130. CHAPTERTWO/PLOT AND STRUCTURE 6 Exinanftyayoucan becuse ofthe detiogsoc ington ‘Sle te awe cme Teo etn Oo May (GretGholuwn @)Bucessention ote word" @)Tioors | echt aie andine? @) Sumer scaion othe won! "Pluee | 17, What god uated the dinqunts inhi tory hae? Do hey dieras a Expired pmprrmime raster ont | 1 Onthe sure sca stry of aon, sens aed arene, Ata deper Teel teewe eingency wea mon snare Ty wo sump wha he ‘Shy snout banana geen Alice Munro How I Met My Husband Weta te pln ome oe om; rong hugh te i sev wee its gg te Hes we al not mean We spree eth tc se and, te fad up ae Teese Ms en ined ‘Cringe eye ey wari ae “Wayne Peles Welt eng’ De tis wos aman bx hang yo i sy . This was my first job—working for Dr. and Mrs. Peebles, who had bouts ea one Ln at sot om eerie hen fe wen ms aril town ppl ing op Femara tn ute eos Yield te pn nd sco od whe onde sned he Ti ke fod ating ly tle fe ce etme edule dow now ea an Behe athena hy Enh olga Pere ats ny ad i he ecin Sing eB “Tse. Ae Manet 191) row up inl other harcore ietSheatede te Unmet af Wes Om era nred a Boi Cora where se el ut 1972; he SEP RaCitt, Ove She's the horse cobcnonr of ean ‘Boer Seed rs 96) aod Te Le Gad Wom 198 How Mee MyHubuod 131 “Alright, sid Mr, Peebles, snappy at abe always was when she got vere nerves. “Lets go hackin the house. Let oe stand here gee Ing ike 4st of furers™ ‘She dl say dhat wo hurt my fesings. Ie never occurred to bet Ives sting che dessert down when Loretta Bird avd, out of went ate seen door T'hought i was going to crash into the house and kil youse al” She ved on the next place and the Pebleses thought she was a souney-woman, they dist know dhe diferenee. She sn her husband fit far, he worked on the rads and had «bad name for dining They had seven cilren and could get crea the HiWay Grocer. ‘The Pchleses made her wekome, not knowing any better a sy atl offs her desert Desert was never anything to write home about, at ther place, [A dah of e-O or sliced bananas or Frito of a in, “Have & howe without ape, be ashamed until you di” my mother used to sy, but ‘Min Peshles operate diferent. Loreta Bid same geting the can of peashes, ‘Oh, nevermind she sad. “T have got the right kind of a macht tst what comes out of those ns, can only et ome ‘sasiog T could have slapped er. het she never put down eit inher ie "Tiaow what ek landed here for” the sid “ek go permission ‘o use che firgrouads and take people up fords. Ie ose dol Is the ame flow who ar oer at Palmerston ltt wes and wasup the Lleshore before that. I woulda go up, iyo pd me.” "Ta jump at the chance," De, Peebles sid. “Ti like to ee this highbothood from the air” ‘Mis Pechles suid she wold jst ak son set fom the ground Joey sai he wanted to go and lithe did too. Joey was nine sud Heather Would you, Edie” Heather td Tad I did know, Twa ced, but Uneeradnitted that, espe hiv rot of chilren Twas taking creo. "Peopleare going tobe coming ot herein ther care sing dst nd teampling your property iT vas you T would compli,” Lorets sid Sie hook her legs around the chai ung and I knew we were in fra lengthy vs. Aer Dr. Pebles weat back to his or out on his next, fala Ms, Peebles went for her aap she would hang around ne while132. CHAPTER TWO/PLOT AND STRUCTURE as tryng tod the dishes, She would pas remarks aboot the Peebleses in theron hovse "She would find time to lay down in che mid ofthe day if she had evens ike T go” She asked se did thy ight and did they keep things in the dresser Araer not to have babies with, She sid it was asin if hey Tp tended Iie Know hat she ws taking about T was fifteen and avy rom home forthe fist ie, My parents had made the eff and sent act high shoo fra yea, but ia ike i Tes shy of sranges ad the work was bard, chey did make it nce for you or expan the way they do now, At the end ofthe year the aver ages were published in the paper, atid mine came out tthe very bottom, 3 percents My ater