MI4LE-AGE1 : ,I SUPPOS$ 0
H[ H] *N BE/ WI%$ 6REMEMB] H]1 9 ! HI<
GL[ & PRIME ( H] LIFE4
  ,WE F/ MET ON \R /REET1 "R 9 FRONT (
MY H\SE4 ,I _H LIV$ "! A NUMB] ( YE>S1 B
Z X MO/LY IS 9 T[NS L ,B$LEY ,RUN1 & P>-
TICUL>LY ON /REETS L \RS1 2+ NEI<BORS
M1NS %>+ ! MO/ LIMIT$ K9DS ( 9TIMACIES1
S* Z SEW] L9ES & PROP]TY B.D>IES & ANNU-
AL PROP]TY TAX VALU,NS4 ,ANY?+ T FALLS
96A M P]SONAL R1LM IS ONLY T5TATIVELY
WELCOM$4 ,I "K C]TA9 FAMILIES H 5JOY$
REL,N%IPS 2C ( _! *N1 _H C>POOLS & HOLI-
"D B>BECUES1 & P]H A %>$ WEEK5D AT A
C.TRY H\SE UP/ATE OR ON ! ,L;G ,ISL&
%ORE1 B ON ! :OLE AN UNWRITT5 COV5ANT (
3DUCT GOV]NS U1 A SIGNET ( COR-      #FE
DIAL;Y & DECORUM1 9 ^: E?IC1 IF X C 2
CALL$ S* A ?+1 ! WOR/ WR;G IS 6BE DRAWN
=? & 4TURB$4
  ,F ! "T ,I MOV$ "H1 ,I 0 V =TUNATE TO
"U/& ! NATURE ( ^! REL,NS4 ,EV5 :5 ,I
RCVD WELCOME C>DS & SWEETS BASKETS F MY
IMM NEI<BORS1 ,I JUDG$ ! EXACT SCALE (
:AT AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE %D BE1 T TO
REPLY ) ANY?+ B ! QUIET SIMPLIC;Y (A
GRACI\S NOTE WD 2 6RU9 ! DELICATE &
FRAGILE BAL.E4 ,& S ? IS EXACTLY :AT ,I
DID1 9 ! =M ( EXP5SIVE1 H1VY-/OCK C>DS1
EA* ( : ,I TOOK GRT C>E 6WRITE 9 MY BE/
H&4 ,EA* BRIEF ?ANK-Y 0 DI6]5T1 ?\< SAY+
! SAME ?+1 & ,I "K T ? HELP$ ME GA9 QK
A3EPT.E F MY ,M.TVIEW NEI<BORS1 ESPECI,Y
GIV5 MY 2+ A =EIGN] &A ,JAPANESE4 ,& Z
,I'VE ALR 9TIMAT$1 !Y ALL SEEM$ "PICUL>-
LY SURPRIS$ & PL1S$ T ,I _HN'T RUN OV]
6_! H\SES ) WRAPP$ PRES5TS & 9VIT,NS &
HOPE;L1 CL++ EMBRACES2 9 FACT1 ,I M/ H
GIV5 !M ! REASSUR+ ?"\ ( H[ SAFE !Y AC-
TU,Y W]E1 H[ %IELD$1 T AN 9T]LOP] MI<T
IMMLY RECOGNIZE & S HE$ ! RULES ( _!
H\SES4                               #FF
  ,B ,M>Y ,BURNS1 "SH[1 DECID$ 6BR1* T
P1CE ) ME4 ,I 0 PLANT+ PA*YS&RA 9 FRE%
B$S 2S ! DRIVEWAY1 :5 ,I HE>D "S"O SAY1
8,D Y ALW "W S H>D80
  ,I TURN$ >.D & SAW A WOMAN 9 FAD$ R$
SLACKS &A SLEEVE.S :ITE BL\SE1 A :ITE
VELVETY B& HOLD+ BACK H] SILV]-/R1K$
FLAX5 HAIR4 ,%E /OOD ": ! DRIVE MET !
/REET4 ,%E WORE DELICATE SU$E LOAF]S &
NO SOCKS1 & ,I RECALL NOT+ ! DI6];ES 9
SK9 T"O 2T H] >MS & %\LD]S & NECK1 &!
N>R[ :ITE %OCK ( H] ANKLES4
  8,Y'VE BE5 "W+ ALL WEEK5D1 ,I "K10 %E
SD1 H] H&S LOCK$ 2H H] 9 AN ALM GIRLI%
POSE4 8,& LA/ WEEK5D1 TOO4 ,N"E ANYBODY
6HELP40
  ,I /OOD UP & BRU%$ ! MOI/ SOD F MY
KNEES4 ,=! LA/ FEW WEEK5DS1 ,I'D BE5
DI7+ UP ! GRASS AL;G ! DRIVEWAY1 TURN+ X
OV]1 BR1K+ X D[N1 & 0 ONLY N[ PLANT+4 ,I
RECOGNIZ$ H] FACE1 B ( C\RSE ,I DIDN'T
"K :O %E WAS1 & :5 %E 9TRODUC$ H]F 0SAY+
WE 7 NEI<BORS1 ,I 0 IMMLY A%AM$4 ,I FUM-
#D ) MY "W GLOVES 6%AKE H] H&4
  8,W Y ALL[ ME 6LE>N YR "N80 %E     #FG
ASK$ ) MIR?4
  8,I'M V SORRY10 ,I SD1 FEEL+ -PLETELY
DI%EVEL$4 8,I AM ,FRANKL9 ,HATA40
  8,Y'RE ! DOCTOR10 %E SD "K+LY1 REL1S+
H] FIRM H&%AKE4
  8,NO1 ,I'M N10 ,I TOLD H]4 8,P CALL ME
,DOC1 B ,I'M N A PHYSICIAN4 ,I [N ! M$I-
CAL SUPPLY /ORE 9 ! VILLAGE4 ,_M YE>S
AGO "S CU/OM]S & O!R M]*ANTS GOT 6CALL+
ME T1 & "SH[ X /UCK4 ,I WI% "S"TS X
WASN'T S1 B NOBODY SEEMS 6WANT 6CALL ME
,FRANKL94 ,I DON'T M9D1 B ,I WD N"E WI%
6MISL1D ANY"O40
  8,Y'RE N A DOCTOR80 %E SD1 / "S:AT
3FUS$4 ,%E _H /EPP$ ONTO ! GRASS (!
FRONT LAWN1 "R ONTO ! PROP]TY4 ,%E 0 CA-
SU,Y SURVEY+ ! H\SE1 : AT T PO9T APPE>$1
AT L1/ ON VIEW F ! /REET1 6H BE5 TOT,Y
REFURBI%$4 8,Y "K1 ,I WD H ?"\ Y 7 A
DOCTOR ANYWAY40
  8,_M DOCTORS LIVE 9 ? NEI<BORHOOD40
  8,YES1 !Y D10 %E ANSW]$ RUE;LLY4 8,_M1
_M DOCTORS4 ,I US$ 6"K MO/ ALL ( !M4
,S9CE MY *N LEFT HOME1 ,I DON'T "K !M
ANYMORE1 ESPECI,Y ! "Y] "OS4 ,MY     #FH
HUSB& 0 A DOCTOR4 ,HE'S D1D N[40
  8,I'M SORRY10 ,I REPLI$4 ,!N ,I SD1
8,MAY ,I ASK1 0 HE AT ,D1CON OR ,C.TY80
  8,AT ,D1CON4 ,HE 0 AL 3SULT+ 6,C.TY1 J
AF X OP5$4 ,T'S :5 HE DI$4 ,DR4 ,BRADLEY
,BURNS4 ,HE 0 A C>DIOLOGI/4 ,ACTU,Y1 HE
0 *IEF (! UNIT40
  ,I TOLD H]1 8,I'M SORRY ,I N"E MET HM4
,I DON'T RE,Y MEET ! DOCTORS "? MY BUSI-
;S4 ,"!'S C]TA9LY NO R1SON = !M 63C]N
!MVS ) P L ME4 ,HE M/ H BE5 V IMPRES-
SIVE1 6BE H1D ( C>DIOLOGY40
  8,HE C]TA9LY WAS10 %E SD PLA9LY4 ,&
!N3 8,Y CD SAY IMPRESSIVE 0 8 MI4LE "N40
  ,I DIDN'T IMMLY REPLY1 = ,I 0 "S:AT
SURPRIS$ 0H] T"O1 : SEEM$ )\T A H9T (
L;G+ OR PRIDE4
  8,I 0 SAY+10 %E W5T ON1 8T ,I WD H ?"\
Y 7 A DOCTOR1 NICK"N OR N4 ,Y D LIVE 9 A
DOCTOR'S K9D ( H\SE40
  8,P]H1 YES40
  8,B ,I ?9K X'S M T Y H ! MOVE;TS &
GE/URES ( "O4 ,I HAV5'T BE5 SPY+ ON Y1 B
,I H NOTIC$ T Y "W L "S"O ASSUR$1
3FID5T1 EV5 Z Y PUT 9 YR GR.D COV-   #FI
]4 ,Y H T DOCTOR'S WAY1 2Y ANY FUR!R "Q-
+40
  8,LATELY ,I'VE _H M* PRACTICE 9 ?
FIELD10 ,I SD 6H]1 TOE+ AT ! DIRT4
  ,%E LIK$ ? & LAU<$4 8,I N"E SEE P "H
"W+ 9 _! Y>DS4 ,X WD 2 NICE IF !Y DID4
,B ,I (T5 SEE T Y D1 AT L1/ :5"E ,I'M
WALK+ BY40
  8,I 5JOY X10 ,I TOLD H]1 : 0 MO/LY !
TRU?4 ,I DID F9D ! "W PL1S+1 BASIC &
H"O/4 B ,I DIDN'T H ANY EXTRA M"OY = G>-
D5]S & GR.DSKEEP]S BACK !N1 & S "! 7
-PELL+ R1SONS 6F9D MYF 9 ! Y>D1 KNEEL+ &
DI7+ & ROOT+4
  8,MY LATE HUSB& WD N"E D ANY?+10 %E
SD1 H] >MS CROSS$ 9 FRONT ( H] N[4 8,HE
HAT$ BO? ! FACT &! IDEA ( "W+ \TSIDE4 ,T
0 F9E1 ( C\RSE4 ,B HE ALW TRI$ 6>GUE AB
P HAV+ A C]TA9 EXP]TISE4 ,HE 0 A HE>T
DOCTOR1 & HE 0 GD AT T4 ,O!RS DID BOOK-
KEEP+ WELL1 OR !Y MADE A GD D\<NUT OR
,FR5* BR1D1 OR !Y KNEW H[ 6DIG A DIT*4
,X 0 :5 Y TRI$ DO+ "S"O ELSE'S SPECIAL-
TY1 9 8 OP9ION1 T Y C\RT$ R1L TR\#4 ,B
,I M/ ADMIT ,I ALW ?"\ HE 0 J 2+     #GJ
LAZY40
  ,%E SMIL$ DEEPLY1 IF N FONDLY1 & %E
T\*$ MY >M Z IF 6MAKE A LA/1 SIL5T PO9T4
,! 3TACT SURPRIS$ ME4 ,& !N ,I R1LIZ$ AT
T MO;T H[ UNUSUAL X 0 T WE 7 /&+ "! AT !
H1D (! DRIVEWAY1 TALK+ & JOK+ & GO+ ON4
,9 ? >EA ( EXPANSIVE TWO- & ?REE-ACRE
LOTS1 "! IS NO S* ?+ Z GA2+ OV] A H$GE4
,"! IS TOO M* BU6] ( F9E L&SCAP+ & NATU-
RAL VEGET,N1 ( :ITEWA%$ HORSE F;E & AN-
TIQU$ /"O WALLS1 T X'S R>E 6SEE ANY"O
\TSIDE1 M* LESS TWO P ON ! P]IMET] (A
PROP]TY1 TALK+ OR SOCIALIZ+4 ,B Y CD H
DRIV5 0& SE5 U1 ^! TWO NEI<BORHOOD FOLKS
ON A LATE SPR+ "D1 A MAN &A WOMAN 3V]S+
) LEISURE & CALM1 & X DIDN'T SEEM T ,M>Y
,BURNS HELD ANY C>ES ( 2+ SI<T$1 PO9T+
D[N ! /REET 6H] H\SE & ASK+ ME =A T\R (
MY FRONT G>D51 DO+ NO?+ 6CAM\FLAGE H]F
OR O!RWISE HIDE4 ,( C\RSE1 :Y %D %E H8
,%E 0 A WID[1 ,I A BA*ELOR 7IF A "F71
BO? ( U WELL 96\R MI4LE YE>S1 & 6/EP TGR
AM;G ! DROOP+ PEONIES 0 Z 9NOC5T Z ANY
,SUN"D EXCUR.N 9 A BOTANICAL P>K4 ,& YET
,I FELT ! BURD5 ( JU/IFIC,N1 (       #GA
HAV+ A NEC R1SON = 2+ ) H]1 2SS SIMPLY
5JOY+ ! NEWF.D -PANY4
  ,: ,I WAS4 ,Z %E EXAM9$ ! FOLIAGE &
FL[]S ON EI SIDE (! FRONT 5TR.E1 ,I F.D
MYF REG>D+ H]4 ,%E 0 Q EASY 6LOOK AT1 H]
COLOR+ PALE & S(T & FALL+ 9 A C]TA9
RANGE1 H] LI<T HAIR & H] LI<T SK9 &!
MILKY1 FAD$ COLOR ( H] EYES4 ,:ILE MOV+
/1DILY "? MY PLANTS1 9SPECT+1 -;T+1 %E
DESCRIB$ H] [N G>D5 &! TR\#S %E 0 HAV+ )
CAT]PILL>S & L1F-EAT+ BEETLES1 WI%+ AL\D
T H] PLANTS 7 Z VIGOR\S1 & ,I SU45LY RE-
ALIZ$ ,I 0 TRAIL+ Q CLOSELY 2H H]1 Z IF
DRAWN 9 0! AIR ( H] WAKE4 ,X WASN'T S M*
T ,I F.D H] S PRETTY OR ATTRACTIVE1 : ,I
WD (T5 -E 6HE> AB H] F ACQUA9T.ES L ,R5-
NY ,BAN]JEE OR ! FELL[S AT ,MURASAN'S1 =
AT ! "T ,I DIDN'T FULLY "K H[ 6LOOK AT A
,WE/]N WOMAN & IMMLY APPRECIATE :AT %D 2
B1UTI;L & PRIZ$4 ,!Y ALL SEEM$ G5],Y
TALL1 &) N>R[ FACES1 %>P & HI< AB !
NOSE1 : SEEM$ 6L1D !M ALL AB4 ,I "K T ,I
_H MY [N 3CEP;NS ( FEMALE -ELI;S1 ^?
