What We Talk

About When We Talk

About Love

M Y ftieod Mel McGinn11 W~ ulking. Mel McGmnis is

a cardiologist, and somet1mn 1h.c gives him <be right.
The four of us were s1t11ng around his ki<chen table
drinking gin. Sunlight filltd 1he kocchen from the big window
behind ch< sink. There were Mel and me and his second
wife. Tercu-Terti. we called hcr-nd my wife, laura. Vk
lived in Albuquttq"" ch<n. Bue we were ~ from some-
where else.
Tbue wu ao ice bucket 011 che c.tble. Tix gin aod chc
come warer kept gomg around, and we somehow goc on the
subJCCt oflove. Mel thought real love wos nothing less than
1piricua) love. He said he'd spent five years in a seminary
before quitting to go co medical 1ehool. He said be still

I 37
 H'1iar /It Ta/ft About Ulhtrr Ifr Tai~ About lollf!
\OQl\td back on th~ )'~O in the )cminry ~ tbe mo>1
1mporta111 ye.rs in his life.
Torri said the man sh.. lwed wnh (x,forc slir lived wirh
Md loved hc,r so much he rrird ro kJI her. Then Terri said,
"He bear me up one n1ghr. He draggd me round the
livmg room by my ankle" He kept saying, J lovt you, I
lo,-,:, )'OU, you birch.' I le wnir on drgging me round rhe
hving room. My h~d l<cpr knclck1ng on 1h1ngs." Terri
look<d around rhc mble. "Whar do you do with love like
rh31?"
She was a bone-thin woman with pretry &er, dark cyn,
and brown hair rhar hung down her back. She liked neck-
la~ made ofrurquoi~. and long pcnd.m tming1.
"My God, don'r II<' silly Tlw' nor love, and you know
ir," Md said "I don't know wh.r you'd call 11, bur I sure
know you wouldn'r cll ic love."
"Sy what you want ro. btrr I know rt '"'1S." Tern said. "h
my sowid cnry co you, but it's cruc Jusr the 1<1mc. Pooplc
arc .fi!Tcr<nc, Mel. Sure, sometimes he may have ~ctod crazy.
Ok.y But he loved me. In bis own way may(x,. bur he
to"cd me. There was lo"c rhcrc. Md. Don'r ..Y there
\\'~.snr.
Md let out his breath. He held his glass and turned 10
Laura and me. "Tbc man rhrntroed ro Ir.ill me," Md said.
He finishtd hrs dnnk ml reocb<d (or tbc gm bonlc. "Terri's
a romanric. Terri's of rhc k1ckme-sol'llknow-youlove-111c
school. Terri, hon, don't look tbar wiy." Mel reached across
<M rablc and touched Terri's chcel:. wrrh hrs fingl'rs. He
grwned at her.
''Now he wanrs 10 Jllkc up," Terri s;rid.
I 38
. --
- -
JV'ha1 Ht Talk Ab~111 If ?r"" Mt Th/k AbD111 Lor
"Ma~ up wlm?" Mel u\d. "Wl<>l 1~ there U) 1nakc: up? I
know wh1 I know. Tht'> all"
"How'd we get stmed on rllis 1ubjtct. anyway?" Terri
said. She raised her glau and drank from rL "Mel alW.J)'j h:
mt
10\'e on Im mmd," 1;1\c.\, "Don't )'(>\\,honey?" SI"' miled.
and I rhought thai was tM l>sr t'f u.
"I JUst wouldn't call Ed's bdmror lo,-e. That'< all l'rn
saying. honey," Mel ..id. "Whac abour you guys?" Md said
to )..aura and nre. "Poet that sound h\\c love 10 you?"
"I'm the wrong J>CfSC'O ro ask," I said. "l didn't e-,:,n
know the m:m. 1\-e onl) bend hrs name men11ontd 1n
passing. I wQuldn't )mow, You'd have to know rhc prriC<.
lars But 1 1h1nlc \YMt you're saying is tht \o"e is an
absolu~."
Mel said, "The kind of love I'm talking abour rs. The
klnd otlove I'm tlking bour, you don't try to kill people."
Laura said, "I don'< know any1hrng about Ed, or any
thing abour <M mution. Bur .. ho <'n 1udgc anyQne else's
situation?".t
I rouched 111<- back of Uiura's hand She gave mo a quick
smrk. I prdt-d up Laura's ban.I. It w~ wrm, the nails
pol11hcd, perfecrly manicuretl. I encircled '~ broad wm1
with my fingers. :uid I hdd her.