said thatrenough and I dida'ame im. The ast ‘hg wanted any, was to goon nd end wp teaching school. Ithap ‘ened the very dy the paper came ot with digeace nit Dr. Pebles ‘was saying at ou place for dinner, having jst helped one of ou cows have twins and he said Tloked smart to hi a his wife was looking fora gilt lp, He sid she felt ed down, with the ro children, out jn dhe county. guess she would, my mother sd, being polite, though T eoul tll fom her face she was wondering wa on earth i would be like to have only two children and no bam work, and then tbe complaining, ‘When {went home T would describe to them dhe work had to do, nit made everbody nigh. Ms Peebles had an automatic washer and fryer the fst Teer st T ave bad chose in my own home for such a Jong ie now ifs hard o remember how much of x miracle twas tome, ot having to strggl with the wringer and hang up nd haul down, Let lone not having to heat water‘Then there was practically baking [Mr Peebles sud she couldnt make pie crs, the most amazing thing 1 cverhcarda woman admit, Teo of cote, and Tcould make light bis- hits anda white cake and dark cake, bt they de want she sid they watched thee figures, The only ting dda ike about working therein fic was fling hal hungry lot ofthe time, I used wo bring buck boxof doughnuts made ot at home, and hide them under my bed ‘The children found ou, and id mind sharing, but T thought Ibe terbind them to ee. “The day afer the plane landed Mix. Peshes put both children in the car and drove ves to Chey together har cut. There was a god twoman then at Chey fr doing hai, She got hers done at the sane tr Mun / How Mee My Histond 133 hee Mis Peebles dd and that meant they would be gonea good while She ad co pick a day De. Pebles wast going out iat the county the dat have her own cae, Cans were sli shore sup then, alee thew Toved being leit in the house alone, to do my work at ese. The sitchen wavall white and bright yellow, wth Burecen ight. That wat trie they ever thought of making dhe appliances al diferent colors and boing he cupboard ike dk od wood and hiding the lighting. Towed light Toved the double ike So would anybody new-come frm wash Ing dishes in a dshpan wih a rg-pugged hoe onan cilloth covered ‘bly ight ofa cal-ol lamp. kept everyting shining “Thebathoom to, had bah in there once x week They wouldsit Jrve minded iT tok one oftene, but to me it semed ike asking nh, or maybe ring making xs wonderfl. The basin an the tb fd the tlle were al pink, and there were glass doors with Bamingot lite on them, to sto the ru. The light had ony cast and the utankuder your fect ke sows excep that twas wm, The micro ‘va three-way With the mirorall seamed up and the sr ike apefumne ‘bud fom thing slowed to we, 1 ood up onthe side of the tab tnd admired myself naked, fom thre directions, Sometimes T thought about the wy we ved ot at home and the way we lived here and how ‘one way war so hard to imagine when you were ving the other vay. But shougheit was sill alot ease living the way we ied at home, pic ture something lik his, the punted famingos and th warmth 2nd the soft mat, than it was anybody knowing only things Like this eo picture how it was the other way. And why was hat? Twas through ny jobs in no ime, and had the vegetables peed for soppr and siting in cold water besides. Then I went nto Mi, Peeler’ redroom. Ihad been in there plenty of tne, cleaning, and U always took «good lok in her closet, atthe cloths ae had hanging thee: 1 yolet have Looked inher drawers, but a set i open to anybody ‘Thali I would have looked in dees but I ould have worse doing it and been more seared she coal el Some clothes in her dlowet she wore al the time, Twas quit fai Jc with them. Others she never put on hey wee pushed to the ack vas dsappinted to se no wedding dress. But there was one long rs could us sete sit of and Twat engeingeo vee the ree Nowe Took aoteofwhereit