NATUR,Y DEVELOP$ 9 ! YE>S ( MY "Y
MANHOOD4 ,B "E S9CE MY DECI.N TO     #GB
L1VE ,JAPAN = GD1 ,I _HN'T WI%$ 6?9K AT
L5G? AB WOM5 & 9TIMATE REL,NS & -PANION-
%IP1 = ,I KNEW "! WD 2 MYRIAD DI6ICUL-
TIES AH1D ( ME1 9 SETT+ UP MY SMALL BIT
( -M]CE1 & O!R ?+S 9 LIFE4 ,? MAY S.D L
AN EXCUSE1 & P]H EV5 A LL SAD1 B X'S H>D
= O!RS 6"K H[ 3SUM+ "O'S >RIVAL 9 A NEW
L& C BE1 H[ X W TAKE UP E LA/ RES\RCE (
_S1 : TOO (T5 C L1D 6! DETRI;T ( MO/
"EY?+ ELSE4
  ,B ) ,M>Y ,BURNS ,I SEEM$ 6=GET !
PLACE ": ,I WAS4 ,9 ! %ADE (! EAVES1
AMID ! FRE% BLOOMS (! LILIES1 A COOL1
TROPICAL LILT SEEM$ 6UNFOLD 9 ! AIR4 ,X
0 AN ALM MEMORIAL SWEET;S1 RIS+ 2N ME L
A LIFT+ WAVE1 Z IF X 7 9T5T ON TRANS-
PORT+ ME1 S5D+ ME 6A PLACE ACR OC1NS4 ,&
= T MO;T ,I WD H GLADLY G"O "!1 OR ANY-
":1 = "! 0 NO?+ B AN IMMACULATE CALM 9
MY HE>T4 ,I WI% 6SAY ? N[1 T X TRULY 0 A
S5S,N ( CALM1 & N ! O!R ?+1 "S PULS+1
BR1KNECK ?UMP1 A C\RS+ FURI\S & WILD4 ,I
?9K X 0 2C %E SEEM$ S P]FECTLY AT EASE )
ME1 Z IF \R MEET+ 0 ! MO/ ORD9>Y ?+4 ,&
,I ! MO/ ORD9>Y MAN4 ,%E DIDN'T      #GC
SEEM 6SP1K M SL[LY OR L\DLY ?AN %E MI<T
O!RWISE1 %E DIDN'T GAZE AT ME TOO ATT5-
TIVELY1 B PD Z M* ATT5;N Z %E APPROPRI-
ATELY %D1 ALL ( :1 AT L1/ = ME1 0 ! MO/
UNLIKELY K9D ( FLATT]Y4
  8,MR4 ,HATA10 %E SD W>MLY4 8,Y M/ H A
FAMILY = ? BIG H\SE40
  8,YES1 ,I D40
  8,I DON'T "K IF ,I'VE "E SE5 YR WIFE
\TSIDE40
  8,NO1 NO1 Y WDN'T H10 ,I TOLD H]1 ?9K+
IMMLY T ,I %D SAY "S?+ AB T4 ,B ! NE$ _H
N >IS51 AT L1/ 9 S* A SITU,N1 & ALL ,I
CD D 0 SP1K ) EXP$I;E4 ,LAT] ON1 ,I DID
REM>K 6H] ON ONCE HAV+ A WIFE1 ? _M YE>S
9 ! PA/1 B ,I MADE CLE> 0MY T"O T X
WASN'T A SUBJECT T 0 V PL1S+ 6ME4
  ,I SD1 8,I'VE BE5 AL"O = "S "T4 ,B Y
MAY H SE5 MY DAU<T]4 ,"S"TS %E -ES \ )
ME1 6G>D540 ,MY GAZE NATUR,Y W&]$ 6! F>
F/-FLOOR W9D[ (! /UDY1 ": ,I ?"\ ,I SAW
A MOVE;T 2H ! LACE CURTA94
  ,M>Y ,BURNS W5T ON NO4+1 SMIL+4 8,H[
,I WI% MY DAU<T]S WD VISIT ME M ON !
WEEK5DS4 ,:AT'S H] "N80              #GD
  8,SUNNY40
  8,TELL ME1 ,MR4 ,HATA1 IS %E A "M OR
IS %E "W+8 ,MY "YE/ J F9I%$ H] LA/ YE> (
COLLEGE1 & %E'S TALK+ AB "W+ = T5 YE>S &
!N HAV+ *N4 ,DON'T Y ?9K T SEEMS AW;LLY
LATE 6/>T HAV+ *N80
  8,NO1 NO10 ,I ANSW]$4 8,MY DAU<T] W 2
5T]+ MI4LE S*OOL 9 ! FALL40
  8,MI4LE S*OOL80
  8,YES10 ,I SD4 8,%E'S ELEV540
  ,M>Y ,BURNS 0 CLE>LY 3FUS$1 = X 0 OB-
VI\S H[ NE> 9 AGE WE W]E1 9 \R FIFTIES1
& ,I QKLY R1LIZ$ :AT AN AWKW>D SITU,N ,I
_H PLAC$ H] IN4 ,S ,I EXPLA9$1 8,MY
DAU<T] CAME 6ME F\R YE>S AGO1 "? A
,*RI/IAN ADOP;N AG5CY4 ,I 0 V LUCKY 6GET
H]1 2+ )\T A WIFE1 & AL 2C ,I'M "S:AT
OLD] ?AN IS PREF]R$4 ,B ,I 0 A# 63V9CE !
AG5CY ( MY QUALIFIC,NS1 & N[ ,I'M A HAP-
PY "F40
  8,OH1 ,I SEE10 %E SD S(TLY1 BRU%+ BACK
LOOSE 5DS ( H] WISPY HAIR1 : 0 FET*+LY
UNKEMPT4 8,H[ WOND];L = H]1 &= Y4 ,TRU-
LY4 ,I "S"TS WI% T MY *N 7 Z "Y Z T AG4
,:AT A RUMPUS !Y CD CAUSE4 ,B X 0    #GE
WOR? E M9UTE1 Z ,I'M SURE Y "K40
  8,YES4 ,X'S BE5 V REW>D+40
  ,I DECID$ 69VITE H] 69SPECT ! M EXT5-
SIVE G>D5 2H ! H\SE1 & %E 0 PLA9LY HAPPY
6FOLL[ ME "!1 6WALK AM;G ! P]5NIALS T
,I'D REC5TLY PLANT$ 9 :AT US$ 6BE A
SMALL CROQUET LAWN1 ADJAC5T 6! POOL4
  ,%E B5T 6SMELL ! LAV5D]-COLOR$ FL[]S (
! BLOOM+ ROSEM>Y BU%ES1 & !N MOV$ ON 6!
O!R ORNA;TAL & FRAGRANT PLANTS1 & Z %E
DID ,I EXCUS$ MYF 6G 96! H\SE4 ,:5 ,I
RETURN$1 ,I TOOK ! PAIR ( SNIPS ,I'D RE-
TRIEV$ F ! KIT*5 & QKLY CUT A SMALL BUN-
DLE (! ROSEM>Y & ?YME = H] 6TAKE HOME1
WRAPP+ X N1TLY )A /RIPP$ BRAN*4 ,%E
CLASP$ ! BUN* GRATE;LLY & ?ANK$ ME1 &
?\< X SEEM$ ,I %D 9VITE H] 9SIDE =A S(T
DR9K OR TEA 7Z %E H]F SEEM$ 6ANTICI-
PATE71 ,I REMEMB]$ X 0 NE> ! H\R = ,SUN-
NY 62G9 H] AFN PRACTIC+1 & ,I FE>$ X
MI<T 2 A 4TURB.E = H] 6H AN UNFAMILI>
WOMAN 9 ! H\SE4
  ,= X 0 >.D ! SAME "T T ,I 2GAN SP1K+
6,SUNNY AB ! POSSIBIL;Y ( H] HAV+ A "M2
,I SU7E/$ T )A WOMAN LIV+ ) U1 P]H   #GF
%E WD 2 HAPPI]1 OR AT L1/ LESS 9EXPLICA-
BLY AGITAT$ & ANXI\S-FEEL+ ?AN %E WAS1 :
X SEEM$ 0 2COM+ AN 9CR1S+LY "EY"D 3DI;N4
,I _H AIM$ 6LE>N (A SUITA# WOMAN "? OLD
FRS BACK 9 ,JAPAN1 DEP5D+ ON A SMALL
NET"W ( -RADES F ! W> =A REPUTA# 3TACT1
B S FEW ,JAPANESE ( GD BACKGR.D & M1NS
WI%$ 6L1VE _! C.TRY1 ESPECI,Y 9 ^? BOOM
"DS4 ,MY ONLY R1L *.E 0 6LOCATE A *ILD.S
WID[ :O MI<T 3SID] AN OPPORTUN;Y = "M-
HOOD R1SON 5 6L1VE H] HOMEL&1 & ,I HOP$1
TOO1 T A 3G5IAL "U/&+ & -PANION%IP WD AT
"S PO9T >ISE 2T U1 Z X IS N"E ID1L =A *
6S5SE ILL-FEEL+ 2T H] P>5TS4 ,I _H TRI$
63V9CE ,SUNNY ( ALL ?1 = X SEEM$ C]TA9LY
WR;G =A "Y GIRL 6"K ONLY A S+LE ADULT1
ESPECI,Y S IF X 0 A MAN1 B ALW %E 0 VE-
HE;TLY AG/ ! IDEA1 CRY+ & GO+ ON :5"E ,I
P]SI/$4 ,& ?\< ,I DIDN'T D ANY?+ T "D )
,M>Y ,BURNS 6G AG/ H] WI%ES1 X WD 2 WR;G
6RECALL "S?+ O!R ?AN A RENEW$ LI<T;S
SU6US+ MY _S1 A "P ( ME : SEEM$1 ,I 0
C]TA91 6H BE5 L;G AGO 4SIPAT$1 & LO/4
  ,M>Y ,BURNS1 ,I "K1 0 AL SURPRIS$ 0!
PL1SANT;S ( \R MEET+4 ,%E WD LAT]    #GG
SAY ,I 0 G5TLE-SEEM+1 & *>M+1 & 8EXCE$+-
LY H&"S10 IF ,I REMEMB] H] ^WS CORRECT-
LY4 ,I DON'T "K M* AB ?2 ,I'VE N"E ?"\--
OR EV5 ?"\ 6?9K--( MYF 9 S* T]MS4 ,& :5
%E 0 EV5 M -=TA# ) ME1 %E 3FID$ H[ ODD A
RECOGNI;N X 0 = H]1 AT L1/ AT F/1 6F9D
H]F DEEPLY ATTRACT$ 6AN ,ORI5TAL MAN4
,%E LAU<$ AT H]F & SD "! 0 NO R1SON %E
%DN'T H BE51 T "! 0 NO GD R1SON AT ALL1
B ! FEEL+ 0 "! & %E "\ 6BE TRU?;L1 &
:E!R X 0 %AME;L OR N PROBABLY DIDN'T
MATT] 9 ! 5D4
  ,I AGRE$ ) H]4 ,( C\RSE ,I DIDN'T SAY
ANY?+ AB MY [N "PICUL> ATTRAC;NS4 ,MY
9ITIAL 3C]N 0 AB ! EXACT NATURE ( \R RE-
L,N%IP1 :AT WE MI<T D1 %>E--:AT MI<T1 9
FACT1 EV5TU,Y O3UR 9 ! M PRIVATE MO;TS4
,SOON 5\<1 MY ?"\S 7 FOCUS$ ON ^! NO;NS1
^! HEI<T5$ WOND]+S1 & ,I FE> ,I LO/ "S
P]SPECTIVE AL;G ! WAY = :AT MY DAU<T]
,SUNNY MAY H NE$$1 : 0 N NECESS>ILY A
WOMAN OR A "M OR ANY"O ELSE4
  ,M>Y ,BURNS1 ,I WANT 6SAY N[1 TRI$ H]
BE/ 63NECT ) ,SUNNY4 ,%E MADE GRT EF=TS
T[>D BUILD+ A FR%IP1 :5 "! 0 NO      #GH
EXPECT,N = H] 6D S4 ,H[ _M AFNS DID %E
AWAIT ,SUNNY AT ! BUS /OP1 S T !Y MI<T
WALK HOME TGR1 CLIMB ! /1DY HILL ( ,M.T-
VIEW ,/REET8 ,H[ _M EV5+S DID %E -E OV]
6! H\SE 6VISIT ) ,SUNNY UP/AIRS 9 H]
ROOM1 6*AT & 8HANG \0 ) H]1 & !N LAT]
HELP ) H] HOME"W8 ,H[ _M ,SUN"D AFNS DID
!Y SP5D TGR1 AT ! *N'S H\R AT ,M>Y
,BURNS'S C.TRY CLUB1 OR AT ,JOL5E'S 9 !
