0 me ORE Ry bere ry He ops walling, Fons. “Wha di you go and do thse “Wel he washes, Lam: Topose you never hough of he J Ad tere Iva, hry rls fom nowhere. Ea ow ec the blondy oad was under constriction, so what wat | supposed : “Yolegoall he bsing” Lary sy. Wy ask And we walk ar in am down the coud Lary an me going to the pork. a Niagara Bates Bp wars Honey J. Zacharias had hs ew soe j Tewar ste aferoon, sound four aclock, when Elizabeth ego the eleven-aile dive rom che hospi in Renflé co hele farm, wip ste would mike over andover.“Tleep a ose wechon that hear of mine” Johany Cash sang ase raved! down the i long srech of road thas connected the sown wick he high. She vite off the radio, Music did see righ ac ime Uke this She rove cauouly, holding onto the whee ro gh ring an ecient Terraces Like thee, when your eres were stzeched | ~ too dg, cha things wene wrong. She gussed bythe feed mand slowed down as she approached Eliss Greenhouses. Shou she i stop and let him know about easy, that she woulda beable wo i come in for the seng? No, He would wonder how she could ven ‘think about sch hinge. “The chump of tires aginse he pavemene fee hythmie and sre, bute point at which she aimed seemed Red and saceachable a ‘he honzan which somenmer in winter dippeared so tat she coulda el where was where waslana? She was vaguely ware Hiof user of brown gees inthe mide of ld huddle together ins hank of snow like od women at a faner long shadows, thee sires losing out che wath of patel sy-colours rete ll shou in the hard stow. Mines ater (how many, five, fee?) she pased byrhe ane, pas the bulngall yellow wich gran ir hae dissin ‘ulshed Benes J. Zacharias farm fom the others: rom Henne P Zachara elton), who was called Haak y hi neighbours nd ‘shot fem was wie she sie of thees aod sched all che way vo Roland Realizing er ero she braked quichiy felt she wheds sid on ce Shebld her breath o contin he ising pens, eerng into the ‘dad inssnesvel, shinking, aesdy [ have gonen myself snco trouble lhe vehi swing ou ofthe se, pss entre and ih tal sharply Today sh coulda’ go ofthe road, no odaybezsuse then Hank 2 would have co come with his actor co pll her out and (one thing for cern) she dda’ want to hav w ask him for saying, bu the wheel ought a buried gavel andthe car exd- led. She beeatal a pryer of relief She baked the cr slowly towards the lane. Ths daveway had didppeaed. She searched through the winced for some sign of a tack hat would guide ther sel ino che var, bu ne combinaon of waning Light snd feck snow bad sete all sacts of i The Route itll appeerd abandoned, he windows dare mitre efleting te seting in She ‘a cutoff fam her house She got er ofthe ee and walked down ‘he ane. The ay sno andl dee, beat hr bare kin, She hada’t seopped t0 pur boos on this morning when she saw Henry’ Al ‘She'd ran fom she owse not thinking, jst oh God, oh God. One nina he wis walking, song, apd the next ike 2 bird crashing Inco che window, he fered, his arms Bailing, loaing for some- ‘hing bold oa 0, ad he was down a brilian epi heap in the snow Fresh sow cotered the spacer the mailbox where bet falls. She walked back to che ear and followed her foorpans into the an, passed them by. and shen Braver, dea by ih ticle of her vard ‘he waited inthe ar ani se'! eopped shang an ca wor into the howe, She sane snow fom her feet and wales actos the chen, her ps sgh, 2 though she waded thio to the eaendse whch hong beside dhe elon, “Arive Nizar Billy am? shed wre un that minis. Ona wes From thei irs vain. an aniversitpreen¢ John, and his wife, Sharon. She poked up che pan aps wets “efenry goes tothe hop.” er spider, d-shaped eters off the square ine che nev da. Henry as dhen ia Reine che oss and she was ec, he frm. The one ered sent though someone uscentered the roam. Phone fone, se wl etal, se if hee back from de iy ye. But se id the ester She bnew oo much, She'd see che dot hap a sth the ee of his pln agnna Hazy’ beeatbone cr rove i, She knew his illness would ake up many squires 08 the cies tae Inside his hea large Ral ha been