hung and ied tout Teas stn, lovely weight ‘mya ight bhish-reen incor alot silvery Te bad» Bed,134 CHAPTER TWO/PLOT AND STRUCTURE pointed was an ull i and an oF the-shoule dig he Tr deo ‘Net hing wat i gota of my own thing and spp ion. 1 as de a fen than anybody wold hel who knee now I the i was Beau T da, of cone, have 4 staple br 0, hich war wa tne jad to lie ny sap own ya Unde the aera Then {Sed pong up my aly to ge te et ne thing led worn, I puto ug an ipstick nd eer pen Slfiom herder The he the day andthe weight of testi and Allie ectement nde me hy, and T went ot he ce pas wast gets paso ginger ale with ecb om theres or Tae Peebles de png or fi din ll dy ie mer, fed Twos gringo 1 did ot. Ak thee was oo limit on io ces ‘hich war so fond ofl wold even tthe in gla of mile Teumed fom putting the icy baked saa man watching me throagh the screen Its the ket hg the world in spl he ‘ger ale down the Bont of me den and there *Tnever meat fo ae yo. Tkaoked but you wee geting the ce you dda hea me Toul ce what he looked tke, he was dark the way somebody rcs again sen doo ith the right aight behind the. Salykac te wat fo around bere “Tim fc the plan over hte, Mi vame x Chis Ware and what 1 was wondering was fT could se tht pomp” There was pp inthe yard. That wa the wy the pop we > getter, Now nse e was ayia Pa “Youle wekomes'T aT can get fom the a ad save you poping” T gus I wanted him oKoow we ha piped wat, dat Pe ok mind the cece" He dit more though, ad aly be sid, "Were you ging os dance Seing 2 sang there had made me ently forget how 1 was dees that the ay adie round ere poe get deed pin the Tr tow bot joke back then, Iwas too embaraed nouveau the yo the oe” Tm bed gel” Manzo/ Hawi Mery Hubei 135 Some people change when they find that out, their whole way of looking you and speaking to you change, bt his id. "Well. Tut wanted roel you you lok ery nc, [as 0 suprised wwe I Tooke in the door and sw you. Jus bec ou looked eo nie td bewsifal Twas even old enough then to realize how out ofthe common itis fora man to say something ke eat wo x woman, o somnchody he is eating ke a woman. Fora ma fo sys word ike bof Last oid ough to realize oF wo say anything bck, or infact odo anyhing ‘push be would go away. Not that didn ke hi, but jus hai up ‘etme having him lok at me, and me trying to think of sxsething He must have understood. He sid good-bye, and thatked me, and wen and sated ling his pal from the pump. stood bin the Vene= Tin blindsin the ning oom, watchinghim. When he had gone, Lent ino dhe Bedroom and took the dest off and put it back tthe same lice. desed in my’ own clothes and tok my air down an washed ny fc, wiping ton Kleene, which thr inthe watchs, ‘The Peblests aked me what kindof maa he was, Young, midle- age, shoe, Texuldn sy "Good looking?” Dr. Peebles cated me, could ink s thing but that he would be coming to get his wae ‘eraguin he woulbetalkingto Dr. Mrs, Peebles cnking fends with them and he would mention seing me that fist alten, dresed up. Why ace mention it? He would think it was funy. Ando idea ofthe trouble t would get me into Aer supper the Pebleses drove into town t0 go t0 4 movie She wanted #0 go romewhere with her hai flesh done, T satin my Tight Kitchen wondering what todo, knowing T would never lep. ‘Man. Pebles might not fre me, when se fund ost, butt would give ‘ia dferent feling about me altogether. his wa the fit place Levee woke ut Telly had picked up ding ous the way people fe when pouare working for chm. They Hke to think yo arent cious, Not jst that you are dishonest, chat enough. They like to fel you dot ote things, hat you dot think or wonder about anything bit what they Tike to eat and how they Hed things ironed, and so on I dont rein they were kind tome, Because they were, They ba me ety mes wth chem cell theta Texpected toy] dd know there wer136 CHAPTER TWO/ PLOT AND STRUCTURE families who dori) and vometimes