VILLAGE =A TR1T ( ICE CR1M8
  ,I REMEMB] :5 !Y WD RETURN F ^! \T+S1
! FRONT DOOR CR1K+ OP51 & ,M>Y ,BURNS WD
CALL \ 6SAY !Y 7 HOME4 ,H] VOICE 0 ALW
SP"RLY1 AL(T1 B :5 ,I'D MEET !M 9 ! FOY]
,SUNNY WD 2 QKLY ASC5D+ ! /AIRS4 ,I'D
ASK H] IF %E _H _H FUN1 & %E WD ANSW]1
8,YES1 ,POPPA1 ,I DID10 & !N 3T9UE ON H]
WAY UP4 ,I'D REM9D H] 6SAY ?ANK Y1 B (
C\RSE %E _H ALR1 )\T FAIL1 HAV+ MADE (-
F]+S 6,M>Y ,BURNS 9 ! C> & AT ! DOOR1 &
%E'D EV5 CURTLY B[ AT ! TOP (! /AIRS 2F
4APPE>+ D[N ! HALL 6H] ROOM4
  ,AFW1 ,M>Y ,BURNS & ,I WD SIT 9 ! FAM-
ILY ROOM OR ! KIT*51 %>+ A SNACK OR A
POT ( TEA ,I'D PREP>$1 & ?\< %E      #GI
WDN'T SAY ANY?+ ,I CD SEE ! 4APPO9T;T "E
SETTL+ 9 ! F9E L9ES ( H] FACE1 H] JAW
P]FECTLY /1DY4 ,"! 0 A %E];S1 ! SMOO!/
RIGOR 6H] *EEK1 Z IF X 7 ! KE5 WALL (A
CANYON4 ,& X 0 9 ^! MO;TS1 /RANGELY 5\<1
T ,I 2LIEVE ,I F.D H] MO/ >RE/+ & LOVE-
LY1 T %E APPE>$ 6ME EXQUISITELY -POS$ 9
"*1 H] BE>+ DELIB]ATE & UNREL5T+4
  ,ONLY ONCE DID %E BR1K4 ,AF :AT %E ?"\
_H BE5 A "PICUL>LY 5JOYA# "D = !M1 FULL
( %>$ GOSSIP & EV5 LAU<T]1 ?\< ) ,SUNNY
EXCUS+ H]F Z USUAL1 ,M>Y ,BURNS 2GAN TO
CRY4 ,WE 7 SITT+ ON ! FAMILY-ROOM S(A4
,%E CRI$ V QUIETLY1 N COV]+ H] FACE1 &
AT ! V MO;T ,I ?"\ %E WD -E CLOS] & L1N
ON ME1 %E ROSE & SD %E WD 2 L1V+4
  8,Y'RE N GO+ 6/AY80 ,I ASK$4
  8,NO1 ,FRANKL91 ,I DON'T ?9K S40
  8,N EV5 = D9N]80
  8,N TN40
  ,I FOLL[$ H] 6! FOY]4 8,I'M SORRY AB
,SUNNY10 ,I SD4 8,%E C 2 RUDE "S"TS4
,I'LL SP1K 6H]40
  8,I DON'T WANT Y 6D T10 %E ANSW]$1 H]
VOICE /RA9$ & RIS+4 8,PL1SE1         #HJ
,FRANKL94 ,%E'S N RUDE4 ,N 9 ANY WAY4
,N"E H ,I "KN A GIRL ( ELEV5 6BE Z PO-
LITE Z %E IS4 ,%E'S N"E SD AN UNK9D ^W1
& %E'S N"E -PLA9$4 ,I TRULY ?"\ %E 0
HAPPY TD1 6BE TGR ) ME4 ,%E SEEM$ HAPPY4
,B ! SECOND WE GOT HOME1 ! "D 0 OV]4
,ALL AT ONCE1 X 0 OV]4 ,J L T40
  8,DID ,SUNNY SAY "S?+80
  ,%E %OOK H] H1D4 8,NO?+4 ,%E 0 P]FECT-
LY F9E4 ,B X 0 Z ?\< %E 0 S]V+ H] S5T;E
) ME =! AFN H\RS1 & :5 WE GOT HOME1 %E 0
REL1S$4 ,X'S N H] FAULT4 ,Y'VE RAIS$ H]
IMPE3ABLY4 ,%E DOESN'T H 6H A DEEP FEEL+
= ME4 ,"!'S NO LAW40 ,%E LIFT$ H] PURSE
F ! HALL TA#1 CURL+ ! /RAP OV] H] %\LD]4
,!Y _H BE5 AT ! CLUB1 & %E 0 / WE>+ H]
:ITE T5NIS CLO!S1 A %ORT PL1T$ SKIRT &
BL\SE &A LI<T SW1T]4
  8,I FEEL S UNBELIEVABLY TIR$ ALL (A
SU4510 %E SD1 EXHAL+ DEEPLY4 ,%E T\*$ MY
=E>M & SQUEEZ$ X G5TLY4 8,LET'S SAY GD
NI<T N[1 ,FRANKL91 OKAY80
  8,I'M V SORRY40
  8,X'S NO "O'S FAULT4 ,L1/ ( ALL YRS40
  8,YES10 ,I REPLI$1 ?\< N 9T5D+     #HA
6AGREE4 ,I TRI$ 6?9K ( AN EXPLAN,N1 A
WAY 6TELL H] T ,SUNNY 0 9 FACT A GD-
HE>T$ GIRL :O WD N"E M1N 6UPSET OR (F5D4
,B ALR ,I S5S$ ! LATE;S ( MY PROVID+ ANY
R1SONS1 AT L1/ = ,M>Y ,BURNS'S SAKE4 ,=
,M>Y ,BURNS1 X SEEM$1 ,I 0 (T5 TOO LATE4
,&! O!R TRU? 0 T EV5 AF S"EAL YE>S1
,SUNNY FELT NO M AT HOME 9 ? T[N1 OR 9 ?
H\SE ( M9E1 OR P]H EV5 ) ME1 ?AN :5 %E V
F/ >RIV$ AT ,K5N$Y ,AIRPORT1 A3OMPANI$
0A WOMAN F ! AG5CY4 ,I NOTIC$ "S?+ EV5
!N4 ,%E 0 CLUT*+ A R\< CANVAS BAG ( H]
?+S1 ! ZIPP] FLAPP+ LOOSE AT "O 5D1 TORN
F ! PLA91 SOIL$ FABRIC4 ,:5 ,I TRI$ TO
COAX X F H] %E CROSS$ H] SMALL >MS TI<T-
LY >.D X1 C>RY+ X ALL ! WAY 6! C> H]F1 !
:OLE SMALL PICTURE ( H] BO? 5DE>+ & PA-
!TIC4 ,%E FOLL[$ 2H ME &! WOMAN1 :O 0
TALK+ EXCIT$LY AB ! V>I\S PROJECTS !
AG5CY 0 DEVELOP+ =! B5EFIT ( ,ASIAN OR-
PHANS4 ,:5"E ,I LOOK$ >.D 6AC"KL$GE MY
NEW DAU<T]1 6TRY 6CAT* H] EYE1 %E N1TLY
TUCK$ 9 H] *9 & PU%$ ON1 Z IF %E 7 H1D$
96A L;G & DRIV+ RA94
  ,M>Y ,BURNS1 ,I'M AFRAID1 DID N    #HB
SOON GIVE UP ) ,SUNNY4 ,I SAW H[ X 0 AF-
FECT+ H] & TRI$ 6SU7E/ T %E C1SE1 T %E
SIMPLY MAKE AN A3OMMOD,N & N ATTEMPT 6BE
9TIMATE )! GIRL1 :O SEEM$ 6BE GR[+ M & M
UNT\*A#1 2COM+ M & M 4T.ED F H] & MYF &
"EY?+ ELSE4
  8,Y DON'T "U/&1 ,FRANKL910 %E F9,Y
TOLD ME "O EV5+1 AT ! 5D ( YET ANO!R "D4
8,%E'S J A GIRL1 &A GIRL NE$S A WOMAN4
,6BE "!1 IF NO?+ ELSE4 ,I DON'T C>E IF
%E DOESN'T LOVE ME4 ,"O "D %E'LL H A
FEEL+ = ME1 P]H1 B T DOESN'T MATT]4 ,I'M
GO+ 6SP5D "T ) H]1 & T'S T40
  ,%E 3T9U$ S*$UL+ _! WEEK5D \T+S1 & AT-
T5D$ ! AF-S*OOL ACTIVITIES T ,I CD N"E G
62C (! /ORE1 ! SO3] MAT*ES &! ,BR[NIE
MEET+S &1 ( C\RSE1 ! PIANO LESSONS & RE-
CITALS4 ,9DE$1 %E 0 "!1 & ALW "!1 & _H
!Y LOOK$ REMOTELY L EA* O!R1 _H !Y ANY?+
PHYSICAL 9 -MON1 ,I'M SURE !Y WD H SEEM$
L ALL ! O!R "MS & DAU<T]S1 B EV5 M S1 >-
RIV+ & DE"P+ TGR H& 9 H&1 ) H>DLY A SIGN
( RANCOR4 ,9 FACT1 "S (! "MS :O CAME 0MY
/ORE WD MAKE SURE 6M5;N H[ DELI<T;L !
TWO ( !M W]E1 H[ GRACI\S ) EA* O?-   #HC
ER1 H[ WOND];L X 0 T A WOMAN L ,M>Y
,BURNS & MY DAU<T] CD 2 S 8GD0 TGR4 ,X 0
WOND];L1 YES1 YES 9DE$1 H[ ALL GIRLS &
LADIES _H ?+S 9 -MON4 ,( C\RSE ,I ALW
?ANK$ !M1 0 APPROPRIATELY PL1S$ & PR\D1
N SAY+ O!RWISE1 B ,I AL WI%$ SECRETLY T
= ONCE ,I'D HE> AB ,SUNNY SP1K+ 9SOL5T-
LY1 T !Y _H _H A T]RI# R[ 9 FRONT ( "EY-
"O1 T ONCE & F9,Y ,M>Y ,BURNS _H BE5 MO/
CROSS & VEHE;T & _H SCOLD$ H] ) GRT
WRA?4
  ,B ,I N"E DID HE> T4 ,OR "E WD4 ,& ,I
REMEMB] VIVIDLY "O (! LA/ "TS ,M>Y
,BURNS & ,I SP5T TGR1 ? 9 ! WEEKS 2F WE
DRIFT$ A"P1 :5 \R REL,N%IP F9,Y CAME 6AN
5D4 ,%E 0 SITT+ POOLSIDE :ILE ,I SWAM 9
! ,AUGU/ H1T1 H] L;G F+]S WRAPP$ >.D A
TALL GLASS ( IC$ TEA4 ,X 0 T[>D DUSK B !
AIR 0 / D[NY & 9SU6]A# & %E 0 WAIT+ =
,SUNNY 6-E \4 ,! TWO ( !M 7 GO+ 6A TE5
D.E AT ! T5NIS CLUB1 ,M>Y ,BURNS HAV+
BE5 ASK$ 6BE "O (! *AP]ONS4 ,%E 0 (
C\RSE DUTI;L T WAY4 ,%E LOOK$ PRETTY T
EV5+1 9 A %IMM]+ L95 DRESS )\T SLEEVES &
MAT*+ SILK5 %OES4 ,H] LEGS & >MS     #HD
_H A GL[+ TAN F ALL ! T5NIS %E PLAY$1 &
,I ?"\ %E 0 ! W>M PICTURE ( GD;S & H1L?4
,%E _H BE5 QUIET ON >RIV+1 H["E1 & Z %E
DIDN'T SEEM "PICUL>LY 9T]E/$ 9 TALK+1 ,I
SU7E/$ %E -E \TSIDE & KEEP ME -PANY :ILE
,I DID MY LAPS1 = 9 ! W>M] W1!R ,I SWAM
EXTRA L5G?S 9 ! EV5+S Z WELL4 ,I _H
ORIG9,Y PLANN$ 6ATT5D ! D.E MYF1 Z ,M>Y
,BURNS'S ESCORT1 B T AFN ,SUNNY _H -E 6!
/ORE & ASK$ ME IF ,I WD 2 K9D 5 6/AY AT
HOME4
  8,X'S OBVI\S Y'RE N GO+ 6D.E ANYWAY10
%E _H SD "R (F4 ,Z %E GREW OLD]1 ,SUNNY
_H A WAY ( SP1K+ UNUSU,Y CRISPLY1 &)
GRAV;Y1 Z IF %E 7 "SH[ 9 *>GE4 ,H] ,5G-
LI% 0 ( C\RSE IMPE3A#1 & _H =A L;G "T
BE5 M* BETT] ?AN M9E4 8,I DON'T SEE :Y
Y'D WANT 6G4 ,X'S SILLY4 ,Y'LL J SIT AT
A BACK TA# & SIP PUN* & WAT* ! :OLE NI<T
G BY40
  ,%E 0 "R1 C]TA9LY1 Z T 0 J :AT ,I'D
PROBABLY D4 ,"! 7 NO GD R1SONS = MY
PRES;E1 EXCEPT 6BE "! = ,M>Y ,BURNS1 Z
ALL ! O!R *AP]ONS WD C]TA9LY H ! -PANY (
_! "PN]S4 ,& YET X 0 N = ,M>Y        #HE
,BURNS'S SAKE T ,I PU%$ ,SUNNY 6EXPLA9
H] WI%ES4
  ,/1 ,I SD1 8,B :O W A3OMPANY ,MRS4
,BURNS80
  8,MRS4 ,BURNS8 ,%E DOESN'T NE$ ANY"O4
,X'S H] C.TRY CLUB4 ,%E "KS "EYBODY "!4
,%E'LL 2 BUSY ALL NI<T ) H] CLUB FRS4 ,9
FACT1 %E'LL H A BETT] "T )\T Y40
  8,B %E'S ASK$ ME 6-E40
  8,I "K10 %E SD1 Q S]I\S4 8,B ,I'M ASK+
Y N 6-E40
  ,H] T"O WASN'T PETULANT1 OR FRET;L1 =
%E 0 POSSESS$ (A REM>KA# EQUANIM;Y1 M !
WAY "O ?9KS 4T+UI%$1 OLD] P 6BE ?AN "Y
TE5AGE GIRLS4 ,! WAY ,M>Y ,BURNS WD NO
D\BT 3DUCT H]F 7 %E LIV+ N[4 ,B !N ,SUN-
NY 4PLAY$ A F]OC;Y Z WELL1 A FL9TY1
COAL-L H>D;S T %D H BE5 2Y ! K5 ( H]
YE>S4
  ,I !N ASK$ H]3 8,>E Y AFRAID Y'LL 2
EMB>RASS$ 0ME80
  8,( C\RSE N10 %E REPLI$4 ,%E 0 IDLY
B9D+ H] WRI/ )A ROLL ( /]ILE GAUZE4 ,:5-
"E %E CAME 6! /ORE1 %E PLAY$ ) "S ITEM
OR ANO!R4 8,:Y SD ,I 2 EMB>RASS$8    #HF
,Y "K V WELL H[ M* "EY"O LIKES Y4 ,EV5
MY FRS4 ,9 FACT1 !Y L Y BETT] ?AN !Y L
ME40
  8,I'M SURE T'S N TRUE40
  8,X IS TRUE4 ,& X'S ! SAME ) "EY"O ,I
MEET4 ,B ,I DON'T C>E AB T4 ,I WD L 6BE
"! 0MYF1 ON MY [N4 ,I "K ,M>Y HAS 6BE "!