are of She toad ‘esd hs bed and watched hm fill deeper inc lsp, Where too she'd asked hi slency and han. where am Wes She. 2h tne whaad fle sep ou ‘ve dhe money or the win kets cto John” she'd oe Heory sete hospital She mueant tos, don't yoa worry aw. She ‘va surprised when he esponded. He moved his han seros he Dankt towards her ow "Seed," he sid “Joba should be spending money fe ses, ane rigs" His voice came om 9 geardstance, And se houshe sin Shiva deean i pen yey and bein my room per, ‘She held is cules Singers lighly beeen er large hands “Ti tel hin you si 0 Ther son was’ fame. He owned large implement dealership in Reinfeld. Henry was conse o was he saving, el Jon co laok afer hing?“Joba. spends eoately too much money” Henry sid, and Elaberhehouee that maybe hilnes wasn 0 bad srl Phe cold il think 0 speak oat sgsinst John. Bue ever hours ste, ene sew ron weo cal and he aie sleep liabeth rune fom che elephone, The badness would keep 2 while. She read the words she'd writen on the send She picked up the peal which dangled from string ain ny, cov trolled lemers she wrote, “All dae snowe,” She would an herself ie alone. ‘vitched on the atve nd filled the hate with wate, The unl lock he dining rom chimed che hv She went oot andeumed on che light x chough that would een he effet, ‘ofthe clock ouneng. All round the walls on varnished shelves lection of chins plate, She didn ke china, but ie war whar other women did. John and Sharan were delighed. They never new wharro boy for her ands chey bough param each ple they visited She haa pare wth perre af the Niagra Falls ‘on i, When she'd see John’ lies ofthe al, chey made here like the bonging ofthe clack made her fel of blance and lach- ing the ir sbout her. “Hoceshoe Fall the plate as insecbed, via her "1do fet high, 2.950 fete wide, 500,200 0088 of wate 2 mini which ta her ae chesime assaying, "every second bby born” evar anfthorable Buciewas' these plates she'd come searching for, bt fo some ‘ting olde, meshing that came trom diferent me. She foun it con the shelin che hima cupboard, the porealain cup and sauce that ‘ad come From Rosi. Her mother had bronghet with he and ha \wizen down chat se wast have ie when she marie She ele its smoothnes aginst the chick clues of er pain and ook the ep inco he chen. She filed irwnth hot wer and at down te ble sau pressed its Bued edge to her lip, She looked out the window “The moon had risen aod beneath esresched che wince be curve Ader rere of Henrys ils Before she'd begun wo work in he greenhouses, shed prefered winter, She'd sever been able face the ark bleake ‘ness of Heney’ fils without fling aumbed by che ugliness. She hated how she'd bated duly the wind the swept under wi dows covering evephing wih gia tac silt. Her headaches tse eo come with chow high winds, She preferred the depression thar he immense sles of wine cased Because wince, fas Clean. She massiged her ches where a odd ache had begun co for fd though abou wha she shoul elephone: She should realy to get hold of Jon justin case he bad eome home fro the ety tay eales than expected and heard about his fhe. Aa chem he ‘alized cada hppened, he would all be She id have che ecgy talon and ace the questions he would ask, no leg ther Binh sping wh she'd formed ia her mind. Should she ell ‘Mika? No, her iter semed enjoy hearing bad news snd would (ga hold of theinformason and make: stem worse han reali Shas. rea ma worked in the greenhouses with er. ee eal Tiana Beenie Irma understood She was married eo 3 can, bier rman who hal lst his legs. nd she, evel envy with che though enry who today had encered his own place, of, was married 10 She hd les his leateth opene er ees, eine iewas moming ind was amazed thac she lee so soundly. The first ching she sow was Henny’ boc on dhe caper eras the roomy, beside hs bed, andshe emer ered a week ago, Henry walking cre ales to Hark Place. To keep hi elking in che barn long enough unc he polls closed vo prevent Hank P ho wa Liberal, om casing his ore. What dd you tall abou for sch long ie? she'd sed, her