" W H E N I lc:fr. he dunk rar porton,~ Terri uid. S~
da1pcJ her am1s wi1h her hands. "1 hey rook hrrn ro rhe
.bo1p11al in Sanr It Thus where we lrvcd r.ben. lbour rerr
nulcsour. Tile) sa-.d Im life. Bur hrs gums "-.n' cnzy from
ir. I mean th)' pulled awly from Ins 1ctrh. After rhar, his
teeib stood our like fangs. My God," Trrri said. She waited
l 39

m1nult'. then kt go ofhtr arms.ind picU<I up her glass.
-~. ptopk .. onr do!"' uura Aid.
"Hr'' our of 1he acnoo no... Md said. "Hr's dad.-
Md lundrd mt tbt taucn of Limn. I rook a seaioo.
Mjl.lttttd II O\'Cr I'll)' drink. and Jbtttd tbr ltt cubes with
my fingrr
"Ir gieu \\"Ont," Trm ~. "Hr shot himselfin tbr IDOUlh.
&1 he bungltd 1lu1 coo. Poor Ed." shr Wd.. Terri shook~
head
"Poot Ed no1hmg," Mel said. "Hr was d.uigttous."
M~I was forcrfie ~mold. Hr was call and caogy widi
curly sofr lu1r. Ha faa aod amu were brown &om cbr
ccnnos he playtd Whro hc was sober, bu pures, an Ins
movemtnrs. were preciic. very cmful.
"He did love mt rhough. Mel. Geant mt thar."Terri said.
"That'J all I'm a1king. He didn't love me th< way you lovc
me. I'm no11aying 1har. Dur he loved me. You can grant me
rhat. can't you?"
"Wlm do you mean, he bungled i1?" I said.
Laura leQncd forward wi1h her glass. She put ber elbows
on the table ano.I held her glass in both bands. She glanced
from Mel to Terri anJ wa1lt'o.I with a look of~ilderment
on l~r open face, as 1f amazed rlur such thin!!' luppened 10
people you were friendly wuh.
"How'd he bungle II when he lulltd hlmsdf?" I said.
"111 rdl )'Ou wlur lup~. Mel said. "Ht rook this
rwrn1y-1wo pos1ol he'd bough1 10 threatrn Terri md me
wuh Oh. I'm ittlOUI.. tbt man ""always threatening. You
lhould ha\'C Jttn chc ,..y we l1vtd ID thost days. Uh
fugimn. I C"\rll bougb1 a gun myself Can )'OU~... it? A
II 1w II+ To/It ANwt II itcn lit To/It Abo111 U.or
~)' like mt? Bui I did I bc>ughr one for \Clf-<kfmse and
arritd 11 in 1hc itloe awnr"mrnt Somctimts rd 1u,.,. 10
knT tht apanmrnt 1n chc rruJdk of chc n1gh1 . To go ro cbr
bop1ral, )1'U know? Trm and l ,.Ttr111 muritd tbm. and
my line ,.,,ft luJ cbr 00- anJ ~id.. cbr doi! C"\ttything,
and Trm and I ,..-tt lmng 1n th11 apanmrnt htR. Somt-
nmn, ., I i.ay, I'd ~t a nll cn 1ht miJJlc of the mght and
luc 10 go tn to chc h<"J'1UI >1 two or thtn- ID the mommg.
It'd be darft out there In the parktn1t fot, and I'd break IDIO 2
s....~ai !..-fore I coulJ f\\"11 Fl 10 m)' e>r I ~u lnc-v. lfhr
,. as ~mg 10 comr up ouc <>I dir lhruhbtry or from behind
a car and scare >ho.111n11 l m'"" ct... m.in w.s crazy He was
capble of" iring a bomh. nyrhmg. fir usrJ to all my
stt\'i ac all houri anJ uy hr ntnlrJ 10 ulk 10 the doaor.
and ,.hm I'd murn ch, call. he'd say. 'Son of a botch, your
days art nu111~red' Lml~ thon1t' l1kr !hc Ir was 1cary. I'm
telling you."
"I mll fuel 1orry for l11m," Tern r.ald.