AT ? PO9T1 & ,I WI% %E W]5'T GO+ 6BE1 B
IF Y -E1 TOO1 ,I'LL 2 ! ONLY "O ) MY
:OLE FAMILY "!4 ,I ?9K T'S A LL /RANGE1
DON'T Y1 6BE ) YR FAMILY AT A D.E J =
KIDS80
  ,I NO4$1 = :AT %E 0 SAY+ SEEM$ R1SONA#
5\<4 ,I CD "U/& ! POT5TIAL AWKW>D;S (
HAV+ ! TWO ( U PRES5T4 ,M>Y ,BURNS & ,I
W5T \ TGR 9 PUBLIC Q REGUL>LY1 B R>ELY 0
X ! ?REE ( U1 ! 8:OLE FAMILY10 Z ,SUNNY
_H PUT X1 A PHRASE : /UCK \1 UN=TUNATE-
LY1 2C X SEEM$ AMAZ+ T %E %D SAY S* A
?+4 ,C]TA9LY1 ,I WANT$ U 6BE Z M* (A
UNIT Z ANY1 A 8:OLE FAMILY0 9 :AT"E S5SE
0 POSSI#4 ,B ,I KNEW ,SUNNY _H NO FEEL+S
(! K9D4 ,I _H D"O Z ,M>Y ,BURNS _H RE-
QUE/$1 N"E BR++ UP 6,SUNNY H] ILL USE &
H] SELFI%;S & H] COLD _S2 & MY SI-   #HG
L;E1 ,I W SAY N[1 0 HURT;L 6ME1 = ,I DID
H A G5U9E FEEL+ = ,M>Y ,BURNS1 Z G5U9E A
FEEL+ Z ,I'D _H =A L;G "T1 & 6/& 0& WIT-
;S _! REL,NS CAUS$ ME SEV]E 4TRESS4 ,I 0
SIMPLY ANGRY AT ,SUNNY1 & S1 F9,Y1 ,I
?9K1 0 ,M>Y ,BURNS1 DEEPLY ANGRY & HURT1
& ?\< %E N"E SD A ^W 6! GIRL1 X SEEM$ TO
HAPP5 T %E 0 A4RESS+ ME AT ! 5D1 LOOK+
6ME =! R1SONS :Y MY DAU<T]1 AF NE>LY F\R
YE>S1 CD / 2 S PROF.DLY UNMOV$4
  ,T NI<T (! D.E1 ,M>Y ,BURNS QUIETLY
WAT*$ ME SWIM4 ,%E WAIT$ 6SP1K UNTIL ,I
0 D"O & _H PULL$ ON MY ROBE4 ,I SAT D[N
) H] AT ! \TDOOR TA#4 ,! AUTOMATIC LI<TS
ON ! /"O PA?S _H G"O ON1 & "! 0 A COPP]Y
GL[ RIS+ AG/ ! E>LY EV5+ SKY4
  8,I WI% WE CD H TALK$ 2F Y DECID$ ON
YR [N N 6-E TN40
  8,I CALL$ ? AFN10 ,I SD 6H]4 8,B Y 7
\40
  8,Y "K ,I 0 AT ! CLUB1 HELP+ )! DECO-
R,NS40 ,%E LOOK$ UPSET1 ?\< H] VOICE 0
/1DY & L[4 8,?\< ,I SUPPOSE X WDN'T H
MATT]$1 :E!R WE TALK$ OR N40
  8,SUNNY ISN'T FEEL+ S -=TA# AT !   #HH
MO;T4 ,Y M/ "U/& T ,I WI% 6SUPPORT H]40
  8,( C\RSE Y D10 %E SD1 EXASP]AT$4 ,%E
BRU%$ H] HAIR ) H] H&4 ,%E _H REC5TLY
*ANG$ ! COLOR1 F XS SILV]Y T"OS 6A V
PALE GOLD5 COLOR1 & ?\< X 0 H&"S1 ,I
WASN'T C]TA9 X BE/ SUIT$ H]4 ,%E APPE>$
M* "Y]1 & !N N1 & "S"TS ,I 0 UNSURE H[
6?9K ( H]4 8,LI/5 6ME1 ,FRANKL94 ,%E'S
YR DAU<T]1 & S Y "\ 6D "EY?+ Y C = H]4
,IF Y H EYES1 Y'VE SE5 T ,I'VE TRI$ 6D
MY "P40
  8,I "K Y H1 & ,I ?ANK Y40
  8,T'S N :Y ,I BR+ X UP10 %E SD %>PLY4
,%E PAUS$ & TOOK A BR1?4 8,I DIDN'T SP5D
"T ) ,SUNNY S Y'D 2 GRATE;L 6ME4 ,I
DIDN'T D X 2C ( Y1 OR EV5 S M* 6HELP Y4
,%E SEEM$ 6NE$ GUID.E1 ! K9D ( -PANY A
"M OR AUNT OR GR&"M C GIVE1 & ,I WANT$
6TRY 6(F] T4 ,I GUESS ,I 0 T]RIBLY WR;G4
,I 0 NAIVE4 ,B ,I'M AL N SORRY4 ,I WD D
X AG1 )\T HESIT,N4
  8,! R1SON ,I'M ANGRY TN IS T ,I ?9K Y
TR1T H] WR;GLY4 ,P]H Y DON'T "K X1 B Y
D4 ,I'VE ?"\ X F "T 6"T1 & ,I'M SORRY
,I'M S* A C[>D T ,I C ONLY SAY ?     #HI
6Y N[40
  ,I CLE>$ MY ?ROAT & SD1 SURPRIS+ MYF1
8,I "U/& T ,I'VE N D1LT ) ,SUNNY'S J1L-
\SY ( Y V E6ECTIVELY40
  ,? SEEM$ 6IRRITATE H]4 8,T'S N :AT
,I'M TALK+ AB4 ,T'S N X AT ALL40
  8,I TRY MY BE/ 6TR1T H] ) RESPECT10 ,I
SD4
  8,YES10 ,M>Y ,BURNS ANSW]$ E>NE/LY4
8,YES1 Y D4 ,Y TR1T H] L A GR[N WOMAN1 :
,I GUESS IS "U/&A# 2C %E'S V MATURE = H]
AGE40
  8,Y "K H[ M* ,I WANT H] 6BE 9DEP5D5T40
  8,YES1 %E IS10 %E REPLI$4 8,B X'S Z IF
%E'S A WOMAN 6:OM Y'RE 2HOLD51 : ,I C'T
"U/&4 ,I DON'T SEE ! R1SON4 ,Y'RE ! "O
:O WANT$ H]4 ,Y ADOPT$ H]4 ,B Y ACT ALM
GUILTY1 Z IF %E'S "S"O Y HURT ONCE1 OR
2TRAY$1 & N[ Y'RE OBLIG$ 6D :AT"E %E
WI%ES1 : IS N"E GD = ANY"O1 M* LESS A
*40
  8,? IS Q UNUSUAL1 ,M>Y1 6HE>1 B ,I'LL
?9K AB :AT Y SAY40
  8,= GD;S SAKE1 ,FRANKL91 Y DON'T ALW H
6ASS5T60 %E SD1 H] VOICE SU45LY      #IJ
RIS+4 ,I ?"\ %E WD SP1K MO/ %>PLY 6ME
!N4 ,B %E SEEM$ 6HE> H]F1 & ,I CD SEE !
3TROL %E 0 EX]CIS+ OV] H] FACE4 ,%E TOOK
A SIP ( H] IC$ TEA4 8,I MI<T 2 -PLETELY
WR;G1 ,FRANKL94 ,I HOPE ,I AM40
  8,I H ALW TRU/$ YR JUDG;T1 ,M>Y40
  8,YES4 ,I "K Y H40
  ,WE SAT 9 SIL;E AF T1 ! NI<T FA/ AP-
PROA*+1 ! CRICKETS J 2G9N+ 6>ISE 9 S;G4
,M>Y ,BURNS GL.ED AT ! H\SE1 6,SUNNY'S
B$ROOM W9D[1 : 0 / LI<T$4 ,%AD[S MOV$
AL;G A WALL4 ,!Y 7 ALR LATE =! D.E1 B X
DIDN'T SEEM 6MATT]4 ,X 0 "O ( ^? MO;TS T
APPE> 6TAKE ="E1 ?\< "SH[ "EY?+ 0 ! BET-
T] = X4 ,I DIDN'T WI% 6G FUR!R 9 ! 3V]-
S,N1 NOR DID %E1 & IF "! 0 "O TRUE ?+ T
WE %>$ DUR+ \R REL,NS1 X 0 T NEI ( U1 =
BETT] OR WORSE1 _H M* /OMA* = ^! 5GAGE-
;TS1 = TAK+ C]TA9 ISSUES 6! NEC L5G?S4
,WE R FLOAT$ ! DEEP WAT]S1 J B>ELY TR1D-
+1 AL? N[ ,I SEE H[ MY FR ,M>Y ,BURNS
HELD ON 6?+S M GRAVELY ?AN ,I1 C]TA9 NO-
;NS /AY+ ) H] L;G]1 M TI<TLY CLASP$1 S T
9 ! 5D WE 7 M* F>!R A"P 9 \R FEEL+S ?AN
,I _H "E IMAG9$4                     #IA
  ,SUNNY F9,Y CAME \ ! PATIO DOORS1
DRESS$ 9 A RESPL5D5T SWA? ( :ITE4 ,%E &
,M>Y ,BURNS _H DECID$ ON ! \TFIT TGR !
WEEK5D 2F1 ON A %OPP+ JUNKET D[N 6! C;Y4
,X 0 A V H&"S *OICE4 ,! DRESS CAME J UP
6H] D>KLY SUNTANN$ %\LD]S1 ! DELICATE
MAT]IAL CL++ 6H] TORSO B N S TI<TLY Z TO
2 9DEC5T1 ! H&"S DRAPE 3VEY+ ONLY ! SUG-
GES;N (! "Y WOMAN 2N4 ,B ! "Y WOMAN 0
C]TA9LY "!1 TOO1 ! NE> ADULT;S ( H]1 &!
SI<T ( T %APE MADE ME R1LIZE :Y %E _H
ASK$ ME 6REMA9 AT HOME4 ,X WASN'T AT ALL
:AT ,SUNNY _H SD 9 ! /ORE1 AB P LIK+ ME
TOO M*1 OR 7Z ,I _H IMAG9$ X7 H] J1L\SY
( ,M>Y ,BURNS1 OR EV5 :AT 0 V5TUR$ ( H[
,I TR1T$ H]1 : 0 PROBABLY TRUE 5\<4 ,X 0
H] BODILY PRES;E1 ! %E]1 2COM+ :AT;S (
H] LIMBS & SK9 & FACE & EYES4 ,%E 0 B1U-
TI;L1 YES4 ,EXCEP;N,Y S4 ,B X 0 AL ! O!R
"* ( H] B1UTY1 XS D>K & WILL;L VISAGE1 &
) X1 ! GR[+ M1SURE ( 9DEP5D;E %E WD EX]-
CISE OV] H] _W & OV] ME1 T %E _H HOP$ TO
KEEP HI45 A LL L;G]4

                                     #IB
























                   #D                #IC

  ,! C&Y /RIP]1 ,V]ONICA1 F9DS ME UNUSU-
,Y GD-NATUR$4 ,ALM "EY?+ ,I SAY MAKES H]
GR91 & H] FULL1 RU4Y FACE B1MS & BLU%ES
:5"E %E -ES 96MY ROOM ) H] C>T4 ,MO/ (!
C&Y /RIPE GIRLS >E \TGO+ & TALKATIVE &
EV5 A LL WAYW>DLY BRA%1 : IS NATUR,Y :Y
!Y D ! "W4 ,B ,V]ONICA1 %YI% & SWEET1
H1L?;LLY AMPLE1 )A %OCK+LY FULL H1D (
TI<T *E/NUT-BR[N CURLS1 IS ! SORT ( GIRL
Y WD WI% ^U ALL GD P :O H M\RN$ ! DEMISE
( T C>D9AL G5]OS;Y ( Y\?4
  ,V]ONICA1 ( C\RSE1 HAS LL C>E = S*
?+S4 ,%E IS UNFRETT+1 UNSEV]E4 ,%E "U/&S
H[ 6HE>T5 A PATI5T )A WIDE SMILE4 ,& N[1
AF TWO "DS & NI<TS1 %E F9DS ME FAMILI> &
TRU/WOR?Y1 5 S N 6BO!R 6KNOCK ON ! ALW
OP5 DOOR4 ,%E :EELS H] C>T 9SIDE ! ROOM
& !N UP 2S ! B$ RAIL+1 & GREETS ME )
*E]4
  8,W]E Y A# 6SLEEP AT ALL LA/ NI<T1
,FRANKL980 %E SAYS1 AUTOMATIC,Y FANN+ \
! SELEC;N ( MAGAZ9ES & BOOKS ATOP ! C>T4
,WE >E CLE>LY ON A F/ "N BASIS4 ,%E
C>RIES ! USUAL P]IODICALS1 CR1S$     #ID
MAGAZ9ES ( HOME & H1L? & LIFE/YLE1 B !
BOOKS >E MO/LY CRIME NOVELS & /ORIES (!
/RANGE &! O3ULT1 ALL ( : S(T-SPOK5 ,VE-
RONICA1 X SEEMS1 HAS *OS5 = H] SELEC;NS4
8,! NURSE SD Y 7 \ ( B$ A LOT1 WALK+ !
HALLS40
  8,I 0 SURE ,DOLLY DIDN'T SEE ME10 ,I
TELL H]4 8,X LOOK$ L %E 0 ! "O :O 0 GET-
T+ ALL ! SLEEP40
  8,T'S H] JOB10 ,V]ONICA SAYS1 & !N
A4S1 9 A DRAMATIC1 MIS*IEV\S T"O3 8,%E'S
! NURSE (! NI<T40
  8,V TRUE10 ,I REPLY1 WI%+1 ALL (A SUD-
D51 T ,I CD *ANGE \ ( MY HOSPITAL G[N &
A3OMPANY ,V]ONICA ON H] R.DS4 ,I SAY1
8,X APPE>S %E IS AL ! NURSE ( JELLY D\<-
NUTS4 ,& P]H ( PA/RY & PIE40
  8,YES10 ,V]ONICA CRIES1 ALM GLEE;L )!
GOSSIP4 8,I ?"\ ,I SAW *]RY FILL+ ON H]
%OES4 ,I DIDN'T SAY ANY?+1 B ,I 0 HALF
AFRAID X 0 BLOOD60
  8,H[ D WE "K X WASN'T80 ,I SAY1 "K+
:AT X TAKES 6GOAD H]4 8,T %E'D SIMPLY =-
GOTT5 6HIDE A CRIME80
  8,YES1 YES10 ,V]ONICA CRIES1       #IE
HALF-COV]+ H] M\?4 8,%E RAIDS ! BLOOD
CLOSET 9 ! MI4LE (! NI<T4 ,%E'S A <\L1 A
VAMPIRESS4 ,%E NE$S X 6LIVE1 B ONLY !
BLOOD ( "Y BOYS & GIRLS1 : %E C SMELL "?