eae dong its familar Sp Bop each meh come back rom aking with Hank (We aed abou: Go, ad wha He means to me, Henry si ‘vecything is ls, Henry ofea sid, but noc eterting is good ano they ware on of fe lt in che farming ae aroundReinfeld who dda’ have the tlle clevsion aatenaa on top af Leic roof. Oceasonall, she drove into town and watched Ed Selivan a Irma’ place. She had neer been able to mach Hens goodness, she thought 5 her eves met his Bibl yng on the able beside his Be. She went nto sha wed co be Johns bedroom, he sewing room, andscod coking fora momen athe des pattern spread aeos the workable, pices xt in lf lente so cat he ‘oul ad sue, enlarge che parm ft, Yes, hits how i she Cold herself extng and dang and neve thinking that tomorow ic could allen. She fl suey immedi. an beaning to sound ‘more and more lke Miss, she chastened herself it stroke, he could come out ofie yee Above her waite, the window where shed teen sing when ic had happened. She dressed and went dowastirs and essed che vacton plans from the ealendar, She Aidt allow herself oa how she fl aboot chi, What had hap ened had happened. Ie wan’: Henrys fal hat she would never ose the ills She had nothing to compl about when iccame ‘to Henry. Se often said wo Irma with clear heart hash hl no comping al. Ecepe for che frm, Ima reminded her when she'd suid, Henry isa ight, Ihave ne comple. Henry wae seveng-m, she fet seven. Mos mun is age had already bale shir eiement houses in Reine, eeced fake windmills in thei bask yards, wishing well tn the font yards, constructed strdy feces and die, But asither ‘one of tem had wanted tht lenny steely hoped that John would salle up the farm nd she, when Me Elis ad confided in er his incenion co sl, chat cher would sel che farm and buy the green hows. And so hen a reminded her, “except forthe farm” the ‘eusraton and desperatonof pas yee was fest and tar 89 unripe apple The frm wasn't hers sl. Do, dont as, Inna sid once. Js el. malshusban had no legs, she didnt nee ask for 1 i Nierara Falls anything, she though, 34 she pil her long auburn Iai. Sie ‘enced esse doth aw her awed agers fumbling with ce Sy pins, her fe, rounder, she'd ben ging weigh The mirror told her what hel dda’ fel completely: you archers, re alie ang Henry isthe one ep Before she telephoned John, she alld the hospi and sted how ihe? The same, che nurs sald. He sjenta git nigh ener was toa get. Hr fling wos like ether resin sig est She telephoned Join and give ie the seus aad arranged e ncet, im ac che hospital When she hang up some of he renson ct has inthered inher shoulder lads ed. he picked up the pone sad serous, “yf dey alae” and beneath dha, "Phone Me Elissa.” In mid-February, Eeabech sumed of ri the high onc ‘he road cha led eo Reine che sun sparked on ersy snow nl on roofops 30d she thought Reinfeld loked like 3 Chranas ed ture of Bethlehem shiiag with she bls Sage of 3 ponsng sta, ‘making it pei set apart, vali the other coves that hagzed che American border. The highwo dda passthrough Reine cecre, splicing cin vo, lewasa'necesary to sing say hts above che suet ort have sgn thoes "Welcome o Rese” Fe Bondar sere senmescl the streets, preienble, ad the seness = the ecoradon of the houses inide er feel eae sothing shy ‘shunge. She drove wwards she hopitlhnking “ae ere ase thing, se wis concent. ‘She walked into Henry’ oom, He looked ater, like sever ‘emer and sid, “Chicks Have you ordered chicks “What” Elizabeth asked stared, Her own dream ste ud diminished and she had reconciled beret ew his, dt permanent His place had become real The wis were cubicle hada rll, sarrow window that jooked ue ofr the tou of Reinfeld. bess aditor beneath i, Basie is be waawheelchair, sing down atthe cured fingers in hs hp, a towel Sed beneath his ara to old him wprighe Heary’ white legs thinner, dangling useesl sche amendan ied him in snd our oF bed. Beeuse she ss strong and healthy, Henry's place seemed confined. Burshe knew che for took for him us to bret and so she Lnew that for hist asthe igh sie. Bur now his oie» wiser but