aintlyinhervoice."ein,ein."

    Mrs.Blakehadanagelesscharm,aphysicalpresendmahatputhtatease.Togainthisinterview,Ihadliedtoher,toldherthatIhadgoohighschoolwithhersonBrianandthatourclasswasanizingareunion,tragdownclassmateswhohadmovedaway.Atherinsistence,wechattedoveralunchshehadprepared,andshegavemethefullupdateonBrian,hiswifeandtwochildren,allthathehadaplishedovertheyears.-saladsandwicheslastedlohanherreport,andIattemptedtosteertheversationaroundtomyulteriormotive.

    "So,Mrs.Ungerland..."

    "CallmeEileen.IhaventbeenMrs.Ungerlandforyears.Notsincemyfirsthusbandpassedaway.AheunfortunateMr.Blakemetwithhisstrangeactwiththepitchfork.Theycallmetheblackwidowbehindmyback,thoseawfulchildren."

    "Awitch,actually...Imsosorry,Eileen.Aboutbothyourhusbands,Imean."

    "Well,youshouldntbe.ImarriedMr.Blakeforhismoney,Godresthissoul.Andasferland,hewasmuch,mucholderthanI,andhewas..."Shepoiohertemplewithalong,thinfinger.

    "IwenttoCatholicelementaryschoolandoBrianinninthgrade.Whatwashelikegrowingup?"

    Herfacebrightened,aoodupsoquicklythatIthoughtshewouldtoppleover."Wouldyouliketoseepictures?"

    Ateverystageofhislife—fromthedayhewasbornthroughgradeschool—BrianUngerlandlookedasifhecouldbemyson.HisresemblaoEdwardwasuny,thesamefeatures,posture,eveheyateonthecoborthrewaball.Aswepagedthroughthealbum,myviincreasedwitheachimage.

    "Briaellmeprettywildfamilystories,"Isaid."Aboutt