! PACKETS40
  8,I HOPE ? M1NS ,I'M SAFE40
  8,NO "O IS SAFE10 ,V]ONICA /ATES1 ALM
S]I\SLY 5 6AL>M ME4 8,B Y1 ,FRANKL91 Y
>E4 ,EV5 ?\< Y'RE "Y AT HE>T40
  8,Y ?9K ,I AM8 ,"Y1 ,I M1N40
  8,DEF9ITELY10 %E TELLS ME1 H] VOICE
BUOYANT AG1 ! V]VE ( F\RTE54 8,B 9 A GD
WAY4 ,N L ! BOYS AT S*OOL1 :O >E ALL IN-
CR$IBLY LAME & /UPID4 ,Y'RE "Y L ?+S >E
ALW 2G9N+4 ,: ,I ?9K IS GRT40
  8,I ALW ?"\ P YR AGE ?9K 2+ GR[N UP IS
MO/ FA%IONA#40
  8,N ME1 ,I GUESS10 ,V]ONICA SAYS1 H&+
ME A /ACK ( MAGAZ9ES1 A BOOK ( ^W GAMES1
& AN OLD JIGSAW-PUZZLE BOX (! .,MONA
.,LISA1 ^: FAM\S MI51 ,I AM 2G9N+ 6?9K1
IS ! EXPRES.N (A "Y WOMAN 3C1L+ A PURE
FEEL+ ( JOY4 8,I DON'T WANT 6GR[ UP YET4
,X'S TOO M* TR\#4 ,& ,I DON'T C>E IF
,I'M N COOL4 ,I C WAIT40             #IF
  ,& S ? WE D1 TGR1 9 MY PRIVATE ROOM4
,I'M LUCKY1 = S9CE CA# TELEVI.N F9,Y >-
RIV$ AT ! HOSPITAL1 ! PATI5TS >E R1D+ F>
LESS1 & Z !Y DON'T REQUIRE T ! C&Y /RIP-
]S -E >.D 6!M Z (T5 ) MAT]IAL1 ,I H ,VE-
RONICA'S -PANY = PRETTY M* Z L;G Z ,I 7&
%E7 WI%4 ,%E LIVES 9 ! T[N ( ,E2+TON1 J
EA/ ( ,B$LEY ,RUN ON ! F> SIDE (A L>GE
C.TY RES]VOIR1 2S : ! TWO VILLAGES >E
SITUAT$4 ,?\< ,E2+TON IS N AT ALL ! SORT
( PLACE ,B$LEY ,RUN IS2 MO/LY X'S A "W+-
CLASS SUBURB ( DRAB1 UNADORN$ HOMES &
SMALL MOTEL-/YLE A"P;T -PLEXES4 ,:5 Y
DRIVE "? T[N Y NOTICE H[ ! TREES HANG A
BIT TOO CLOSELY OV] ! /REETS1 H[ ! BU%ES
& GRASSES >E KE5LY 9 NE$ ( PRUN+ & $G+ &
CLIPP+1 H[ ! MA9 ?OR\<F>E IS RIFE ) *A9
BUSI;SES & T[]+ SIGNS T GL[ & ROTATE &
BL9K4 ,9 ! OLD]1 QUIET] "P ( T[N1 "! >E
:AT SEEMS A 4PROPOR;NATELY HI< NUMB] (
AUTO REPAIR G>AGES & B1UTY SALONS &
*UR*ES & B>S1 ALL HALF-FAIL$ & DILAPI-
DAT+ 9 _! [N FA%ION1 & "O'S P]CEP;N IS T
:AT"E UNIQUE;S & *>MS ,E2+TON ONCE _H >E
2+ 9EXORABLY ABSORB$ 0L>G]1 EXT]-    #IG
NAL PRES;ES BO? UN"KN & 9VIT$4
  ,V]ONICA'S "M IS A ,B$LEY ,RUN POLICE
(FIC]1 :OM ,I'VE -E 6"K CASU,Y 9 ! C\RSE
( 2+ A VILLAGE M]*ANT2 H] "F1 :O US$ 6BE
AN (FIC] HMF 7&! POLICE *IEF ( ,E2+TON1
9 FACT71 LO/ 8 LIFE 9 A "S:AT NOTORI\S
LOCAL 9CID5T 9 : HE 0 CAU<T 9 A CROSS-
FIRE 2T 8 [N (FIC]S &A GR\P ( \-(-T[N
GAM#RS & LOAN %>KS ) :OM HE 0 5JOY+ !
EV5+4 ,I REMEMB] 9 ! NEWSPAP] >TICLES !
M5;N ( 8 WIFE & 9FANT DAU<T]1 :O 0 ,VE-
RONICA &! "Q ( :E!R !Y WD RCV 8 P5.N B5-
EFIT1 GIV5 ! UNUSUAL CIRCUM/.ES ( 8 D1?4
,!Y DID N1 & ,I 0 "O (! FEW :O TOOK AN
9T]E/ 9 _! WELF>E & WROTE & CALL$ 9 SUP-
PORT ( ,V]ONICA'S "M :5 ^W GOT \ T %E _H
APPLI$ =! (FIC]'S POSI;N 9 ,B$LEY ,RUN
7\R T[N'S ,*IEF ,HE>NS 2+ A L;G"T AC-
QUA9T.E ( M9E74 ,AF %E GOT ! JOB1 ,(FIC]
,-O WD (T5 D\#-P>K H] CRUIS] "R 9 FRONT
( ,SUNNY ,M$ICAL :ILE %E GOT H] LUN* D[N
! /REET AT ! DELI OR >.D ! CORN] = TAKE-
\T *ICK51 Z IF %E 0 LETT+ "EY"O "K T %E
WD 2 EXTRA VIGILANT OV] MY /ORE1 : MO/LY
M1NT W>N+ (F ! PETTY V&ALS4 ,WE      #IH
R>ELY EX*ANG$ M ?AN A FEW ^WS1 ALW SIM-
PLY A WAVE &A GREET+1 & X WASN'T UNTIL
,V]ONICA M5;N$ YE/]"D :AT H] "M DID =A
LIV+ T ,I PUT TGR :O !Y W]E4
  ,X "PICUL>LY HE>T5S ME1 9 LI<T ( ?1 TO
SEE H[ WELL ,V]ONICA HAS GR[N UP4 ,Z WE
R1D QUIETLY TGR "H 9 ? /]ILE1 UNPAP]$
GRAY ROOM1 ME )A G>D5+ MAGAZ9E & ,V]ONI-
CA A POCKET MURD] MY/]Y ) GRUE"S1 DRIP-
PY1 RAIS$ LR+ ON XS TATT]$ COV]1 ,I H TO
WOND] :AT MI<T H -E ( H] _H J "O ?+
TURN$ DI6]5TLY !N--SAY1 _H H] "F SURVIV$
! %OOT+1 OR H] "M N F.D A JOB4
  ,S M* (! PUBLIC DEBATE & 4CUS.N ^! "DS
IS AB ! AL>M+ FRAGIL;Y (A P]SON'S E>LY
YE>S1 H[ CRITIC,Y ! "TS & CIRCUM/.ES C
A6ECT "O'S "* & \TLOOK & EV5 AC;NS4 ,S !
ABID+ PHILOSOPHY IS 6HELP A WAYW>D * DE-
VELOP 96A PRODUCTIVE MEMB] (! -MUN;Y1 OR
IF IGNOR$1 RISK ALL[+ "S"O ( ESS5TI,Y
DEC5T NATURE 62COME AN ADULT ^: SOCIAL
9T]AC;NS >E FRAU<T & DI6ICULT1 OR EV5
PA?OLOGICAL1 CRIM9AL4 ,H[ DID ,V]ONICA1
F ! />T "F.S1 H] FAMILY /IGMATIZ$1 GR[
96H] [N F9E SELF8 ,:AT DID H] "M1    #II
,(FIC] ,-O1 D 65LI/ ! NATIVE GRACE & GD
9 H] DAU<T]'S HE>T8 ,OR DID X ALL HAPP5
0ORD9,N1 0! SLI<T *.E ( ,2+1 T ,V]ONICA
&! RE/ ( U H ACTU,Y "O /RA9 ( LIFE1 & "O
/RA9 ONLY1 & T ! SEEM+ V>I,NS >E B "PIC-
UL> 3T\RS1 ! "EY"D ADORN;TS8
  ,S* Z1 ,I'M 3SID]+ N[1 MY 2+ "H 9 !
HOSPITAL1 SU6]+ -PLIC,NS 9 ! AFMA? (!
SMOKE 9HAL,N4 ,! FIRE 9 ! FAMILY ROOM 0
TWO "DS AGO1 & ,LIV ,CRAW=D HAS CALL$ M
?AN A FEW "TS 6LET ME "K T 8H] BOYS0 >E
J AB F9I%$ )! R5OV,NS (! DAMAGE1 S T !
PROP]TY W 2 FULLY 8RE/OR$0 & 8SECURE40
,NO D\BT PRI/9E & PUR*AS]-R1DY4 ,B !N "!
IS MY SITU,N4 ,DR4 ,WEIL IS SURE T ,I'M
RECOV]$1 B F :AT ,I "K & FEEL1 ,I'M ALM
C]TA9 T ,I'M PLEURITIC1 Z MY LUNGS DON'T
SEEM 6BE IMPROV+ ! WAY !Y %D4 ,MY *E/ /
FEELS L1D5 & /RAITJACKET$ & G5],Y \ (
SORTS4 ,I'M BR1?+ WELL 5\<1 B EV5 ! LI<T
ACTIV;Y ( TALK+ ) ,V]ONICA 7Z WELL Z MY
/OL5 W&]+S LA/ NI<T 9 ! CORRIDORS7 SEEMS
6BE TAK+ A DEEP TOLL ON MY 5]GY4 ,& !N
"! IS ! O!R1 UNRELAT$ -PLIC,N T HAS
>IS51 "O F> WORSE 9 MY M9D 7& _S-   #AJJ
SAPP+71 : IS T ,I SU45LY H AN ONSET (!
%+LES4 ,"! IS AN ALM CAU/IC 4COM=T 9 MY
L[] *E/ & !N D[N MY "R >M & "R LEG1 :AT
FEELS L L9ES ( 9T]NAL BURNS T %>PLY
PRICKLE & IT* & A*E4 ,"! IS NO EXPRES.N
Z YET1 NO \TW>D SIGN ( RA%ES OR BLI/]S1
: ,I WDN'T 2 3C]N$ AB EI WAY1 EXCEPT T
,I WDN'T WANT ,V]ONICA 6SEE !M & ?9K X 0
BETT] 6L1VE ME AL"O1 6LET ME RE/4
  ,= 2+ AL"O IS ! LA/ ?+ ,I WD WI% = N[1
: IS PROBABLY /RANGE1 GIV5 H[ ,I'VE CON-
DUCT$ MO/ ALL ! "DS ( MY LIFE4 ,SAVE !
"T T ,SUNNY SP5T ) ME1 ,I'VE "KN MYF BE/
Z A SOLIT>Y P]SON1 & AL? ,I'VE ALW BE5
A# 65JOY ! -PANY ( O!RS1 ,I'VE SE5 MYF
MO/ CLE>LY :5 ,I'M (F ON MY [N1 )\T O!RS
9 ! MIX4 ,? MAY SEEM AN OBVI\S MODE =
MO/1 B ,I ?9K A SURPRIS+ NUMB] ( P PREF]
6IMAG9E !MVS "? A FILT] ( ASSOCI,NS &
L9KS1 P]H ,M>Y ,BURNS 2+ AN EXAMPLE (A
P]SON :O PREDOM9ANTLY ID5TIFI$ H]F 9 ?
MANN]1 "? ! LIVES ( H] DAU<T]S & H] LATE
HUSB&1 H] C.TRY CLUB & H] *>ITIES1 & !N1
POSSIBLY1 "? H] ATTEMPT$ REL,NS )
,SUNNY1 &) ME4 ,"! IS NO?+ 9H]5T-   #AJA
LY WR;G ) ?4 ,9DE$1 "! 0 A "T :5 ,I HELD
MY [N ASSOCI,NS Q CLOSE 6:O ,I WAS1 9 !
YE>S L1D+ UP 6& DUR+ ! ,PACIFIC W>1 :5 9
! C\RSE ( EV5TS "O NATUR,Y A3EPT$ ! W>"T
CULTURE ( %>$ SACRIFICE & MILIT>Y CODES
( 3DUCT4 ,B !N ,I EV5TU,Y REL9QUI%$ ^?
TIES =! RELATIVE FREEDOMS ( "EY"D1 CI-
VILIAN LIFE1 & !N F9,Y DECID$ 6L1VE ,JA-
PAN ALT1 =! RELATIVE--?\< V DI6]5T--LIB-
]TIES ( ,AM]ICA4
  ,?\< "H1 9 MY T[N & E T[N1 ESPECI,Y :5
Y R1* MY AGE1 Y SADLY F9D T ! MO/ AVAIL-
A# FREEDOM IS 6LIVE AL"O4 ,"! IS AN
AL>M+ SURPLUS (! "R4 ,& ?\< "EY"O A3EPTS
?1 X'S UNCLE> 6ME :E!R ANY"O TRULY PRE-
F]S X S4 ,FEW SEEM SATISFI$ )! FAMILIAL
"* ( _! LATT] YE>S4 ,EV5 ,M>Y ,BURNS1 :O
NO D\BT TAU<T H] DAU<T]S ! VALUE ( FAMI-
LY1 F.D T !Y HONOR$ H] TRA9+ ( !M 0KEEP+
6!MVS1 Z IF H] 9VOLVE;T WD 2 AN ADULT]A-
;N4 ,!Y DIDN'T VISIT Z (T5 Z %E WI%$1
NOR ( C\RSE DID !Y "E ASK IF %E WD L 6-E
LIVE ) !M AF ,DR4 ,BURNS DI$1 & EV5 AF
H] FR%IP ) ME CAME 6XS ABRUPT1 UNPL1SANT
5D4 ,!Y LET H] BE4 ,H] DAU<T]S'     #AJB
4T.E 0 AN "E-DEEP5+ 4APPO9T;T 6H] 7EV5
IF %E N"E RE,Y EXPECT$ !M 6BE P]FECTLY
EMBRAC+ & FILIAL71 & ?\< %E R>ELY SPOKE
( X1 ,I "K N[ X 0 "O (! R1SONS :Y %E 0 S
WILL+ 6SP5D "T ) ,SUNNY1 & :Y ANY "T 0 /
BETT] ?AN N"O4
  ,V]ONICA1 :O IS N[ NI2L+ ON H] F+]-
NAILS1 "O 0"O1 Z %E FLIPS ! PAGES ( H]
BOOK1 HAS ALR TOLD ME T %E WANTS 6LIVE
AT HOME Z L;G Z POSSI#1 "? COLLEGE & 2Y1
AT L1/ UNTIL %E GETS M>RI$4 ,%E WAITS 9
MY ROOM = H] "M1 :O W -E 6PICK H] UP4
,V]ONICA'S FUTURE HUSB&1 :O ,V]ONICA IS
C]TA9 W 2 A SCULPTOR OR A POLICEMAN OR
BO?1 W H 6LOVE ,(FIC] ,-O Z M* Z %E
DOES4 ,V]ONICA H]F W 2 A TRAVEL AG5T &
MURD] MY/]Y WRIT] &! PR\D "M ( SEV5 B"R-
EY$1 IMM1SURABLY HAPPY GIRLS4 ,%E
DOESN'T C>E IF !Y'RE N B1UTI;L1 9 FACT
HOPES T !Y >5'T1 = %E HAS SE5 ALR H[ "S
(! PRETTIE/ GIRLS 9 H] CLASS H 2COME
4TANT & SUP]IOR & :OLLY UNG5]\S1 & "PIC-
UL>LY H[ ! BLOND1 SLIM1 PROTUB]ANTLY EN-
D[$ ,BRITTANY1 ! SELF-APPO9T$ H1D (!