they took ne along in theca, Ball the ame Tent up and checked onthe dren being alep and then T went ‘out. Thad todo it, Terowed the soad and went in the old fingzounds {ate The plane looked nna siting there, and shining with the toon, OFF atthe far sde ofthe fairgrounds, where the bush was aking ‘ve, Ls herent ‘Tle was sing onside it smoking Ggaete. He saw me coming. Helo, were you loking fora pane ride doit stat taking people up il tomorron® Then he looked agai and said, "Oh, is you did “ow yu without your long dress on "My heart was knocking aay my tongue was did up. ad wo say sonnething, Bue Tonkin, My throat at led and Iwas like a dea ann “Did you want ro side? Sit down, Have a cigette™ nud even shake my bea os no, so be gave me one Puttin your mouth [ean igh it I» good thing in sed to sty ladies” Td Ie wast the Sst time [had smoked igarete, actualy. My al fend out home, Mazel Lowe, asd to steal hem om he beer "Look at your hand shaking, Di you just want to have +cat, of what” Ta one bust Isai“ wist you woul say anything about tae aren” "What des? Oly the long dss” “ts Min. Peebles “Whose? Oh, the lady you work fr Is cat it? She wast homes yougotdresed up ia her des, che You gos dressed up and played quen, I orit blame you, You're not sauoking the cigarette right Dont jue pu Dri in- Did anybody ever show you hw to ial? Are you weared Melon you? Beth ie” Tso ashamed at having to achitn connie ths way T cult od. jot looked at hi ad ee et “Well wort. T wort in te dightest way mention it or embaress yon. Lgve you my word of honor” ‘Then he changed the sjet, to elp me out, seeing T could even thank him, "What do you think ofthis sign?” Tewae« bowd sign ing prctcaly at my fet ‘Mano How IMet My Hisbnd 137 28 THE WORLD FROM THE kX ADULTS $1.00, cmtLoRE® SO Se NMy old sign wae getting prety heat wp, T thought 'd make anew we, That what Te been doing th my time today” “Te lettering was al that handsome T thong. cold have done better one in half an hour. ‘tm nt an exper at dn making” sles ery good Ts "I doit need i for public, or of mouth ie usally enough. 1 cummed aay two carloads tonight. felt ike taking i easy. id ell them adios were dropping in visit me.” ‘Now I remembered the cikren an wa scared gin in cise one fem bad waked up and called me and L waste thee "Do yu have 0 0 0002 [enembered some manners “Thank you forthe cigarette” Dont forget. You have my word of honor” Tore of across the figrounds, scared Tse the car heading home fon town, My sense of cine was od up, I dat know bow long Td ren cutof the house, Butt was al ight, i wattle, the chilen were ‘seep. I got in bed myself and lay thinking what a ack en to dhe dy, sf al and among ching o be grateful fo could be gatll Loretta Bind had been the one who caught se The yard and booders dat get trampled, wast as bad a that. ‘All the mei seemed very pubic, round the house. The sgn was on the faigrounds gate People came most alter supper bata good many i che afternoon, too. The Bid hldren al came without Fifty cent be wen them and bung onthe gate, We got wef the excitement of the line coming in and taking of want excitement anymore. T newer Sen ore ale that one time, but would sex him when he came to get is water woul be out on the steps doing sting-down work, ike epsing vegetables, i could Why dot you some over? TL ake you up in my plane.” “Tm Saving my money?” Tid, because I eoeldn think of anything he “For what? oe getting maid? Took ny bead ‘Til ake you up fr fre if you come sometime when i dlack.T thonght you would some, and have another cignete”138 CHAPTER TWO /PLOT AND STRUCTURE 1 made fice to sh him, bess you ever could ell when the children would be sneaking around the porch, or Mrs, Pebles herself listening inthe house Sometimes she eae out and had a convesation vith ih. He told ber things he had bothered to tell me. Ba hen 1 Ide dhought go ask He told here had been inthe wa, that