"le sounds hk, 01Kl11matt," Lauro '"id. "Out what exactly
happened afrcr he 1hm h11t11rlf1"
Laur~ IJ a lrgJI sctrrnry. W.-'J mer in a professional
capacity. fkfort wr knew n. 11 ' " ' cournh1p. She's thlrry
five, chrrr yoan yo11n11<-r than I am In 1dd111on 10 being in
love, we hkc each 01 hrr and enjoy one anochrr's company.
She'> cly 10 Ix wnh .
" W H A T happrnrd r' Llura u1d
Md u1d, H~ shoe humdf 1n che mouth ID bu room.
SomcoM heard thr hor and tnld t lir managrr. ~ came
1n w 11h a p111k>" "'"' wluc had barpcncd. and called an
1111~.1 tur~ ro bc tlx-tt .... hm thty broup;ht him
1n, abve but p>t rcoll The mlD (a,cd for three d.a~'S HU
head swelled up to 1w1~ the s1u of normal head. I'd never
..,.-n .uiytlung liu u. and I hopr I nevt-r d<> apin Terrr
1unred to go 1n md sn wnh him wbtn she found out about
II We h.d a fig)it O\(f IL I cllJn't think shc "-Id l t t him
ltkr tlut I didn't think she should 1tt lum, md I still don't."
"Who -.on the fight?" Laura 1.t1d
"I was tn the room with him when ~died," Tcm said.
"He never amc up out of 11. But I 1.tt "uh lum. He d1dn'1
iu,,, .nyonc d~.
"He ""ai d.aneirrou>- Md sa1J "Ii you all that Jo,..-. )'OU
no ha,,, 11"
"h wu love," Tern said. "Sure, it's abnormal ID mosr
pcople'scyt"S But he was willing co die for it. He did die for
II"
"I sure u hell wouldn't all 11 loH." Mel ...d "I mean, no
one knows whar he- did 11 for l'vr J<'f'n a Jor of swndts. and
I couldn't say anyone ever knew what r~y did 11 for.'"
Mel puc his hands behind hi~ neck and ulted his chair
back. "I'm nor interMtcd ID that lund of love," be said. "If
thar's lo,c. you ca have 11."
T<"m uiJ, ~ wm.- afra1J Md~ rm<k a Wiii ouc ~
wrote 10 hu brochn ID C.ltfomt who used to bc a Grem
!km. Mel culd tum who 10 loo~ for 1fsomething happened
to him.'"
Tcn:1 dr.uik from her glass She sa1J, "But t.11:1'> right-we
[l\cd '1k fog111v.:s. We "'ere afritd Mel was. wemt't yoo,
honey? I cvm callcd tbt poli at~ point. but tbty wett
no btlp ihcy said they couldn't Jo aoyrlung un11l Ed
a.;tually d1J somcthlDg lm't that bugh?'" Tern said
I 42
Sht poured rht lut of the gin 1nco her gb.11 nd W'llgglcd
the bott~. Mel got up from the ubk and wmt 10 the
cupboard , I le cool down anochrr boulc .
w E L 1. , Kick and I k!IO\\ what 161t ,., Loura said.
for u\, I me.a." lour soi.I She bumped It') kott "~th btr
kntt. "You'i-., wppoocd to soy somrtb1ng nCM," Liura >be!.
and cumrd her lnUk on rnr
For an answer, I cook Liuu's hand nd rmcd II to my
lips. I mode a b1fl prodU< uon out of lmsinp; her hand.
E''tt)"""' "'mud
y,~.,, lucky." I wd.
You gu~ Tnn said scop rhit now. You're malting
me sick. You'rr sull on chr honeymoon, for God's sake.
You're 11111 gaga, for crying out loud. Juc wa1c. How long
have )'OU been cogcthcr now? How long has tt been? A
)"Cat? Longrr tlun Y"""
"Go1nii on year inJ a lulf Laur said, flushed and
sm1hng.
"Oh. now," Terri said. "Wmlt 3while."
She held her drink anJ g~uJ at Laura.
rm only kidd.ng." lern ..,J.
Md opm<V rl'I<' gm nJ ....m .round 1/,.. t~bk m1h tilt
bottle.
"Herr, you guys." hr ..,J ~e's ha.c a ro~11. I want to
propose a coast. A coast u1 lovc. To true love." Mel said.