his oie, saying to her, "Chis, have you ordered the chek ye" She called Me Elis and had gone backs work eansplaning tomatoes and he life had become roe. She was confident eng drawer chest, painted brown, Above it 3 mieror Henin 1o ty vriions to che old pater, sleeping in past even o'dock, seoyinguplae tight, coatiuing the sighly ntl of ning hot the porcelain cup tha ad come fom Russ “He spoke tome," Elizabeth id tothe sure, She'd ran rom ‘heroom. grabbed holi fee re person she sie upon “Oh, he spetts ofr," ehe ause sid. “Especially ding the ight. He als sboot an seciden, We fea thar he hears cing” “Things, what ihings?” Accident and his ler ace grew tabu “Oh, the other pants, thei radi.” “They shold have told her Prepared he forthe sme when he ‘woul beza was questions. How didi happen? Did tll? Aad ‘hen, wie abour Hank P? How di hae one happen? "And shat nol" the nares she flowed Elabeth back into Henrys zoom. "We have a surprite for you, Show your wife ‘whacyou can do," the id to Eley and fr the fs sime, Eleabeth asced dhe etal ba hanging above his bed ley reached up, bis whole arm trembling, and cared is Vingers abou ke bar. le begun to pl hse prisht. ‘hzabech slapped her hande aguinst her cheeks in tise. “ont hat wonder” the auc si, "ey, batt onl a ae she told hella ashe sabes his bod loin sester which she planed ro sen to he iste for go baby Is nly an am. When she considered how fir he the 0 vs from walling and even chen dey weren't sue abou is ight fide. “Henn” she sid loudly sever) momencs ler 2 be ay pancing rom exeron. His hearing ha not beenatatd, the doce ha elder, cere was na need yell bu she could help I ‘eered hat because he coulda’ alk above a shape he couldn't heareter Thase ees wanting tale you shout he rm” Ber real neeals clicked ou sane pace “Twas thinking, the wav prices re the not would Bea good time 0 sel.” Hldidn respond She set the Kiting aside nd went ove this ‘bed. He seared 2th celng. She sx down on the edge ofthe bed. Spt ta fom one corner of his drooping mouth She satced up 4 Gest, began to dab oe it "Think of it” she sid gerd. Brenig considered, we shold ge rid fhe and” Ee pled away. No" he sid and then louder, I fri you do that” He began a htsh his head rom side side onthe pillow ‘She held his cheeks heewen her hans, fle he fine Hater of his sce he rel to fe himself She leashamed, unworthy. "Hine, pease, be sll” His hud sas fragile, a rage a an nsenepoesnin sp hat would shat iyo ick it had with our knace "pal ight” she ad, "We don't aed to al abot eye" She ad dreamt of him one night, ht she cased hem out and aay ‘om the hora ae or you, she'd said. I ook afer yo, make you we And bere he was, peeing him. He gre sail She pared bi ghey on he chek nd fle peti ache ssn er ‘heat The im, ewssithes cos She tok up her iting once agin. “The way your exerses are ging” she sad, “ou wl be up ted around the ya by sping.”He blinked rp. “Phone Elan." he sid harshly “Tel ire Fee the land. One ea ols Eliaheth dropped stich, squint and raced 10 pick it up bet the whole sweser unraveled Ul hin.” she sd “He nor being very elise" John wid. “Expecting anvone would ren wane eas the land or one er Espciirs Especially Hank B, Elizabetn sowghe, He would be the one to oi “You'ea fine one coal abou being resis,” she sid and laughed. Whea he was small he woud bu his head agent hee stomach, hi eb, the wal, inorder co make things happen. la ‘he eat grain schoo, eachers sid that he threw ime he oor and banged bis Read when he did't make one hundeed pee "Babes oe tia tesang [lzabethshshed him, “He’ your fuher” And john wt it son “There mere indelible marks othe than his shore stocky frame is bullies. John was deeply reliou ite Henry, in an unbendig, fierce way chr made her fel defensive and inadeguate. And yet father and son iad never worked well togerher Joa sid. choosing ro ignore he genle "Yu ie elie why your Ether wants bang on. Wrac has he gow Abed,» chai. a window in shoebox ofa room, Jot got up ftom the Kitchen able sod po his arm around her shoulders. “And whac abou you?” he