was ‘where he lared to fy plane, and now he coulda settle down to oni Py ie ths was wht he likes. She maid she could imagine anybody Tiking such thing. Though somesimes, she said, she was almost bored nough to try anying heel she wat brought upto living inthe County al ny husband ide she id. This was news tome. "Maye you ght to ge Sng lesion,” she sai. “Would you take them" Sie jut laughed. Sunday ws busy Bing day in pte of being peaches against fiom two pulpts, We were ll iting out watching, Joey and Heather were over onthe fence with the Bind kid. The fhe bad sid they oul gov fer their mother saying all week the coulda. ‘Near came down the oad past the parked crs ad pulled upright in dhe drv, It was Loretta Bird who got ut ll importance, and on the diver’ side another woman got oxy more sedate. She was wearing sunglass. "This lady loki forthe man that ies the plane," Loretta Bird said. “Theard er ing in he hotel coffe shop wheze I vas ving 2 ‘Coke and T brought Ber out” “Tin sorry to bother you” the lady sid * Me, Water fancée” “This Alice Kelling had ona pir of brow and white checked slacks anda yellow top, Her bust looked to me rather lw and bumpy Se had ‘word face, Her hae had ad a penmanent, but had grown ot, and She worea yellow band to keep cof her face. Nothing in the least prety ‘or eren young, looking about es. Bueyou coud tel fom how se talked thew from the dt, o educated, o both De, Peebles stood up a intodused himself and his wife and me sand asked her to be vexed “Hes inthe ar ight now but youze welcome to stand wait. He gets water here and he hasbeen ye, Hel probably tke is bea tout five” mn Alice Kelling, Fr Manro/ How Mer My Hahand 139 “That i hi, den?” si Alice Kelling wrinkling snd sting st thes. not in the habit of ramning out on you king diferent ue Dr. Peebles laughed. He was the ane, not hs wif 0 ofr iced tex Thenshe set me into the kitchen fit. She ied, She was wear Fngeunglastes to. eS He never mentioned his ans,” he sid Tove fixing iced tea with lots of ie and sles of ln in all gasses ought to have mentioned before De, Peebles was an abstaier, elas around the house, of T woulda have been allowed to tke the siace 1 ad to fe a glos for Loretta Bird too, hough it galled me Td when Twent ut she ad sted in my Lawn chai, leaving me the ee "knew you was a nurse when I fs head you in hit coe hop.” “How would you know a eng Uke chat” "Tet my hunches about people. Was that how you mee im, axing?” "Chi? Well ys. Ys, it ws *Oh, were you overseas?” said Me. Peles -No, ews before he went overseas. nursed him when he wassta- siond at Centalia and had a zeptred appendix. We gt engaged and then be wear overseas. My this refreshing, after along drive" "Hell be pad wo see you," De- Peebles sid. "Tes a rskety kind of |i ie it, not staying one place long enough to relly make fiends” "Yuseve had along engagement," Loretta Bird si ‘Alice Kelling pasted that oer." wa going to get a room atthe ho- ta but when Iwas offered directions Tcame on ovt. Do you think T ‘Sd phone then? "Noneed," De. Peebles xd "Youre five miles amy ro him iyo sty athe hot. Here, you ight acrost heron Sty ith us, Weve {ot ooms on rooms, look a this big house" Asking people oy, jot ike ha, serail a country thing, nd aye semed natural o him nowy bt otto Ms. Pcbles, fom the way ‘he id hye, we have plenty of oom. Or Alice Kelling who kept ‘testing, bat er herself be worn down, got the felng it wae a emp faton ober tobe tht close Tae trying foralook athe rng. Her nae ‘vee punted red, her fingers were fecked and wrinkled, Tews a iy Stone. Muriel Lowe cousin had one twice a ig,140 CHAPTER TWO /PLOT AND STRUCTURE Chas cameo get his water inthe aero ja De Pee tad plied. He nusthaveepie heer om sway of He came HT am chasing fer ou ee what oe opt cl Alice Kling She pupa went fort i andy hed ju uc, int of Vode going to spend a ton stat wy: Chi sid De Priel hs yr mp nies ead aed