\\c tOU<hcJ gbssn
"'TO i'>T," '"' SOid.
o v T \Io E 101hebad1.~ltJ.oncof1htdogsbcg;tnto
bark. Th< lrav<I of the .,pen tlm leaned put the ,.,ndow
I 4 3
 11ckrJ agouuc the glau. The af~oon >Wl wa.s li.l<e pm-
mu m 1hl' 1oom. 1~ 1p:.c\01n ligln of~ md ~ry.
~could bny bttn auywh=. >OnrWlx1c ~ ~
r.ulnl our gbDn agw and grinnd ac ecb cxher lik
clulwn who hail agr..ci on somrthmg forbidden.
"111 rclJ you what ml lo'" u. Md-'. "J rneou. 1'11 gi~
)'Ou a good mplr. And rbm you can dnw yoar own
condu<1onl." H pour! morr gin 1n10 lus glass. 1-k added
an ~ cubt aDJ a ""Yr of fun. "" "'"'ccd and sappod our
dnnb. laura arid l 1oucht-J ltnttS ag.10 I rur a mod on htt
warm thigh and lrft 11 rh<rr.
"What do any of us rrally ltoow about lovo?" Md saul
"lt ftll:I co enc "''re JWl bcginnc;rt at lovo. We say W<: lovo
w
raeh orhrr and do, I don'r doub111. I love Terri aod Terri
loves mr, and you guys Jove each othor too. You know ch.
l11nd of IO\lt I'm ullung bout now. Pby!ical love, tbat
irnpuJ.IC char drivrs you 10 someone special, as well as love of
the other pmon's btrng, bu or htt csstn, as ir wcr. Carnal
love and, won,~ 11 scnrunrntl] lovo, rho d.ly-to-day caring
about the orhor person. Bui som<t1111('S I have a hard time
aooiunnng for ch fOICI 1ba1 I muu hav loved my fuse wife
roo. Bui I did, I know I did. So I suppose I am Lite T=i in
thac rcg;ird. Terri and Ed.'' He thoughr about ir and then he
-.mt on ~re wu a umr wbm I thougbr l lovtd my first
wik more rlun hit 11>elf. Bur now I hair htt guis. I do. How
do you explain due? Wb.ir hipf"'n~ 10 dm love? Whi1
b.tppcatd co ll, ts wlw I'd like to i<MW. I wtsh WlttlCOlle
~lei rdl mo. nm th='J Ed. Oby. wo're bacli to Ed.'*
lows T=i so much he mos ro l<11l htt <1nd he wmds up
lulling l\imsc\f:' Mr\ OJ'P'd r.alk.ing and "''ailc:M.O from
144
his gWs. "You guyi hl\"C been rogt-thrr e1ghtttr1 months md
you 10\'t t11th (>l\ln h \hov., all O\'tr yw You glow with
II But )'O<I boch loINI Olhct- proplc brfurr )'QU mtf C'ach
oihrr. You\ bo1h bttn mrrit-J bdore. jwt hk us. And
)'OU ~\>I) lovt'cl lllhcr pt0plr bdore tlur 100. "'nl. Tem
-t I hn<' bttn rogcrhtt 6<' )<'.an. btt-n ITWTitd for four.
And ch. rrmbk rhao)l, the 1ttt1blc: 1hang u. bu rhr good
rhing mo, ch.- 1mn~ gr~. )'OU m1gh1 uy. iJ thr 1f 50rie-
thmg h:arpm! co ont' of1n-cxcusr mt for ""fU"S thu-bur
ifso111t'(hang lupptn<"J 10 o"" of us romorrow I 1h1nk ck
orhtt one. iht' oditt pcnon. would grit<' for while. you
kn". bur chcn thr uinwing ~rry "'<'Uld go our ind IO'"e
agun. ha\c 'l<lmeo"" d1e \OC)(I cnough. Alt this. II o( this
lo"e we're rlking ab<lut, 11 would JI.ISi be a memory. Maybe
llOI rvrn memof) Am I wrong? Am I way off b;ue?
Bc:talllt' I wmt }"OU 10 i.et ~ \lrngllt if you tlunlr. I'll\
wfong. I wane ro k1low. I mt"n, I don't know any1hing,
and I'm rhr fif'r on ro admir u
"Md, for Coch uk.~ Tern 1.ltd. S.... reached our and
cook hold of hu wri11. "Are you gtrdng druok? Honey?
Are you dnmk'"
'"Honey, I'm JU>! rlkmg." Md s.id. "All nghr? I doo't
have to be Jrunk co ay wha1 I think. I mean. we're all just
11lkmg, riglur' Md ,,.,J He fixed bis e)TS on brr
S11o'ttt1<. I'm not cr11tetnni1." Trrn s.11d.