%R9K+ CADRE ( C&Y /RIP]S1 W H>DLY   #AJC
EV5 LOOK AT H]1 Z IF DO+ S WD 2 69VITE
C]TA9 P]SONAL DOOM4
  ,MY 9ITIAL IMPULSE IS 6TELL ,V]ONICA
H[ %E'S ABSOLUTELY "R1 H[ 9 ? _W 7OR !
"O WE'VE MADE7 B1UTY IS ! SCANTE/ B.S+1
& H[1 DESPITE ! APPE>.E ( "E-2/[$ GLORY
& CELEBR,N1 X IS MO/LY MALICE & MIS]Y T
>E RETURN$ 6! BE>]4 ,I "K ? N[1 N F MY
[N APPE>.E1 B F D1L+ ) ,SUNNY :5 %E R1*$
A C]TA9 MATUR;Y4 ,%E 0 B1UTI;L1 & 9 ALL
! -PLICAT$ WAYS ,I'VE ALR M5;N$2 ,SUNNY
?US $UCAT$ ME4 ,9 REG>D 6MYF1 ,I'VE (T5
BE5 TOLD ,I H A Y\?;L1 G5IAL APPE>.E1 &
AM EV5 A BIT H&"S4 ,I REMEMB] :AT ,M>Y
,BURNS ONCE REM>K$1 AF ! F/ :OLE NI<T WE
SP5T TGR4 ,WE 7 9 MY B$ROOM1 & H] _S 0
EBULLI5T )! CLE> LI<T (! MORN+4 ,%E ROSE
ON H] ELB[ & /RET*$1 H] EXPOS$ BACK /
LI! & IMPRESSIVELY A?LETIC1 & !N %E LAY
D[N & GAZ$ AT ME F CLOSE RANGE1 Z IF %E
7 TRAC+ ) H] EYES ! %APE ( MY LIPS &
NOSE & BR[4 ,I CLE>$ MY ?ROAT & SAT UP4
  8,I'M SORRY10 %E SD1 BLU%+4 8,I'M 2+
T]RIBLY RUDE4 ,I DON'T M1N 6BE ODD4 ,Y
M/ 2 WOND]+40                       #AJD
  ,S ,I SD1 8,Y'RE MAK+ SURE ,I'M ! MAN
Y MET LA/ NI<T80
  8,NO10 %E SD1 SMIL+ EASILY4 8,I'M N4
,X'S J T YR FACE IS S UNLIKE MY LATE
HUSB&'S1 ,I C'T TELL Y4 ,BRADLEY _H S*
SEV]E F1TURES1 A L;G1 N>R[ NOSE & DEEP-
SET EYES &A JUTT+ *94 ,HE 0 A7RESSIVE1 9
APPE>.E4 ,Y H A WOND];L G5TLE;S 6YR
FACE4 ,A S(T] L9E 6"EY?+40 ,%E SMIL$ &
LI<TLY KISS$ MY %\LD]4 8,GD;S1 LI/5 6ME4
,I'M SORRY ,I'M TALK+ L ?4 ,I'M GO+ TO
SC>E Y AWAY40
  ,I DIDN'T1 OR CDN'T1 REPLY1 : WASN'T
MY 9T5;N1 Z ,I DIDN'T M9D 9 ! L1/ :AT
%E'D SD1 B ,I _H ! URGE 6GET UP & DRESS
& 2G9 T ,SUN"D L ANY O!R1 AL? ,I _H ALR
SLEPT "? MY SWIM "T4 ,SUNNY _H BE5 D[N-
/AIRS = "S "T1 W>M+ UP H] H&S ) M9OR
SCALES1 UP & D[N1 9 ! DIZZY+ S]IES4 ,I
PULL$ ON A ROBE & TOLD ,M>Y T ,I 0 GO+
D[N 6PUT ! WAT] ON = \R TEA4 ,I SU7E/$
%E TAKE A HOT1 SOAK+ BA?4 ,%E NO4$1 & F
H] W1K5$ EXPRES.N ,I CD TELL %E WANT$ ME
6/AY J A MO;T L;G]1 T WE MI<T -PLETE !
3V]S,N4 ,B ,SUNNY _H 2GUN PLAY+     #AJE
9T5TLY &! NI<T 0 D"O1 & X SEEM$ CLE> ,I
%D G D[N/AIRS & 2 PRES5T = H]4
  ,"! _H BE5 9DIC,NS T ,M>Y'S "E-9CR1S+
PRES;E 0 4TURB+ 6,SUNNY1 Z %E _H SEEM$
6BE PRACTIC+ M F]V5TLY 9 ! PREC$+ WEEKS1
"PICUL>LY :5 ,M>Y 0 OV] AT ! H\SE4 ,%E
TOOK H] W>M-UP EX]CISES AT AN 9CR$IBLY
FA/ M1SURE1 RUNN+ "? !M Z ?\< %E 7 AT-
TEMPT+ 6TWI/ UP H] F+]S4 ,! PIECES !MVS
%E P]=M$ Q RUDELY1 Z IF %E WD TR\NCE !M4
,%E DIDN'T MISS A NOTE1 B ! FEEL+ 9 !
PLAY+ 0 UTT]LY P]V]SE 6:AT X %D H BE51 Z
?\< %E 7 CRITIQU+ R ?AN EXPLOR+ ! -POSI-
;NS4 ,M>Y WD -;T AG H[ TAL5T$ & SKILL$
,SUNNY WAS1 H[ DEXT]\S & PRECOCI\S1 & ,I
N"E ?"\ 6CORRECT H] APPRAISALS1 EV5 ?\<
! P]=M.ES 7 9 FACT MAUDL9 & PROBABLY IN-
SULT+ 6H]1 Z !Y C]TA9LY 7 6ME4 ,I F.D !M
Q %AM+4 ,& Z M* Z ,I TRI$1 ,I CDN'T IN-
CULCATE ! SAME S5SE 9 ,SUNNY1 Z %E PRE-
T5D$ N 6"K :AT ,I 0 TALK+ AB4
  8,I'M TRY+ MY V BE/1 ,POPPA10 %E'D SAY
9NOC5TLY1 ) H] D>K BR[N EYES GAZ+ /1D-
FA/LY UP 96M9E4 8,Y SEE T ,I AM1 DON'T
Y80                                 #AJF
  ,JAPANESE "FS >E FAM\SLY OV]G5]\S 6_!
*N 7Q ! OPPOSITE ( :AT MO/ ,WE/]N]S WD
PRESUME & WI% 6?9K71 EXTREMELY P]MISSIVE
& OBLIG+ ) _! LL "OS1 & S X 0 Q NORMAL T
,I %D 2 Z WELL2 ?\< )A GIRL L ,SUNNY1 ,I
%D PROBABLY H EX]CIS$ M RIGOR & /]N;S4
,B Z X (T5 WAS1 ,I LET ! ISSUE G 9 FAVOR
( MOV+ =W>D1 6! NEXT H\R & "D4 ,MY HOPE
0 T %E WD *ANGE Z %E GREW 96A "Y WOMAN1
& T ! M9OR 9DIC,NS ( WILL;L;S WD GRADU,Y
FALL F H] L ANY *'S CLUT* ^U A SECUR;Y
BLANKET4
  ,I1 TOO1 _H BE5 A DI6ICULT *4 ,= ME1 X
0 ! H1DY "T ( ADOLESC;E T UNMASK$ & CL>-
IFI$ MY S5SE ( OBLIG,NS1 S M* S T ,I N[
VIEW T P]IOD Z ! TRUE 2G9N+ ( 8MY LIFE40
,? 0 :5 ,I F/ APPRECIAT$ ! -=TS ( R1L
P]SONHOOD1 & XS ATT5DANT SECRETS1 AM;G :
IS ! H>MONI\S REL,N 2T A SELF & 8 SOCIE-
TY4 ,"! IS A MUTUALISM T AT XS ID1L IS
BO? P[];L & LIB]AT+4 ,= ME1 X 0 R1DILY
L1V+ ! N>R[ EXI/;E ( MY FAMILY & \R <ET-
TO ( HIDE TANN]S & R5D]]S4 ,MO/ ALL ( U
7 E?NIC ,KOR1NS1 ?\< WE SPOKE & LIV$ Z
,JAPANESE1 IF "OS 9 TWILI<T4 ,(     #AJG
C\RSE1 ,I DIDN'T L1VE ON MY [N4 ,NO "O (
MY FAMILY'S CIRCUM/.E CD EXPECT 6*ANGE 8
/,N1 AT L1/ )\T A LIFE"T ( /RU7LE4 ,B ,I
0 =TUNATE 6SCORE EXCEP;N,Y HI< ON S"EAL
A*IEVE;T TE/S1 & 0 "O (A FEW BOYS ( MY
K9D 6BE ID5TIFI$ & 5ROLL$ 9 A SPECIAL
S*OOL 9 ! NE>BY L>GE C;Y4
  ,I LIV$ )A WELL-TO-D *ILD.S C\PLE1 A
GE> FACTORY [N] & 8 WIFE1 :O TR1T$ ME Z
WELL Z A SON1 PROVID+ ME ) E MAT]IAL NE$
& ADVANTAGE4 ,I REMEMB] 2+ A3OMPANI$ 0!M
ON ! F/ "D ( S*OOL1 9 MY NEW S]GE UNI=M
) BRASS BUTTONS T !Y _H FITT$ J = ME1 &
H[ ! O!R BOYS _H LET U PASS )\T EV5 A
MURMUR1 ? PROM95T FAMILY ,KUROHATA 7A
"N1 Z IS SELF-EVID5T1 ,I'VE S9CE %ORT-
5$74 ,I ?9K ( !M MO/ W>MLY1 Z ,I D MY
NATURAL P>5TS1 B 6NEI WD ,I ASCRIBE !
BUSI;S ( HAV+ RE>$ ME1 = X SEEMS CLE> T
X 0 ! PURPOSE;L SOCIETY T DID S1 & RE,Y
NO?+ & NO "O ELSE4 ,I 0 M ?AN GRATE;L4
,& ,I KNEW EV5 !N Z A BOY ( TWELVE H[ ,I
%D ALW GIVE MYF OV] 6XS VIGIL.E1 5TRU/+
6XS C>E "EY?+ ,I CD "K OR "E HOPE =4
  ,MY ,SUNNY1 ,I ?"\1 WD D M* !     #AJH
SAME4 ,N 2 S ?ANK;L OR 2HOLD5 6ME1 NEC-
ESS>ILY1 B AT L1/ %E'D 2 "S:AT APPRECIA-
TIVE (! PROVID;E ( 9/ITU;NS T BR"\ H] F
! SQUALOR (! ORPHANAGE--! BE/ ( : C 2
ONLY S HAPPY--6AN ORD]LY1 WELCOM+ SUB-
URBAN HOME 9 ,AM]ICA1 )A HOPE;L "F ( L-
5 RACE & SU6ICI5T M1NS4 ,B N[1 SITT+ )
,V]ONICA ,I R1LIZE ! OBVI\S MISTAKES T 7
MADE 9 REG>D 6,SUNNY4 ,F/LY1 ,I %DN'T H
MADE MY DESIRE =A * S P>AM.T Z 6CL\D MY
GD JUDG;T1 : IS :AT HAPP5$ :5 ,I 0 9T]-
VIEW$ 0! WOMAN AT ! AG5CY4 ,%E _H W>N$
ME ON ! TELEPH"O T X 0 EXCE$+LY R>E =A
S+LE MAN 6BE GRANT$ AN ADOP;N1 T 9 FACT
"! 0 NO PREC$5T = X & S RE,Y NO R1SON =A
MEET+4 ,I 9SI/$1 & :5 WE MET FACE-TO-
FACE %E 0 A# 6"U/& ! E>NE/;S ( MY DESIRE
=A *1 ?\< ( C\RSE E>NE/;S %D N"E 2 SOLE-
LY 5\<4 ,I BR"\ AL;G A L>GE DON,N 6!
AG5CY1 ? 2Y ! REGUL> EXP5SES1 Z WELL Z A
L SUM =! WOMAN1 : ,I EXPLA9$ Z A MO/
PROP] GIFT 9 MY =M] HOMEL&1 & : WD 2
FOLL[$ 0ANO!R4 ,? WASN'T ACTU,Y PROP]1
H["E1 B %E /OPP$ TALK+ & 4CREETLY SLIPP$
! RICE PAP]-WRAPP$ PACKAGE 96H]     #AJI
DESK DRAW]1 & ON MY WAY \ %E SD %E WD
SEE :AT 0 POSSI# =A MAN 9 MY SPECIAL
SITU,N4
  ,MY SECOND ]ROR 0 9SI/+ ON A FEMALE
9FANT OR *1 :5 ,I %D H "KN T A GIRL WD
LIKELY D BE/ )A MAT]NAL PRES;E4 ,B ,I
WANT$ A GIRL1 A DAU<T]--,I 0 7Z ,I ?9K (
X N[7 /RANGELY UNMOVA# ON ! ISSUE--& 9 !
5D ! AG5CY WOMAN CALL$ 6SAY !Y _H F.D
"O1 )\T ANY FUR!R EXPLAN,N4 ,MY DESIRE =
A GIRL 0 UN"KN 6ME "R UP 6! MO;T ! AG5CY
WOMAN SPOKE ( LOCAT+ A BOY = ME1 B ,I
9T]RUPT$ H] IMMLY & EXPLA9$ H[ ,I'D ALW
HOP$ =A DAU<T]1 ! ^WS SU45LY /R1M+ F MY
M\? Z ?\< ,I'D L;G PRACTIC$ ! SPEE*4 ,I
F.D MYF SP1K+ (A -PLETE;S1 ! UNIT>Y BOND
(A DAU<T] & "F4 ,( H>MONY & BAL.E4 ,!
WOMAN SEEM$ IMPRESS$1 OR PRET5D$ 6BE1 &
:5 %E CALL$ S"EAL WEEKS LAT] ) NEWS (A
SUITA# ORPHAN1 A GIRL F ! C;Y ( ,PUSAN1
9 ,KOREA1 ,I 0 OV]COME )A FEEL+ T ,I C
ONLY DESCRIBE Z RELIEF4 ,"! 7 NO ,JAPA-
NESE *N AVAILA#1 B X DIDN'T MATT] 6ME
ANYMORE4 ,I ?"\ ONLY (! MO;T ( H]
>RIVAL1 : ,I _H HOP$ WD S]VE 6M>K   #AAJ
! RECOMM;E;T ( MY "DS4

  ,X IS HALF PA/ SIX1 & ,V]ONICA'S %IFT
IS ALL B D"O4 ,TOO SOON1 ,I ?9K1 H] "M W
CURL ! BLUE-&-:ITE POLICE CRUIS] >.D !