pat ape gh i wo oun ans nt? rat Peebles wanted same the pin site fhe a, One hing range anybody fom couneynhiseating oie Thad ae port sad exer Fae al me ated hw ws one hing oad dy ve srr jotamaterof geting thw ow and some ie met nd cco Son elt ete Loe Bid hang arin ese nes Se Oh eth guen ee gt home vo thre yep” andy 50 mje ee Ichi prop buenos, as tele sean nly he ha. “Tat ghtter ewes fae Ale Kling and Chi went some hetcu Tn ae til hey ot ake Whe sa theca There myelin grup tol down hem oh the late BPs ind T ort Eo what chug Ln ging 2 Morel iL and asd wo sleep on es fot werd sd wath er Site and ‘rier oy fend eng good gh: Aforard we cols ge arp ogg formed Kor on upg ws nd ve “Shave aboatsupyne you wet ot = box th a boy ad he Would bmg youn e us you did x omebod gt Sots bar, yu ul ane wo you, wo be Yous ek Mud adr wo gi coast toy ith et errata he by. We won hing He ht Sota wonders "Rar happened was ha Chi gout fhe car one side nd she got oucon ace and they walked of eps —him owed he itigound aed hes twa the wie, 1g bck a Bed and ined tboktrceoming me with iy 0 he hat ‘Nox og AlzeKeling pot up ate and fed a grape foc he yd eed an Mo Fee at do ithe I he ahr cup of oe. Mn Reb seamed lee eno tov: hvngcompan. Ale Kling she guened sbbeterget ed st whinge off and ce ow, ad to puting ina day Mis Pecles sid she dial know if she shoud suggest because Alice Keling waste one with the car, but che lake was only weaty-sive miles they and what «good dy for a pin ‘Alice Kelling took er up onthe dea and by leven oslock they wee sn theca, wit Joey and Heather and asandvch nach Thad made. The tony thing was that Chis had come dove, and she vated to ell hie there they were going TEeiel go over ind tll him,” Mes, Peebles sd problem.” ‘Alice Keling wrinkled her fae and area, "Be ue and el hi wel be ack by Bl” I dist see that he would be concerned about knowing this ight vay, and thought of him eating whatever he ate over there, alone; ‘noking on his camp sow, 40 ott work and mised up a eumb ee fs baked it inbetween the other work Thad to dos then, when it was ‘ir cooled, wrapped iin tex towel T dee do anything to myself but takeoff my apron and comp my har T would ike eo ave pu some fnakeup on, ut Twas to afraid ¢ would remind him fee way he fest Saw te nd that would hte me all ver again, Head come and pt another sgn on the gat: No RIDES THI8 Pa srouocies worried tat he wae feng well Nosign of him ouside td che tent fap was down. [knocked on the poe Come in” he si in 8 wove that would jut as soon hase si Sty at led he Bap Oh is you Tim sory I dda know it ws you.” He ad ben jst siting onthe side ofthe bed smoking, Why not acest stand stoke in the fresh si? “Tough a cake and hope you'te not sick” T sid “Why would be sk? Oh—that sign. Thal eight. Tm jus red of taling to people. don mean you Fae set” He pinned back the tent ap “Cet some fies aria hee” Tet nthe edge ofthe bed, there was no place ele. Ie war one of howe fld-up cot, ell I vemerbezed and gave him his ances meage. re ate some of the cake. “Good: "Pure zest aay for when youse hungry later” ‘Tiel youu secret. wort be around here much longer” “Ae you geting nated”142 CHAPTER TWO/ PLOT AND STRUCTURE “Haha. What time di you say thy be back Fie lack” Wel by chat ime, hi place wil have een the st of me. plane can get farther than sear” He unwrapped the cake and ate smother pies off absentmindedly. "Now yoil be eit” The some water in the pl” “Tew be very ol Told bring some fet. Teold bring some ice from the reget” "Noy" hes "Tonle want yout go. Tanta nive longtime of ing good-bye to you.” He pt the cake away careflly ond mat beside me and started those Tie kites, so sof can ever let mye think about them, och kind nest inhi fae al lovely Knell ver my eyelid and neck and ers allover, chen me kissing back a well ax Toul (Thad nly Ke a boy ‘on nda before, and kissed my- oun ams for paste) and we lay back ‘on the cot and