She p1ckd up her gfis.
rm nor. c>n all~~; Md s.1d. "Lcr me remind you of
rlur . l am m>t on call he so.id
Md, 11oe love you," uur <)1d
Md 10<>\.td a1 uun. Ht ~J a1 bn u If be roWd <><><
l 4 s
 What Uf Talk About Wlrrn I-If Ta/It About Law
pixc her, as ifshe was no1 the woman she WllS.
"Lo'-e you roo, Laura; Mel said. And you, ~ick, love
you too. You know JOmt'tbmg?" Md uid. "You guys arc
our pals " Md uid
He picked up hi~ gl~!S.
M l said, "I w;IS going to tdl you about SOmerhing. I
mean, I was going 10 prove a po1m. You ~. dus h>ppe~
few months ago. but it's still going on right now, and it
ought to nuu us fttl aslumcd when we talk ltU "-e know
wbac we're talking about when ~ talk about love."
"Comt' on now." Tern said. "Don't u lk l1kt you're drunk
if you're not drunk."
':Just shu1 up for once in your life," Mel said very quietly,
"Will you do me a favor and do tba1 for a minute? So as I
was uying. thetc' lhu old coupk who h.ad this car w=lr.
OUt on ctx. iruencacc A kid bil ihan and they w.u all tom
10 shit 211d nobody was giving ihan much clLJncc 10 puU
through."
Terri looked a1 w and tbeo back a1 .Mel. She seemed
anxious, or maybe 1har'1 100 strong a word.
Mel was handing the bottle around the rable.
"I w>& <>n Q\I ilut mgbt," Mtl ~d. "It "':16 tfily or
maybe ic was June. Terri and I had jus1 sal down to diona
when the hosp1ul c.illed There'd been ibis dung our on the
intrmace. Drunk kid, 1ccnagcr, plowed his dad's pickup
inco chis camper w1rh rhu old couple in ic. They wrrc up in
their mid-seventies, that couplt". The kid-eighteen, oine-
tn. somttbing-h was DOA. Taktn the slttflng whccl
iluoogb Im mmurn. ~old couple, rhcy w-= alive, you
understand. I IDC2n, JOSI batdy. 8Ut rbty had everything.
146
W1rat U~ Talk Abot ~Hit H~ Ta/It About Lo1'1'
Mulriple fuctum, inrtrnal mJuries. ~orrhagmg, conru
sions, b~rauons, rtx. works. and d...y each of rlimi had
dknuthn concuuions. They were in bad way, bcl1t\..,
mt'. And, of coursr. rhrir gc ws two strikes ag;un<r chem.
I'd say she w;u worsr off rhn he was. Ruprurcd spln
along w11h evoryching elo.c. Borh kneecaps broken. But
they'd been wranng the1r scacbdts and, God knows, rha!'s
wba1 savrd them for chc nmr bemg."
"Folks. chis u an d\rrus..mm1 for chr National Safery
Counal." Trm said. "This is your spo~. Dr ~1cl,m
R. McGinnis. t.tkmg. Terri lughcd. "Md, shes.id, some-
times you're JUS< coo much Bur 1 luvr you, hon," shr said.
"Ho1wy, J luve you," Md aa1d.
Hr lca11cd across the cable. Trrri rnr1 him halfway. Thoy
kisscd
"Tctt\l right," Mel s.tid :u bt sctdcd himself @jlio "~t
rhosc serbelu on. Bue 1n1ouJy, they were in SOmt' shape.
thme oldsr<1$. By th nmc I got down rhert, the krJ wu
<kad, I s.i1d. He was off 111 a comer, laid our on a gurney.
I cook one ll)ok JI the old couplr and 1old rhe ER nurse 10
gee me a neurologist and an orrhopcdic man and a couple of
surgconS down th.,rr righr away!'
Hc don\. from lus glass. rll 11~ 10 kttp 1his ~. hr
said. )<> "'"' rook rhc two of 1hrm up co the OR nd
worktd hi<., fuck on chem mo.t of the night. Th<y hd
these in~mhblc reserve>. rhoS<' two You Se<: thac once in a
wh1lt. So wt did everything that could be done, and toward
mornin11 we're giving 1hcm a fif1yfifry chance. mybc less
chan 1h~1 for her. So here 1hty trc, still alive rhc nt'XI
morning So. okay. ""' move 1htm 1n10 the ICU. 'Wh1d'I "
whrre 1hey borh ktpt pluggmg w) ac 11 for rwo "ks.
