rees,sirenshee-hawing...

    oldhimthatheisahusband;hehaslearhingfromthegrayinhishair;theadditionallehelensesofhisspectacleshavenoteducatedhim;themerrimentofdentalassistantshasnhthimthenews;hebehavesasifsomethingwerepossible,still;thereswhisperingattheHotelTerminus.

    Hedecidestogotoabarandshescreamsathim,musithesmallradio,militarymarches,militarywaltzes;shesfused,shesays,shereallydidhat,butmeant,rather,thatthebellcaptainattheHotelTerminushadsaidsomethihoughtoffensive,somethingabout"Malague?a,"itwasnotthewordsbutthetone--

    Bettermakethebed,hesays,thebedinwhichyoullsleep,chasteandcurly,whenImgone...

    Yes,shesays,yesthatswhattheysay...

    True,heslean;true,hesirelystupid;yes,hesgivenupcigarettes;yes,hesgivenupsaying"fiveme,"nolongerusesthephrase"asIwassaying";hesmasteredbackgammonandsleepingwiththeradioon;hesapologizedforhisunkindremarkabouttheyellow-hairedyoungmanatwhomshewasnotstaring--Andwhenaloverdriftsoffwhilebeingmadeloveto,itsalessoninhumility,right?

    Helooksatthesleepingwoman;howbeautifulsheis!Hetouchesherback,lightly.

    Thepsychiatrist,learnedelf,callsandihemtohisparty,tobeheldinthePalmRoomoftheHotelTerminus,patientswilldahdoctors,doctorswilldahreceptionists,receptionistswilldahdetailmen,amanwhoonewFerencziwillbethereinasharkskinsuit,amotorizedwheelchair--Yes,saysthepsychiatrist,ofcourseyouplay"Cherokee,"andforanencore,anythingofVictorHerberts--

    She,grimly:Idontliketotrytomakenobodybored,