presed together, just gen, and he did some other things, not bad things or no ina bad wey. was lovely in the tent, chat sll of gras and hot tent loch withthe sn bestng down on and he ssi “T would do you any harm forthe world" Once, when he had rolled on tp of me and we were sort of rocking together on the co, he ‘si sft, “Oh, no," and fied himself and jumped up and got the wa ter pil. He splashed some of it om his neck an fase, an the ite bit leon me yng thers "Thats to ool us ff is” ‘When we sid good-bye T wasn at all ad, Beaute he held my ace and said “Tm going to write you alter. Tell you where Tam and maybe you can come an se me. Would you like that” Olay the. You ‘wai [was realy glad I tink to get aay fom hm, twas ike he was piling preseatson mel coukat get the pleasure of iI consideted them ove "No constemation at fis out the plane being gone. They thought bead taken somebody up, an I didelighten ther. Dr. Peeler had honed he had to goto the country, wo thee wa ut wang per, and then Loveta Bid thrusting her eal inthe door and saying“ et fe took ol ‘What said Alice Kelling, and pushed back her che. * The kids comme and tld ye this afternoon he was taking down hit sent, Did he chin he'd run dhrough all dhe Danese thee was ound here? He dat ake of without leting you know did he?" ee Marzo / How IMeeMyHutand 143 “Hell send me word” Abce Kling said. “Hell probably phone tonight: Het tershy rele since the war "ie, he ddrt mention to you, di he” Mrs, Pech ad.“When you tok oer the mes "es Tad So fr so tac "Welly de you sg? All oF hem were Joking at me. "Did be say whee he ws going?” “He side night try Baye U sid. What made ae ell such a ie Lda intend it “Bayfield, how fre chat” id Alice Keling ‘Min. Pehle sid, “Thirty-five miles” "That nt fr, Oh, wel thats realy no far at all. 1H te ke, "You'd think Td be ashamed of mre, ting her on the wrong track It to give him more time, whatever time he need 1d for fim, and alo, Ihave to admit for me. Women should tick engetee fal not do things like that. T sce that now, but ddr then. I never thought of rayself x being in anyway like her, o coming othe same troubles, ter ‘She hat taken her eyes off me. thought she saspected my “When did he mention this you?” “Earlier” When you were over atthe plan? “ves” You mustve stayed and ad a chat.” She amiled at me, nea nice sail, "You must've seayed and had aie vis with him.” "Took a cake," I ei, thinking eat reling some tic woud pare ime ling thers. “Wedd have a cake" sid Mes, Peblesrathe sharply. “baked one” Alice Kelling si, “That was very end of ou" "Did yon get permission,” ni Loretta Bed. "You aver know what thes gill do next” she mid "Hs noe Chey mean atm so euch, as thee ignorant “The cake inter bere nr thers” Mrs Pecbes broke i, “Ba, 1 ‘rent aware ou knew Chris that wel 1 ddct Know what sy, “Tam noe surprised" Alice Keling sid in hgh oie “Iknew by the look ofr ae soon as sa er, We get them ade hogitlall the ime She looked hand at me with her stetched smile. Having thei babies144 HAPTER TWO /PLoT AND srRUCTURE We have to put them in apeil ward becase oftheir diseases, Lite country tamps Fourteen and een years old. You should ae the a ies they hae, 00” “There was bad woman her in town had bby that pas as sng out ft jes" Loretes Bird pt in "Waita minut" sid Ms. Peebles, “Whacis chiral? aie, What ou yo and Me. Waters? Were yo intimate with hi” "Ves" Tid. Tae thinking of us lying on the cot and King, vase that intimate? And T would never den "They wer all one minate quiet, ven Lovet Bcd. “Wl said Mrs, Peele. “Tan surprised Thik eed cigarette “This ithe St ofany such rendencis Tv ee ine, she id, speaking to Alice Keling, bit Alice Kelling wa looking at me. “Looe litle bitch” Tear ran dow her face “Loose Hite bitch, arert you? Tew as soon Ts you. Men despise ils Uke you Fre juse made ure of you and went of you know that, dn you? Gil like you are just nothing, they just public conveniences, js thy lire mea” “Ob, no” sid Mrs, Posh “Filthy” Alice Keling sobbed. “Ft Ete rage "Dont gee yourself upset” Lovett Bid sui She was swollen up with pleasure at beingin on this scene. "Mea areal eh sre" “Edie, Tm very suprised,” Mrs. Pesbles si.