ake, “Shouldn't we be think ing abou you 25 wel?" If she std up, she would be 3 foe eller ‘han he, Al his caeses came when she war siting, She lee ack inthe chair and lec her head ret guns is chest. Forte Fst Sine since Henry had fillen ia the snow; se fle ike weeping. He ‘ended ber shoulders, demonseave ina may she'd tug hin, Niagara fall "The way Heney might fave fen someone had sos Shed Lape howse for Heney 1 flr cared for he. Noe unl he ited she hited man for making shout her sz ~Thisbas been hat on you, we nom” John sid, “Sharon ani don know how youve managed ro keep eventing op.” "Wall ight she sid. "oval sight.” She wanted ell shouc her desire. About the een, We she & sreeshouse, the sun light dines erough che slop gts thot ee cng tae and it seady warmth on Ber brat shoulders ade hee tal ‘The smell of che young mois puns in cheie ats of pec os ils ‘ee with energy snd she walled fuser, moved mare quickly. Sk enjoyed reading through al the seed extalogees and meeting people who came to buy budding pnt "es aot al igh” Joha sud "Sharan and Thave been thinking cvenif Father doesn get wel you sould go sway or awhile. Tbs ‘hae ip to Niagara Fall "Oh no," se sd. “Not withous Father" she wene ooh Al alone, she might never come bck Sk'd be swept ay by se un dering water, She'd be speck going over the rink bling in hs mir, never roping. Wich noone tbo he ck, she woul ea lover she ring witha hose other people in yellow rb si coms, she would ean juss fiand be gone “T shouldn't be thinking about igs," Elizabeth sid, bu what 1 doif worse comes to worse. And ee bees thinking, feomethine bappeas to your father, woul ike ell the farm and lve in tow “He smiled «quick ansious smile, down beside ler and tok her hands in his. “Grea” he sid. “Tm sad eo hear you say tat Sharon and T were hoping thas what you'd want. Weve made pes fd I waneed to alo you abou chem. Ie makes ic exser ha Yu ante ve ia eon”She though he would say they were going cosas ily and wanted her elese by. "Wieve decided to open another desership. A bigge one. This tame, i Morden.” She hid her dissppoinunent *Why goto Marden? [thought ~ ‘snr busines good here? She athe lok of annoyance pas sero his fe, “Veep he brine in Reinfeld as well” he sid "And open another one in ‘Morden, Beause business good. Now’ the dine 0 doit” “Father abeays sid you spead too much money" She pulled her hands fie and begin to cleat away the des She expected a outburst, bt fohn gor upand began o help hee "Ha serape fod from plats Sharon fad ken a dy to go shopping In the cer nd he'd cme for sappe. “We're posive we should do this." Jo std quiet es he set ses down nto dhe snk “We'e pape ling ad hard snd we'e sure that cits wha God wants odo, t00" "Well he, thats good. Do it” She wis conscious of hes voice sounding ighe and srained He ceared his throat noisily and pt phlege into che garbage a, ust 8 Henry sede do.“ need money doi” he si, “Te gottoo much ied up in machinery right now ogo roche ben.” “How much money?" Henry hed fe coutand dollars in their saving acount. She had de fom working in the greenhouse. Trenpive thousand” "So much? T don’ have has much mone “*Lkn01" John said and she knew nw the reason for is que. sts. Fe was worried. She ele he knoe of brid pl a the back of her heed She ran water int the sink, began sacking dishes down Ino the soupy wate, “What hen she aed, tari her old sles bumping there bencuth her bresthone, dreading is answer Neagare Falls *Shacon father as aed on spare fi. eau sell Dads machinery” he si. “I coud ge good price fori: Hen rege sil lise over one section, dae wa all Whar kind ofa price would she gee wihowt che meine "Mama," John si, usiag his old nam for he a form fender nent “Hell never work agi. Thought yor redized dae” Te wae eve, And Mr Ells could wp and sll he grueshouse before Henry relied i. “And what would Ido: she asked.