YearsagineandIbothworkedasinterviewers;forawhileweevenworkedtogether.Irememberoernoonwhenshespentawholehouraskingmeallaboutfacialtissues,andafterwardIquizzedheronplasticsuitcases.Unfortuheagencydidawaywiththelonginterviewsandreplacedthemwithstreetpolls.Wewereexpectedtostandoutsideschools,departmentstores,andgoveroffidsurveypeopleabouttaxpolidTVguides.herofuswaodothat,andsowewentourseparateways.

    Areythesedays?Iask.

    Imtakingacoursetobeadeathpanion,saysRegine.

    Oh,Isay,uosuppressalaugh.

    Itsaseriousmatter,saysRegine.

    Idliketoaskherwhattheyteasuchacourse,butdontdare.

    Isitgoingwell?Iaskinstead.

    Retlytheywaoseforthefirsttimetoapanyawomanwhowasy-oneyearsold,butshesentmeawayafterhalfanhour.

    hlaugh,avoidingeachotherseyes.

    Sheprobablythoughtyouweredeathinpersoakeheraway,Isay.

    Ididhatway.

    Afterall,someonewhosdyiseverybodywhosgoingonliving,Isay.

    Youtalk,saysRegine,asifyoudalreadydiedonce.

    OfcourseIhave,manytimes,haventyou?

    Welaugh,andIdontkninefullyuandsmylastremark.Sheholdsoutherhandandsaysgoodbye.

    Givemeacall,shesaysinparting.

    Idontneedadeathpanion,Iwanttocalloutafterher,butatthelastmomentIholdmytongue.

    AlittlelateritoccurstomethatRegineandIactuallydiedoogether.FirstIhadinterviewedheraboutvacationsandlongdistaravel,theerviewedmeaboutedfoodandready-madedinners.Afterthatwewerepletelyexhaustedandlaydownonhercarpet.Wedrankhalfabottleofwineandgoofedarounduntiloureyelidsst