14 7
hi111ng 11 btt1n- and bcnn- on aU tlit scopes. So wr tnnsfcr
thtm OUI 10 1fit11 Ol"'tl room.
Mel rco~ wlung "Ii=." lit s.ud. ~e's drink this
chcpo [t1D 1fit hell up. Thro ..-cir going 10 dilmcr, right?
Trtn .and 1luiow J new p~. Tut's .. ~ w.-11 go. ro this
- p1- ..t know Jbour. Bur "<"'tt DOC gomg until wr
finl>h up ibis cu1ni.-, lousy gia.
Tern uod. "\\\- lu-m'1 xnwly <attn thtt.- )'l"L Bur it
looks (IOO<I From rlit -~. )"OU know."
"I l1J.t fooJ, ~icl satd "lfl iud 1110 do a0 O\U again. fd
be J clitt; )"OU know? R1gf11. Tttni'" Mel said.
Ht l.iughtd Ht lingtttd tilt ~ m his glus.
"'Ttm knows. he 1.11.i. "1'trn no tdl you. But kt me say
1h11. If I could CORY b.lck ag:un Ill a d1fltrm1 hfi,, a d.lkrrnt
nnit and all, you know wmt? I'd hkc 10 come back as a
knight. You "'trt prcuy s.ik "'t<uing all tmt armor. It w.u
oil right bems a knight until gunpowder and musuts and
p1s1ols c~mt Jlong"
Md would like to ride a horse and carry a bncc." Terri
said.
"Carry a woman's icarf wi1h you everywhere," Laura
s.i1d.
'Or ju>1 a wom;in," Md uid.
"Shamt on you." Laura sald.
1Cm !.lui, "Suppmc you came bad ai a serf. 1k serfs
didn't hnc 11 io good in 1bolC' days." Terri ..,d.
"JM 1<1'1\ llt\t1" h.td 11 good." Md said. wBut I guess t'\'Ctl
thr kni11h11 were \'t11d1 ro 10mt011t. bn'1 that tilt way ir
t'fll.r<I> Bui 1bcn e\'tl')'Ont 11 alwa)'t a ,1'Ud ro 50m<'One.
Jin'1 t1..1 nglu? Tcm? Bur wlu1 I hkd about knights.
I 48
bnidn 1lit1r lad.n. us that 1bty hod 1mt suit of urnor.
)OU kno... and 1lity couldn't get hurl \'Cf)' easy. No can m
those d.p. you kOCM ? No dtunlt tttn.gcn 10 i.-u mto
)"OUr .us.
.. \' A > \ A l ' Tnr1 Mid
v,1u1?" Md u1cl
"VawJ<. Tern said They "'ttr c.tllcd ua.al.. not\'&
IC!..
"V1<UJ... cucls. .\icl utd. "whar rlit fuck's dit dJfcr-
cn? You knt" ,. hat 1mt>nt aoy\\i.t)' AU nghr. Md said.
"So I'm noc tducm-d I lumtd mv 11uft'. I'm a litan sur-
geon. ture, but I'm JU\! a mttha~1c. I go m and I fuck
around and I fix 1hm~ Shu." Md tatd
"Modesry doc1n'1 b.<omc you," Trm wd
"He's Jul! a humble s.i" bones." I s.i1d. "Bur somctlmt'S
rhey 1uffornr.I m all rh.ir >rmor, Md. They'd even have
heart macks 1( 11 gur mo hor anu they were too rirtd and
worn our. I read 1omewherr char they'd fall of!' their hor1<s
and nor be able to gee up because they were 100 tired 10
stand wi1h all rim .irmor on them. They go1 trampled by
1heir own horsc1 somc11mc1."
"Thar't rm1ble," Mel "11d "Thar's a terrible rhmg, N1dc.y. /
I gum rhey'd JU\I lay 1herc and wan unul sonYbody omc
along and made a slmh k.t:btb out of tlv:m."