“ samething happened to your fathey, what would {in town? Wark inthe shop? "You would’ need ro work, he sid. hings go as well as ‘hey have so, you woulda eed eo work anmore. Sharon and would sce co tat. hin ita good invesement for you. Wed be pret, dhe thee of, you, se aed he Lord” “Hw could you refase such generous ote Lome asked che folowing day. They cared wooden fs in Eom the yard and ‘esced hem agin he wallace greenhouse The dine was ght tobegineanilaing, culling the spindly seedlings nd wansring the soager ones ta the Rats whece they would grow thick and sight Now is the sie ro do it Jon had sui, Now is he sme, theewpeated orerand over able she worked. “What do you mean?" Elisabeth sled, oended Wy rma tone ‘ofvoie Irma Mule isan old woman who eis loo youn, Joba hd once si, bests the woman coloured her hae blonde zed ‘ed cores. liaeth hi not reminded him che se ad Le vere the same age "Wel, kid, how could you rfase 2 paemership with God ll ‘asi He¥ gocyou over bare thacone- Smarc"™ ‘lzabeth few wha imtoo ike ro nna, ue sbe was eran John wes since. "He mys,” she sid “TFason canteome wo bis ‘mother then who should he go 6" She sid histo light Lm, who ether on dhughter Mavene run eke a su dog.Irma les bundle f fats drop 0 the ground wit a rel “AVhy dest he goto his her” she asked. °No, he knoe Hee” she sid and ied heise Finger. “Hes got you right cher. lisbeth was hnging her overs in the back porch after work when shes Hank PS ck pllinto she pd. She wis sou cal ca che house, Hen, you'd deter come, Hank is ere. and them quickly sep ou of sighs, bu... She ole er ac eros har cast She woul peak to him om har on. Had Henry somehow gottena mesg thi Hank stood with the door open neither inside nor out. He seemed uncerin whether he should ener. “Hom is Me Zashacas oda” he asked. His ced sideburns gre chi and euly hal down the sides of his he, making ie seam Broader than ie wt. She ode button misting fom his sit and his ue stomach, cay Se murs So he dct ear anundrsirin wine the, oe i Hlemy who woee one sumer and winter, day and night Her eves rmethis He was almoseas alls she was, Iemade her uneasy to std ye say with a man. "Het the some" she aid "im sony to hea tha” he sid 2 nice nd ples ifsoeone liscened behind the door He stoos curing hs sepia his und, which were sprinkled with cinmamon-cloured fees (jounge leaking hands cupping a lage white bea) His bai, re, agtnst her omn dar hi. That old man, he cant be of mach use for you. Was he rly sore? For he, or for Heary? She knew wharhe'd gone through when his an died with excer “ve come wo see you about the culsvatog” Hank sid. “Me Zachara fal ied ie Poul we ie She aoded "So, shough you should know I'l be working inthe machine shod ni do Heed in he oon tnd pois op He was being 50 polite. “Wit, Henry vanced ite Eliabed tea. He removed his cap nce ag «and was, "Efe ai 0, he sens it seats” she aid and looked Blood rte co her fee. have never ie love 10 anyone oth than my hushond, she'd told ema, so tat she coal! see tremors of him rthing aginst hee She hit on he Tali whl as digging among he zringe Reap or sk found s leper in ovely cetera hard Sno sh” esr rexdit asked hee what mesnt 1 jus an de hace oe, ste ‘hid Tha all id Hank chink he wa remembering tac sero halivaybecween Winnipeg and Reinfeld? The day she'd monet the chicks. Pa norhere ost emoans” she sido coves he co fasion. “Buel reer come in ad help sours o cove. eve ivomthe save” He sored at her longer than wai azcessary 19 thank her, He closed he door behind him and she stood rooted, conised and fsngry with here bees she ha not given him Hen’ mesa beens she had blushed 9 eully and aow er ll shee yu, wha he hk Te Merch the doctor intercepted Elizabeth she ws sooue center Heneys rom. *U'm sory” he sai ay, "be Me. 2 as conmaced paeumoni” I semed ikea seange wa of ping ‘gas chough Henry had a obligacon ro ak on this new dese, “Her chest ached ashe worched Henn’ straining beste “Tas dipped meticine inc is eng. mrs amen an pushed 9 ober hoe inc bis roa, sviched ana maine and sucked up bi tucus Babe gagged. Buthen ie was over, len coll breathe taser andso she was grtefl tthe muse and smd ther, sepping (cof er pth quickly ro show she was ansour rot be ann “Today, he would hae sold hi abou