P>K+ CIRCLE & LET ! SIR5 :OOP %>PLY J
ONCE1 6LET H] "K %E'S "!4 ,I'M 6BE 4*>G$
0,DR4 ,WEIL 9 ! MORN+1 & Z ,V]ONICA'S
%IFT DOESN'T />T UNTIL MID-AFN1 ,I WON'T
SEE H] AG UN.S ,I MAKE A SPECIAL TRIP1 :
,I W 3SID]1 = ,I "K1 TOO1 T ,MRS4 ,HICK-
EY'S SON1 ,PATRICK1 IS 9 ! *N'S ,,ICU4
,MRS4 ,HICKEY CALL$ E>LY ? MORN+ 6!
NURSES' /,N 6*ECK ON MY 3DI;N1 & ?\< ,I
0 F9E 6TALK ,I ASK$ ,NURSE ,DOLLY 6TELL
H] ,I 0 / SLEEP+4 ,WE'D MADE T5TATIVE
PLANS 6MEET "H AT ! HOSPITAL1 &( C\RSE
MY UNEXPECT$ /AY WD SEEM GD TIM+ 7(A
SORT7 =A VISIT1 B A "P ( ME DOESN'T WANT
6TALK 6,MRS4 ,HICKEY J N[1 OR EV5 SEE H]
FACE4
  ,LA/ NI<T AT ?REE1 :ILE ,NURSE ,DOLLY
0 NAPP+1 ,I UNHOOK$ MYF F ! MONITORS &
ROSE F MY B$4 ,I CREPT PA/ ! NURSES' /,N
6! ELEVATOR BANK1 & ?\< ,I WASN'T   #AAA
9T5D+ X1 :5 ! DOORS OP5$ ,I PRESS$ !
BUTTON =! SIX? FLOOR1 6! UNIT ": ,PAT-
RICK ,HICKEY LAY4
  ,I REMEMB]$ ! ROOM NUMB] F ,MRS4
,HICKEY1 : 0 EASY = ME 6NOTE 2C X 0 AL !
"N ( AN ANTI-BACT]IAL TR1T;T WE (T5 US$
DUR+ ! W>1 A SOLU;N ( ,SALV>SAN T 0 "KN
Z 8#FJF10 ! NUMB] ( XS -P.D DENOT,N4
,X'S "O ( ^? QUE] NUMB]S T C APPE> ) IN-
EXPLICA# FREQU5CY 9 "O'S LIFE4 ,9 ANY
CASE1 ! DOOR 6! ROOM 0 AJ>1 & ,I SLIPP$
9 )\T A S.D1 N HAV+ 6TRIP ! LAT*4 ,I 0
BR1?+ ) "S LABOR1 ?\<1 F ! EX];N ( WALK+
QKLY & P]H ! O4;S ( :AT ,I 0 DO+1 : 9
RETROSPECT 0 -PLETELY SILLY4 ,) FL[]S OR
A /U6$ ANIMAL 9 H&1 ,I CD H ASK$ "O (!
NURSES IF ,I CD 5T] & LOOK AT HM1 & !Y
WD H SIMPLY WAV$ ME IN4 ,9/1D ,I /OLE
9SIDE ! HALF-LI<T$ ROOM1 PA4+ BR1?.SLY 9
MY SLIPP]S T[>D 8 B$4 ,HE 0 TAK+ OXYG51
: WASN'T :AT MADE HM APPE> S 2SET & WAN2
X 0 T HE 0 AMAZ+LY SLI<T & SMALL1 Z ?\<
HE 7 F\R OR FIVE YE>S OLD 9/1D ( EI<T4
,) 8 W1K5$ HE>T1 HE'D N"E GR[N Z HE %D
H1 8 WRI/S TOO DELICATE1 X SEEM$1   #AAB
EV5 6LIFT ! T9Y H&S4 ,B X 0 ! F1TURES (
8 FACE T ,I CD N LOOK AWAY F1 8 BRU% (
HAIR1 8 NOSE1 8 T5D]1 SCANT M\?4 ,! %E]
LIDS ( 8 EYES4 ,HE LOOK$ L 8 "M1 IF 8 "M
7 BOYI% & UN=M$4 ,HE LAY )A %EET PULL$
UP 6HIS NECK1 & ,I _H A /R;G IMPULSE TO
DRAW X BACK S T ,I MI<T SEE 8 *E/1 ": !Y
WD OP5 HM IF !Y CD F9D A SUITA# HE>T4
  ,ONCE1 DUR+ ! W>1 ,I WIT;S$ \R \TPO/'S
DOCTOR PULL A"P ! RIBS (A MAN 9 ORD] TO
H&-MASSAGE 8 HE>T4 ,X'S A /RANGE TE*-
NIQUE 6SEE1 ! PROC$URE AT ONCE ,GOD-L &
L[LY ANIMAL4 ,! PATI5T 0 A ,BURMESE MAN1
A COB#R :O 0 F.D /1L+ F ! SUPPLY T5T &
:O 0 3DEMN$ 6D1? 02H1D+4 ,B ! DOCTOR1 A
,CAPTA9 ,ONO1 ASK$ ! -M&+ (FIC] IF HE WD
-MUTE ! S5T;E & GIVE ! MAN OV] 6HM1 =
PURPOSES ( 9/RUC;N4 ,S ! MORN+ ( 8 EXE-
CU;N1 ! COB#R 0 BR"\ 6! M$ICAL T5T 9/1D
(! KILL+ Y>D1 ": ,CAPTA9 ,ONO GA!R$ U
M$ICS & 9T]E/$ O!RS1 9CLUD+ ! -M&]1 &
PUT HM 96A HALF-SLEEP )A RAG SOAK$ 9
E!R4 ,! DOCTOR1 GLOVE.S1 MASK.S1 Z 7 !
RE/ ( U1 QKLY CUT D[N 8 *E/ )A SCALPEL &
!N US$ ! B"O SAW &! SPR1D] & PU%$   #AAC
ASIDE ! MAN'S LUNGS 6REV1L 8 SL[LY B1T+1
SL[LY GALLOP+ HE>T4 ,X 0 ALL MO/ UNR1L4
,CAPTA9 ,ONO HMF SEEM$ NONPLUSS$4 ,HE
TOOK A PA4LE 3NECT$ 6A MODIFI$ FIELD
TELEPH"O )A CRANK1 : HE TURN$ QKLY S"EAL
"TS1 & !N ASK$ U 6GIVE ROOM4 ,HE FLIPP$
ON A SWIT* & !N T\*$ ! PA4LE 6! HE>T4 ,X
L1P$ 96A FA/] RHY?M1 & !N X /OPP$4 ,HE
/OOD "! = :AT SEEM$ TOO L;G A MO;T1 & !N
) 8 H& R\<LY GRA2$ ! COB#R'S HE>T & 2GAN
SQUEEZ+4 ,HE DID ? RHY?MIC,Y &) GRT PUR-
POSE UNTIL X 2GAN B1T+ AG4 ,X 0 NE>LY
MAGICAL4 ,HE WI%$ 6%[ U A POSSI# EM]G5CY
MANEUV] 9 ! FIELD1 9 9/.ES (! MO/ GRIEV-
\S TRAUMA4 ,?\< 6ME X SEEM$ M ACADEMIC
?AN ANY?+ ELSE4 ,HE REP1T$ ! EX]CISE
?REE OR F\R "TS1 : SURPRIS$ HM 5 T HE
-;T$ ^U ! VITAL;Y (! "PICUL> ORGAN1 UN-
TIL ! LA/ "T1 :5 8 H& MASSAGE DIDN'T "W4
,HE T\*$ ! HE>T )! PA4LE B NO?+ HAPP5$1
& HE ATTEMPT$ ANO!R MANIPUL,N1 MAK+ A
F9AL REM>K ON ! IMPORT.E ( 3SI/5T1 VIG-
OR\S AC;N4 ,!N ! 9/RUC;N 0 OV]4 ,CAPTA9
,ONO WIP$ 8 H&S )! E!RIZ+ RAG1 &! COB#R1
SOLEMNLY AGAPE1 0 C>T$ AWAY4        #AAD
  ,I WOND]$ IF ,I CD P]=M ! SAME ON
,PATRICK1 IF "S?+ T]RI# 7 6HAPP5 & 8
MONITORS AL>M$ & NO "O ELSE CD -E4 ,IF
,I HELD ! KNIFE 9 MY H&1 CD ,I MAKE !
QK1 DEEP CUT ON HM1 CD ,I R1* 9SIDE1
H&LE ! ?+1 SU/A9 HM =! NEC "T8 ,! M$IC
AIMS 6KEEP A W.D$ -RADE )9 ! R1LM ( 2+
SAV$ 0A LE>N$ PROFES.NAL1 & 9 ? RESPECT
,I ?9K ,I 0 MO/LY GD 5\<4 ,6C1SE A HEM-
ORRHAG+1 GET A MAN 6BR1! AG4 ,PUMP D[N
ON A /ILL$ HE>T4 ,X IS ! MODE ,I'VE -E
6"K1 T ,I'M A# 6SORT \ & A4RESS ! PRIM>Y
4A/]1 AT L1/4 ,B ! ONGO+ TR\#1 ! *RONIC1
-PLICAT$ DI6ICULTY (! K9D ,PATRICK
,HICKEY'S P>5TS H FAC$ ! LA/ FEW YE>S (
8 LIFE IS ! "O T %AKES ME F ALL MY 3FI-
D;ES4 ,6BE TRU?;L1 ,I AM SURE ,I'M N A
CR1TURE :O 0 MADE 65DURE4 ,I'M N A L;G-
*ASE ANTELOPE4 ,I'M DESIGN$ 6)/& ! H>D1
SWIFT *>GES1 OR ELSE AM R1DILY OV]COME4
,& S 6H TALK$ 6,MRS4 ,HICKEY 9 ! ROOM )
H] DY+ SON1 & AMID ALL _! M"OY TR\#S )
MY OLD /ORE1 SEEM$ TOO M*2 ,I WD N"E
WANT 6DEPRESS OR 4APPO9T H]1 9 T ,I
WASN'T HELP+ 6ALLEVIATE H] BUR-     #AAE
D5S1 & S :AT ELSE %D ,I D B AVOID H] =
N[1 EV5 Z ,I DESP]ATELY WI%$ 6L5D H] FR-
LY SUPPORT8
  ,V]ONICA HAS M5;N$ ! PUTTY-FAC$ BOY
UP/AIRS )! LAV5D]-TIPP$ F+]S1 H[ RES]V$
& QUIET HE IS2 HE'S L A LL OLD MAN1 %E
SAYS SADLY1 :O "KS 8 "T IS NE>4 ,%E'S
VISIT$ HM ! LA/ FEW "DS1 B HE 0 TOO W1K
6USE ! PUZZLES OR COLOR+ BOOKS1 & ALL %E
CD D = HM "O AFN 0 R1D A *N'S /ORY =A
FEW M9UTES UNTIL HE DOZ$ (F4 ,I TELL
,V]ONICA %E "\ 6VISIT HM E "D IF ! NURS-
ES W ALL[ X1 T %E %D TALK 6HM & PLAY )
HM & LET HM LI/5 6H] /R;G R1D+ VOICE4 ,9
A FUNNY WAY1 %E S.DS L ,LIV ,CRAW=D :5
%E R1DS F H] BOOKS1 A BIT /RID5T1 OV]-
DRAMATIC1 ) T"OS ( SU3OR4 ,X'S EASY TO
LI/5 6H]4 ,V]ONICA N[ SU7E/S T ,I G UP
"! ) H] TM AFN1 T ! SICK BOY WD PROBABLY
L ME1 B ,I C'T ANSW]1 N ONLY = MY POOR
R1SONS 3C]N+ ,MRS4 ,HICKEY B 2C ,I DON'T
WANT 6TELL ,V]ONICA T ,I'M 6L1VE 9 !
MORN+4 ,I HAV5'T ?"\ \ FULLY OR EXACTLY
:5 ,I AM GO+ 6TELL H]1 EV5 Z H] "M IS TO
PICK H] UP ANY SECOND1 = :AT ,I     #AAF
RE,Y WANT & WI% IS T "T CD SUSP5D =A MO-
;T OR TWO1 HALT "R "H 9 MY ROOM1 B S* T
,I MI<T / 5JOY ! -PANY ( ,V]ONICA &! IN-
T]MITT5T VISITORS &! PRO4+ *>M (! NURS-
ES4 ,& ,I WI% X WD /OP ESPECI,Y = ,PAT-
RICK ,HICKEY1 /OP B.D+ ON = 8 UNFIT
HE>T1 : KEEPS C.T+ T[>D XS LA/4
  ,A WOMAN 9 UNI=M APPE>S 9 ! DOORWAY4
,X'S ,(FIC] ,-O1 ,V]ONICA'S "M1 9 MID-
NI<T POLICE BLUE4 ,%E'S A /RIK+ FIGURE1
TALL & /URDY1 )A PROM95T BR[1 &) H] TWO-
WAY RADIO & HOL/] & H1VY BLACK %OES %E
APPE>S ALM BRI/L+2 %E DOESN'T LOOK L
,V]ONICA AT ALL4 ,B "!'S A S(T;S 6H] >.D
! *EEKS & JAW1 A FULL;S T %E DIDN'T H
YE>S AGO1 :5 %E & ,I 3V]S$ REGUL>LY ON !
SIDEWALK 9 FRONT (! /ORE4
  8,NICE 6SEE Y AG1 ,DOC10 ,(FIC] ,-O
SAYS1 EXT5D+ H] H&4 ,%E SITS D[N AT !
B$SIDE *AIR1 :ILE ,V]ONICA MOVES >.D 6!
