ivides—"

    Shelickedherfingers."Nottwins.Thedrownedboyaboy."

    "Ihadnothingtodowitheitherone."

    Tessswalloofwineandwipedherhandskin."YouareanoddothatswhatIlikedaboutyou,evenerechildren.SihefirstdayIsawyouinkindergarten."

    IsincerelywishedIhadbeehatday.

    "AndwhenIwasagirl,Iwaoheary,theosplayinginyourheadrightnow."Sheleanedacrosstheblaandkissedme.

    Itookherhomeatsu,kissedherohedoor,anddrovehomeinamildeuphoria.Thehouseechoedliketheinsideofayshell.Thetwinswerenothomeandmymothersatalohelivingroom,watgthemovieoftheweekoelevision.Slipperscrossedooman,herhousecoatbuttohecollar,shesalutedmewithadrinkinherrighthand.Isatdownonthecouexttotheeasychairandlookedathercloselyforthefirsttimeinyears.Weweregettingolder,nodoubt,butshehadagedwell.Shewasmuchstouterthanwhenwefirstmet,butlovelystill.

    "Howwasyourdate,Henry?"Shekepthereyesoube.

    "Great,Mom,fine."

    "Seeheragain?"

    "Tess?Ihopeso."

    Aercialbrokethestory,aurosmileatmebetweensips.

    "Mom,doyouever..."

    "Whatsthat,Henry?"

    "Idontknow.Doyouevergetlonely?Likeyoumightgooutonadateyourself?"

    Shelaughedandseemedyearsyounger."Whatmanwouldwanttogooutwithanoldthinglikeme?"

    "Yourenotsoold.Andyoulooktenyearsyouhanyouare."

    "Saveyourplimentsforyournurse."

    Theprogramreturned."Ithought—"

    &