"SonY 01her vt11<I.'' Terri 1.11d
"Tfut, nghr." Md said "Somt vaual ould ro1t1t along
and ipcar the ba<u.rd 1n 1lit nanY oflot Or wharou tilt
fuck u ~ rlity fought o~r 1n thole d.ys
"Sa1t1t 1htn@.1 "e fight O\tt 1fitsc da)-i. Tern 111d
I 4 9
 111rat llf Ta/Ir About iw,,.,, llt Talk Ahow l..otJt
Lauri u1d. "Norhuig's ch.m~
The color ,.;u Still high 10 Laura's chtth. Hes: eyes \\'C'fe
bnghc She brought bcr gl.us to hn- !Jps.
Mel poured himself anocbcr dnnk. He looUd at cbclabd
dost!) as 1( lfudrmg long row of namben. Tbrn be
Jo...ly put the boctk- down oo che ubk Jnd slowly r<aehed
fOt thr tome \Utrt.
wH A T bout thr oicl couple"' Laun sa.d. "Yon didn't
finnh ch.at uory )'OU swttd
1.Juri us hav10g lurd tunr ligbung her cipcttt. Her
m.mf,...kpt go1ngour
1hc sumh1ne mwdc the room was d.iffi:rem now, ch.mg
ing, ~rung thinner. Bur the lcvcs ouwdc the wmdow
wcrr mll 1h1mm<nng, and I stared at r.hc pattern they made
on the panes and on the Fonmca counter. They weren't the
um< panrrn1, of coul'\C.
"Wlm abuut the old couple?" I said.
"Older but wiser," Terri md.
Mel mrrd ar her.
Terri said, "Go on wlrh your srorv, hon. I was only
kidding. Then what happened?"
1oTcrn1 son1cumrs.' /\1rt ~lid.
"Please. Md," 'ICm 1<11d. "Don't always be so serious,
1wt'ttte Can't you tak a iokc1"'
"Wilt-re's rhr iokc?" Md u1d.
He hclJ h11 gl.us ind gucd ncadtly at bu wife.
"Wl~t hap~nrJ>" uun J.lid
Md furcned hncyC>on Ltur Hc said, "Laura. if! didn'r
ha>c 1em nd if I d1Jn't IO\T her so much, and if N'ick
I S0
wun'r my bnt fnend, I'd C.11 in lo>c with you. I'd carry
you off, hoB<"y." fir uuJ
"Tcll your uocy." Tern uid "1bm "'11 go co thar racw
platt. oby ?"
"Okay." Md uid "Where ,.., 11" hr Jaid He surod
the ubk nd cbcn hr brg;on .ag;tlll.
1 dropptd 1n to SC't c.sch of thnn t'\<tY day, tomrtlnl<S
N> a d.y 1f I "'"'up doing ocher calls Jn}-V.J) Casa :and
band.gn. hcMI co font, thr bocb of chem You kDow.
you\.., seen u m thr mo"IC> Tlut'> Jlllt the "''JY they
looked, JllSI l1kt 1n thr movin. Lurk <)t-holn and nosc-
holn llld mourhholn And me had to h.-.., bcr kg1 slung
up on cop of 11 Wdl, rite hwh.nd wu ''Y dq>reucd for
rhe longnt while. Even ftcr hc found out thar bu wife was
going co pull through. he wa1 11111 vcry deprn.scd. Noc
about the acc1dcnt, though I m<n, the occidcnr was one
chmg, buc u wm't everything. I'd ~t JP to his mou<h
hole. you know. and he'd 1<1y no, ar wasn't the accident
exaccly bur It wa1 because he couldn't sec her through his
cycholcJ. I le sid tlm wai whac wlls mking him fed so
bad. Can you imagine? I'm telling you, chc man's heart was
breaking because he couldn'r turn his goddamn head and
Ht Im goddamn wife."
Md lookd around rhc table and shook has head at wb.r
he was gmng to sy.
"I mean, II Wat killing rhc old fmiusr bee.use hc coufdnt
look ar the fuckmg wuman ,"
We all lookd u Md
"Do you SC't wht I'm'"> 1n11,.. hc s.ud.
I S I
 What Ufo Talk About Wiren I# Ta/It About Lo'f!
M A Y B E - were a litilc drunk by then. ! know it was
Mid kttping thin8' in fOCU\. T~ light"'~ drillning 001 of
the room, going back through the y,'indow where it Jud
come from. Yet nobody made a move co get up from rhe
table co turn on thr ovn-head lighr.
t~n.~ Md said. "Las fuush this fucking gm. 'Th:tc',
about eno~gh lefr here for one shooier all around. Then
lee's go rat. Let"s go ro the new place.''