the sowstonm, how Hank hd pleaged chee ane 0 she could comet the hospital. “Saowss hgh at mwa inche Lng” se Rad writen. Bue suck aes as ‘ot mouse co poor Henry He struggled co speak, “What isi she asked, dreading some message, some final commund, some lst ‘uertion abo hiek nd aeedent Reining che lan.” Henrys ‘Her hear consid, "Who i euning the nd Had he head ow that he had’ leased i yet is ncuth, ener wih eer blisters, moved painful slow “Communes” Her shoulder sagged with imunene cele. Sh watched she slow Arp, dip of medicine inca the sss ube for several minutes and then le Elizabeth fle Maeeh pris in on her a sh Uitened di Heneys feverish eating. The septic tak one ai she did sl John, John was oo busy with his own life and besides, she relly ‘ws undecided abou the money She ated to pcre hem praying sey day, or che thought that she really migh be the answer 1o thie oaey problems. She aed company cow t0 come with their heat limps and cores to thow out che septic tan,but ‘hey were’ nya an so inthe meuncme, se squared mid ‘he woes beside the mranares and threw her debweer onto che yard and bathed sms howe in wow ui tas find Henry semed never bers, never worse. They tok stay his ‘eres bar. He was gaunt and sppaced bie over hs new etack She fle responsible. As hough she'd case ito happea by ang of sling of she land. Since she'd desided not o carry Cleary rmesage co Hank 2, she coulda look fall into ber husband ve, liane wth che remnant of hi Fever, but off > onesie, The ‘rasion and che sameness of er Life depressed her March weighed ‘eal nd ie was on such a ay tha se arevd fer work nd he “For Sale" sign pushed down into che ground beside the grea house. She seared at ling herself, this is what vou get. This is what happens when you even chink teh selshchngs. he hackec the car ou and drove Wome, ‘When she open the bak door, se sw rubber boos on the mat She reached up co hing her coveralls and se Hank's parks ‘She leche strangeness ol its presence passthrough her hands sabe ‘nung ber elothes bese his When she cepped int he teen he wes working with his ool ath if The fue yin pests or “thoughesesng tho Thad yeas ith me, igh 8 we fii" he sd withoor earning coun. That was what hed sad tha sumer, paling slongsde her ea “offering to Bethe dre. "You needa have goae co so much oube JJoks would hare fed i for me.” Then knowing she sound angel, she chanked hin eling ce Blood rshing 10 her fas once usin ‘here was nothing she enuld do withour coming ro close co him an 0 she poured cup of coffe and watched him work. He seas sess the soon and ye seemed 25 though he was chen berde her Bending hse head arose chest. hishand euppin, ter breve congue crcing her nipple. Soon he ws finshed ane ‘rainy his bands nd she was ving aro ce feat in che ca. thinking, 2 dis wha ib ke with anoher man, She had ot herself vee and overs remember dur she'd been diappoiae. ‘hac ic had bee al hae dilleent. He wiped hs hands on he: ood ishoowel nd squad co pck hi ools ino she obo. Ske oiced the staining the mes in his highs agains he Fab. ‘his pans, She stared own 2 the boro ofthe porelain cup. She used 2 inugine what fel be ke with another man aac when she'd ghnesl down 2 hi poised above her, sbe'd beer ‘razed a how slat be ws to Henry, she though he'é be Bigger Strange looking. Moye fake had lecheself go more ic would have been ferent, she tld betel Lat im euch her all over snd smeher the way he wanted vo. He tod hese the door rest eve, Te ie” he “Thani vu.” She smile “ve abo finshed work on the culsnaor coy.” he wi: “Tl Me Zacharias working.” "Twi He acted as ehough someone were looking over his shoulder, Fe hesitated. His xorsionchangedee seemed to be nourish: ings cunning hoveht. “Hiss Me, Zacars ever said what he plans to do’" He spoke wit a gesture nscating wich his eked, ste bands (Berween ber legs forcing tem open) the wide expurse of Hen ils. We, some oF che neighbours, weld do the seeding fochim Keka his is” "plan sel” Euabeth ud His chick cxpresonlss "Would you be inrresred” she aed Assn hei yes me and she saw