"O ON ! O!R SIDE4 8,I HOPE Y'RE FEEL+
OKAY40
  8,I AM1 V M* S40
  8,:5 ,V]ONICA 2GAN DESCRIB+ Y LA/
NI<T1 ,I R1LIZ$ :O X 0 %E 0 S       #AAG
SMITT5 )40
  8,"M60
  8,WELL1 X'S TRUE4 ,HMM1 LET'S SEE1 AN
OLD]1 4T+UI%$ ,ASIAN G5TLEMAN F ,B$LEY
,RUN4 ,T'S N _M P4 ,I ?"\ ,I %D -E UP &
SAY HELLO & SEE H[ Y 7 DO+4 ,Y'RE M*
MISS$ 9 ! VILLAGE1 Y "K40
  8,& ,I MISS X10 ,I SAY1 MY R1DY ANSW]4
8,I "K ,*UR* ,/REET ISN'T ON YR REGUL>
B1T ANYMORE40
  8,N =A C\PLE YE>S1 S9CE AF Y RETIR$4
,I'M ACTU,Y "W+ BACK 9 ,E2+TON N[4 ,PRI-
VATE SECUR;Y40
  8,"!'S M CRIME 9 \R T[N10 ,V]ONICA
SAYS ALM PR\DLY4 8,ESPECI,Y >.D ! MALL4
,T'S ": ,MOM "WS4 ,%E'S "KN Z ! ,T]M9A-
TRIX4 ,%E'S H1D ( SECUR;Y40
  8,N[ :O'S TALK+ \ ( S*OOL80 ,(FIC] ,-O
SAYS4 8,ACTU,Y1 ,I SP5D MO/ ( MY "T SU-
P]VIS+ & DO+ PAP]"W4 ,B X'S BETT] H\RS1
IF N BETT] M"OY4 ,I C SP5D M "T )! KID
"H40
  8,Y'RE "R 6VALUE T10 ,I SAY4
  8,I'M TRY+4 ,B Y "K X'S AMAZ+1 ,DOC1
:AT KIDS W D ^! "DS4 ,X'S N L X 0   #AAH
9 ! ALLEY 2H YR OLD %OP4 ,!Y'RE N J
DR9K+ & SMOK+ POT 0! BACK DOOR4 ,!Y'RE
BR1K+ 9 N[1 /1L+ -PUT]S & /]EOS1
,,VCR'S4 ,N 6SELL1 B 6H = !MVS4 ,N[ ^!
>E TRULY BAD KIDS = Y4 ,MO/ ( !M >E
MI4LE-CLASS4 ,!Y FEEL 5TITL$1 & !Y'RE
LAZY 6BOOT4 ,X'S A LIFE/YLE4 ,!Y BUM
*ANGE \TSIDE ! MALL1 = C&Y & CIG>ETTES4
,C Y 2LIEVE T1 KIDS ) WEEKLY ALL[.ES
BE7+ M"OY8 ,I'M SORRY ,V]ONICA ISN'T
OLD]1 S %E'D ALR 2 AWAY AT COLLEGE4
,Y'RE GO+ AWAY "S"D1 >5'T Y1 D>L+1 6A GD
S*OOL8 ,TELL YR "M Y W40
  8,N F> AWAY1 ,"M10 ,V]ONICA HAPPILY
ANSW]S4 8,N F> AWAY AT ALL40
  ,(FIC] ,-O W9KS AT H]1 & ,I SAY1 8,Y
M/ 2 V PR\D1 ,(FIC]40
  8,WE'LL SEE H[ PR\D ,I C BE10 %E AN-
SW]S4 8,ANY?+ C HAPP54 ,%E CD FALL = "S
H&"S J]K & GET PREGNANT40
  8,JESUS1 ,MOM40
  8,I'M ONLY 2+ R1LI/IC1 D>L+4 ,I H 6BE
2C Y'RE TOO WIDE-EY$4 ,Y'D ?9K %E'D 2
H>D]1 ) ^? GORY NOVELS %E R1DS1 &) H] "M
A COP1 B X'S EXACTLY ! O!R WAY4     #AAI
,%E DOESN'T 2LIEVE ! _W IS ! WAY X IS40
  8,I DON'T WANT 62LIEVE10 ,V]ONICA
TELLS H]1 N[ GLANC+ AT ME4 8,& NEI DOES
MY GD FR1 ,FRANKL94 ,WE %>E ! SAME \T-
LOOK4 ,DON'T WE80
  8,WE C]TA9LY D10 ,I ANSW] H]1 ?\< 9
TRU? ! S.D (! ^WS IS DEEP] ?AN ! FEEL+4
,I'M N SURE ANYMORE :AT ,I SEE :5 ,I
8LOOK \10 IF X'S R1L OR ( MY [N MAK+ OR
"S?+ 9 2T1 A WIDELY %>$ FANTASY ( :AT WE
WI% LIFE 6BE &1 "!=E1 H 3TRIV$ 6CR1TE4
,OR P]H M 6! PO9T1 :AT "\ WE SEE1 = BE/
SU/5.E & 3T5T;T & S5SE ( PURPOSE 6\R
"DS8 ,V]ONICA ALR SEEMS RI* 9 ^! REG>DS1
& SEEMS1 Z M* Z A GIRL ( F\RTE5 C1 Q UN-
%AKEA#4 ,S LET H] 2LIEVE4 ,I1 ,FRANKL9
,HATA1 RETIR$ SUPPLI] ( HOME M$ICAL GDS1
EXPATRIATE & W> VET]AN & N[ SUBURBAN LAP
SWIMM] NONP>EIL1 C OP]ATE ONLY PROVI.N,Y
AT PRES5T1 EV5 9 ! WANE ( MY LIFE4 ,I WD
GLADLY LOOK 6,V]ONICA =A L1D1 &=! PA/
TWO "DS1 ,I PROBABLY H4
  8,WELL1 WE "\ 6BE GO+10 ,(FIC] ,-O
SAYS1 MO;N+ 6,V]ONICA4 8,I C'T L1VE ! C>
\ FRONT ="E4 ,I'M N A PUBLIC S]-    #ABJ
VANT ANYMORE4 ,WE'VE GOT 6GET D9N] TGR1
,RONNY4 ,& ,I WANT 6?ANK Y1 ,DOC1 = MY
DAU<T]40
  8,:AT D Y M1N80
  8,Y'VE BE5 V GD = H]4 ,MO/ (! "T %E
-ES HOME PLA9 TIR$1 & ,I ?9K ? JOB IS
MO/LY A WA/E ( H] "T4 ,%E %D G "R 6/UDY+
AF S*OOL4 ,B %E'S BE5 "W+ H>D AT HOME !
LA/ C\PLE "DS1 FULL ( 5]GY4 ,Y TWO M/ H
"S?+ SPECIAL GO+40
  8,%E'S ! "O :O HAS BE5 PROVID+ ! 5]-
GY10 ,I SAY4
  8,WELL1 ,I'M HAPPY Y'RE 2+ 4*>G$ TM1 B
,I'M SORRY = ,RONNY40
  8,Y'RE GO+ HOME80 ,V]ONICA SAYS S(TLY1
"K+ WELL T ALL 4*>GES HAPP5 9 ! MORN+4
  8,YES10 ,I REPLY1 ?\< ,I'M LOOK+ AT H]
"M4 8,DR4 ,WEIL ?9KS ,I'M RECOV]$40
  ,(FIC] ,-O ANSW]S1 8,I TALK$ 6HM Z HE
0 L1V+ ! HOSPITAL4 ,HE HELP$ A "PN] (
M9E ONCE4 ,HE SAYS Y'RE -+ BACK L A
?IRTY-YE>-OLD40
  8,D ?IRTY-YE>-OLDS ALW FEEL L ?80
  ,(FIC] ,-O SMILES1 T\*+ MY >M Z %E
RISES F ! *AIR4 8,DON'T GET UP1     #ABA
,DOC4 ,RONNY1 X'S "T 6G40
  ,V]ONICA -ES >.D ! B$ & /&S NEXT 6H]
"M4 ,!Y'RE OPPOSITE 9 %APE1 A :ITE RADI%
&A PE>1 ! DAU<T] SEEM+LY HALF H] "M'S
HEI<T1 ?\< ( C\RSE %E ISN'T4 ,=A MO;T ,I
WOND] IF %E IS AN ADOPT$ *1 B ! ?"\
*ILLS ME "SH[1 Z IF ! POSSI# FACT %D M1N
A C]TA9 SET ( -PLIC,NS & UNHAPPI;S IS
IMM95T = !M1 NO MATT] H[ LOV+ !Y >E N[4
,B ,I'M =LORN 2C ,V]ONICA SEEMS =LORN1 &
ALL 2C ( MY /UPID C[>DICE4
  8,WELL1 GDBYE1 !N10 ,V]ONICA SAYS4 ,H]
FACE LOOKS PALE4 ,%E DOESN'T SEEM 6"K
:AT 6D4 ,!N %E R1*ES \ & SQUEEZES MY H&
=A SECOND1 & 2F ,I C SAY ANY?+ %E'S ALR
\ 9 ! HALL4
  ,H] "M />ES AF H] &1 N WANT+ 6L1VE
ABRUPTLY1 CALLS & TELLS H] 6WAIT 9 ! C>4
  8,I'M SORRY1 ,DOC10 %E SAYS 6ME1 H]
EXPRES.N S\R$1 8,I DON'T "K :AT'S WR;G )
H]4 ,X'S N L H] 6RUN (F L T40
  8,X'S MY DO+10 ,I SAY4 8,I DIDN'T TELL
H] ,I 0 L1V+ TM MORN+40
  8,%E CD H LOOK$ AT YR *>T1 OR ASK$ "O
(! NURSES40                         #ABB
  8,YES10 ,I SAY1 8B ,I DIDN'T GIVE H]
ANY R1SON TO40
  ,(FIC] ,-O 3SID]S ?1 "W+ X QKLY1 & ,I
C TELL %E'S ?9K+ BACK 6! "T :5 %E & ,I
KNEW EA* O!R M* BETT] ?AN WE MI<T TD1 :5
WE _H A NUMB] ( 3V]S,NS ^: SUBJECT 0 ALW
! SAME4 ,I RECALL H[ /RICTLY WE US$ TO
SP1K1 & EV5 "S"TS 4AGREEABLY1 S M* S T !
SIMPLE SI<T ( H] BLUE-&-:ITE C> SL[LY
PULL+ UP 9 FRONT (! /ORE WD 2 5 6HALT
ME4
  8,Y "K1 ,DOC1 X'S AMAZ+ H[ FA/ ! YE>S
G BY4 ,:5 WE F/ MET1 ,V]ONICA 0 A TO4L]1
IF T4 ,& YR ,SUNNY 0 :AT1 >.D ! AGE ,VE-
RONICA IS N[80
  8,I 2LIEVE T'S "R40
  8,X'S TRULY AMAZ+4 ,X'S NICE 6SEE H[
?+S C TURN \ F9E1 :5 MAYBE Y ?"\ X 0 GO+
6BE ONLY TR\# AH1D4 ,I GUESS T'S :Y1 9 A
FUNNY WAY1 ,I / WORRY S M* AB ,RONNY1
EV5 ?\< %E'S G5],Y S* A GD KID4 ,Y N"E
"K :AT'S GO+ 6HAPP51 = BETT] OR = WORSE4
,I'M HAPPY T ALL IS GO+ WELL = Y1 EXCEPT
MAYBE ? LL MISHAP AT YR H\SE4 ,& 6BE A
GR&"F1 WELL1 T'S J GRT = Y4 ,:5     #ABC
,I SAW ,SUNNY AG AT ! MALL1 Y "K ,I H>D-
LY RECOGNIZ$ H]8 ,%E'S S* A GR[N-UP N[6
,WE EV5 _H A NICE LL TALK4 ,C Y IMAG9E1
! TWO ( U TALK+ L TWO LADIES AT ! CLUB8
,& %E %[$ ME A PICTURE ( H] LL BOY4
,TALK AB :O %D 2 PR\D40
  8,Y SAW H] AT ! ,E2+TON ,MALL80
  8,I SEE H] E "D N[4 ,Z ,RONNY SD1 ,I'M
! NEW H1D ( SECUR;Y4 ,SUNNY'S BE5 MANAG+
! /ORE ALM A YE>1 "R8 ,%E LOOKS FANTAS-
TIC1 ALL DRESS$ UP 9 ^? NICE NEW CLO!S4
,%E 0 ALW S B1UTI;L4 ,%E'S EV5 M S N[ T
%E'S A LL OLD]4 ,S B1UTI;L4 ,I GUESS %E
ALW W BE40
  8,YES1 Y'RE "R40
  8,I %D 2 GO+4 ,X 0 GD 6SEE Y1 ,DOC4
,I'M GLAD Y MET MY DAU<T]1 OR T %E MET
Y4 ,%D ,I SAY ANY?+ 6,RONNY = Y8 ,I "K
%E'LL APPRECIATE X4 ,Y MI<T N H SE5 X1 B
%E RE,Y IS A GD GIRL40
  8,I "K %E IS10 ,I SAY1 WI%+ ALL (A
SU45 = MY LUNGS 6FILL & TE>1 = MY SK9 TO
BURN1 = ?+S 6FALL A"P =! B5EFIT ( ,DR4
,WEIL4 8,I "K %E IS1 ,I "K40
  8,WELL1 S L;G !N4 ,MAYBE WE'LL    #ABD
CAT* Y AT ! MALL40
  8,YES1 YES4 ,P]H ,I'LL SEE ,V]ONICA
"!40
  8,SURE1 ,I'LL TELL H] T40
  ,& !N T IS ALL4 ,I /EP 6! W9D[ & ,I
SEE A C> P>K$ 9 ! CIRCLE ": ! AMBUL.ES
-E & G4 ,X'S H>D 6MAKE \1 B ,I ?9K ,VE-
RONICA IS SITT+ 9 ! FRONT S1T1 HOLD+ A
BOOK 9 H] H&S4 ,!N ,I SEE ,(FIC] ,-O
WALK \ 6! C> & GET 9SIDE4 ,!Y SIT & SP1K
=A MO;T1 B N = L;G4 ,!Y DRIVE (F & ,I
WAT* !M G D[N ! HILL1 & ,I LOSE !M )!
ANGLE4 ,B ,I SEE _! BRAKE LI<TS AG :5 !Y
R1* ! MA9 ROAD1 ! TWO-LANE T FOLL[S
,MI4LE ,PETE ,CREEK 6! WE/ ": X CROSSES
OV] ! P>KWAY1 ON ! O!R SIDE ( : 2G9 !
/ATELY RISES ( TREES & EASY ROLL+ M1D[S
( ,B$LEY ,RUN4 ,!Y'LL DRIVE SWIFTLY &
QUIETLY & )\T /OPP+ UNTIL !Y CROSS !
BU6] Z"O ( OLD W>EH\SES & RAILY>DS1 &
!Y'LL SEE REFLECT$ 9 ! RES]VOIR ! _M-
COLOR$ LI<TS ( "W+-CLASS ,E2+TON1 HOME (
! FA/-FOOD /RIP &! MULTIPLEX1 & Z WELL
6^? :O WD N"E GET 6LIVE 9 MY RESPECTA#
T[N1 ! POLICEWOM5 &! C&Y /RIP]S &   #ABE
!N ALL ! O!RS 9 ? _W :O WD H>DLY 2 "KN4























                                    #ABF