"He's dtpressal." Terri said. "Mel. why doo'c you take a
pill)'
Mel shook his head. "I've taken everything there ii."
"We all need a pill now and clicn," I said.
"Some prople att born netding thetn," Tern said.
She was using her futgu co rub ac oomeching on the
table. Then she sropp<'d rubbing.
"I think I want to call !JlY kids.'' Mel said. rs that all righc
with everybody? I'U call my kids." he said
Tern saul. "Whac 1f ~UrJOne answi!n the phone? You
or
guys, you've heard us on the subject Marjorlcl 1-Joney,
you know )"OU don'c wane to t.tlk co Marjorie. lt'U make you
fed C'\"Cn worse."
"I don'r want ro call: to Marjorie. Mel said, "But I wane
to talk 10 my kids:'
"There istl't day goes by tbac Mel d~nr say he wishes
she'd get marriI again. Or elst die," Terri said. "for one
thing." Terri said, '1ht's baokrupnng us. Mel$.!)'$ it'sjust co
spi~ him du.t she "''Qn\ g\'t mmied g>.in. She h1S boyfriend
'
who lives with her and the kid<, Mel is supporril:lg clic
boyfriend wo."
she's Uergic to bees. Mel said. Ifrm not praytngsbcil
1 s2
What U! To/It Abow Uillm Uf Ta/It Ahow Low
get married again, I'm praytog we'll get herself stung ro
<hrh by a swarm of~ bees.
"Shame on you." Laura said.
"Bzzzzzzz," Mtl said. rucning his fingers into bees and
buning them at "RTri's rhroor. Then he k1 his bands drop
all th.! way 10 his lidn.
"She's vicioiu," Mel said. "Sometimes I think r11 go up
chcrc dressed like a beekeeper. You know, 1ha1 har chat's like
a b.!lmct wirh 1he place tba1 ()()mes down over your f..ace. rhe
big glo=. and the padded CO><? 111 knock on rhe door 20d
ljl( loose a ru\'C of bees in the house. Bur fint rd mah. sure
chc kids were our, of course.''
He crossed one I~ over tbe other. It scetticd 10 take him a
loi of tunr 10 do it. Then he put borh fttr on the Ooor and
leaned forward. elbows on rbc table, bls chin cupped in bis
bands.
"Maybe J won't C2.ll rhe kids. after ll. Maybe it im't such
a boc idei. Maybe we'll just go ear How does char sound?"
"SOllDcb fine to met I ~d. "at or nOt ttt. Or ktcp
drinking 1 could hoad right on our into !he suruet.''
"Whar does chat mean, hOl!e)'?" Laura said.
"Jr Just 1De20S what I said, l Mid. "It means I could jusr
~ gciins. Tha1'1ill11 m=JJ,"
"I could ear something myself," Laura said. "l don'c think
1"~ ett been so hungry in my Ii&. ls rhere something ro
nibble oo?"
"111 put our !Orne cheese and cuckers, 'fm said.
But Terri jusr sat there. She did nor get up 10 ger atly-
cltlng.
Mel cuniN hU glass over. He spilled it our on tbc table.
>j
 WIM I# Tall: Abour IW.tn I# Tall: Abow Low

"Cin'> gone; Mt! said

Terri s:iid. "Now what?"
I could hc.u my heart beating. I could hear everyone's
One More Thing
heart. I could hear the human noise we sar there making,
not one of us moving, not C\'Cll wbm the room went dark.

l. D. s wife, Maxine, rold him 10 get our the nighr she

c:unc home from work aod found t.D. drunk again and
being abusive 10 Rae, their fifieenyear-old. L.D. and Rae
were ar the kitchen able, arguing. Maxine didn't ha"e rime
to pur htt purse away or rakr offhtr coat.
Rae said, "Tell htm, Mom. Tdl htm whar "" r.al~
about.''
LD. turned the glllS.I in bis ha11d, but he didn't drink
from it. Maxine had bun tn a fierce and dtMjuicdng gaze.
"Kttp )our nose our of thtngl you don't know anytlung
about. l.D. said. LJ) wd, "I cm'c takt! anybody saiowly
who sirs around all day rcadtng :mtology magazines"
"This has nothing 10 do wi1h astrology,'' R11c said. "You
don't b:nre to 'uuult mC:'
I 54
I 55