something ee ficker in his eyes look of ansurenes. She was surprised and then iy ex state bythe though, have mide him fel anes “Unig be.” As the door closed behind hin, Blinabeth ied the ewp and ese edge aginst ae teth Her brexth vas oe inside he cup snd moire clung the fine darks above er ip. She wae Hanks ek tum the commer a the ead of the ln {pan ts she'd sai, as hough it was er fam eo sl. And saving it ade it seem rel. [am ded of earning people around on my back she'l tll ema, who wil crow and sy, welt sbout tne. She got up fom the able and wrove on the clend, “Make an apprinement vith he haere: in the mide of Apr, Henry had another seoke. “Henry bs smother bout, ute bad,” Elaabeth wrote, the terse calmness of he fw shot up, he recovered and hs fae Beene ‘wor denying the rumoil ini, She saved wih hn al das aun leawing onto get bite oa ea revesuran cen. So the nara al window beside fi Ded and nokced se spring. Moist warm at use int the roam overt the gent ofthe radio. Below in che parting lot, people ating 9 vs ‘scaring light coats, seers nda below: Hank Prk She emptied the basin of water no the snk beside Heb wie shaking nds and tua ofa ok, wha aoe in oom without making 1 sound. He added ra he His easel bos the aes in is ose, the Dg ae he the bd ha collect bis wastes, "Uhestd fe was worse, Cm song” Hank sid nad way rade her remember du is wife ad vaezed. Hank wa dere than he Hankwho hd lughed whl she'd rammed her ca na» car because he wouldn't ether pss making her anger a wae never houghe anyone cou. She was aboot ro hank im bu 3 ‘hat hi voce had ied. The sume sig expen was ere utc ered, and is deste fo ter, coneoled, he would it vos coulda’ wait, He was passing hse for he crs he ner or other Hear: "Eyowrnced anything sh"he si. “Theos” ‘She nodded. "John eaa come, 0." “lennysighed deplandrhee we Hi chest moved gently up aod down andthe bunks ih i stemness ws pinched ou like ane a ieee. elo icbeen a covering? she wondered. lencr hadn't shed he fran thing and he had shared all with her. le ways fase na is arson feathers laure ater as Blabecheume bik rom cag ah, che ve met her athe door af he hosp and si "Me Zaria has jc sed" Then they tok he af room an lat ur sons wi She pulled ou the deer and dropped his comb a brash 0 vert beplbstic net hag she esi inher purse. She celled his parol plot rom the cardbosrd container. She though she might en It ‘asthe dine for ie She look sround the eile for one at ine ena’ final giving ou ad lead been absorbed by the beat of thee. She imagined the lne, his ese fang even now eneith Shevlin wl ee a per, heen paral pa, Sh sth ny dv, Thre ane hing de Sedo dhe gated Hey inka and aie hin oe She wad as ier un hl “Sexo ese si espeng” "When posed hough he ge pas dors sews pr tedster tit al ben enn. Fine rn tne ond wie onthe elena, She'd sige he pape ole Har ody othe dere with en ha Nose si Ud edt or yo ee a a Se aid cov ica en he rig Ady aed sh Shar came rning ore eal igh Vel em, gh Shewodd goose te ls Sh oad holon othe ling she snl er eral go, Waterers she woud dwg Moonticnt Sonata gus 17,1960 Above me,» mois asap blanke descended Pr crercheshoeto of che town were ved uni the sy asin luce, cape in hey fol and cued benexth the horizon, There twee four of us ating in Goat of che Hotel on Main Steet eae Sarena aight wang, We wee abeys wating For smeching 0 happen, some cvene whic would ee ou teasion-filld boredom. Around us. pesed into the inky shy, were thy blue cue shapes of bldg, windows squares of hard yellow light vie ing eh shadows onthe siewalk where we sac on,our bnunches, leaning suns the sac wl Mosh skiered acrosi he surice of the nigh + Blizzard in che lghes above she doorways, he ste igs deawing my eyes othe cen unl 00, had tha elng fanning, of ming 0 che Ugh T eemernber onthe comer,» telephone booth. Someone had Licked chrough the glist door and inside it smeling of beer, # swaying man embraced she lephone oLeep rom filing [recalled reading u survey in the newspaper on how forty-two per cent of women poled sid they were dscontened. The main problems,