“ thought your par ents were so strict. Yu dont want ta have a baby, do you Tm sill ashamed of wast happened net. Tlos conta, just ike a Segara owing Nou dn gt aby fmt ig “You sce. Some of them are that ignorant” Loretta Bird sid But Mes, Peebles amped up and eayght my ams and shook me ‘Calm down. Dose et hysterical. Calm down, Stop ying, Listen to me: Listen. Ten wondering iy ke what ing intimate meas Now tell me. What di you think t meant” "Kissing" I howd Shelet go. Oh, Edie. Stop it, Dont be ily Is al sight Illa rmisuadestanding. Being inmate means «lot moe tha tht. Ob, 1 wondered “She's trying to coverup, no" si Alice Keling. “Ye, She not stupid. She sees he got herself in trol “Tbe he" Mr. Peele std. This isan afl wen.” r Manes! How Met My Heshand 145 Well there one way to find ou” sid Alive Kling, geting up “Aral, Tam a mare” ‘Me, Peebles drew a breath and si “No. No, Go to your room, Bie, And stop that asne. Thins too disgusting” Thad the car tet ina litle while Tei to top crying, pling fuck each wave ar estate over me, Finally I succeeded, sn lay he ingon the be 7 ii, Pebles cme and stood inthe door "Shs gon," she i. "That Bird woman ro. Of cous you know youshould nverhav gone nar that mn an thatthe can ofall dis {ouble Thaves headache, As soon ar ou ca, go ad wish ou face ia {Sidwatecand get she ser adn wl ot sy any mone oat ths” Nore dst I dds gure ou il years later the extent of what 1 nd been saved from, Mrs. Pochles was noe ry endl to me afte rar but she wae ie, Not very fend isthe wrong way of deserting rh she was Sh had neverben very endly Twas just tha now she Bhadto sce me all the die an ie got on ler nerves, Hie Ae for ae, I pci all out of ay ennd ike abd dream and on senate on wating for my leter. The mai came every day except San fy betwcen one-thity and twoin the afteraon, ago time forme be tine Mis. Pebles was alias having her aap. woud ge the chen al Slened an then go up to the mail and sin the gas, waiting wa perfectly happy, waiting, [forgot all about Alice Kling and her misery edawiltalband Mes. Peebles nd herchllinesandtheembarsament sfwethershe had told De. Pebles an he face of Loretta Bin, gesting Fer fillof other people's rubles. was ays sailing when the mailman ot cher, and continued sing even afer he gave me the mail and 1 ‘ay woday wast the day. The matin was a Carmichael, Tew by hi face because there are alot of Carmichael ving on by os and 0 many them have a sor of tcking-out top lip. So Tasked hie name the was young man, shy; but good-harore ancy could ak him anything) fed then Tid," new by your fe” He was pleased by that and a ‘ways gla ace me and gota itl les shy. "Youve gor the eile Ive ee wating on all i” he ured o holler ut the car window Teeter crossed my mind for long time sett might no ome. 1 [elise ini coming jut ike T blew the sun would se inthe mor ing 1 js pot off my hope fom day oda, and there was the olden ‘ut aund the mailbox and the children gone Bac to schoo, an the146 CHAPTERTWO/PLOT AND STRUCTURE eats ning and was weasiaga sweater when Lweatto wait One day ‘wall back with the hyo il sec in ny hand, hat was al ooking ‘cross a the firrounds withthe full-blown silloeed nd dak easels och ke filly ius strck me: Ne ltr sos ever going fc. Tews an imposible idea to get used to, No, ot nose I thought about ‘Chis fice when he edhe ws going to wate tome, i was impossible, ‘but iT forgot chat and thought abot the actual in malo, erp it wes plain and tse Thept om going to mect the a but my heat at eae now ike a amp of lead T only smiled because 1 thought of the salman counting omit and he didnt ave an ary ie withthe winter ig ahead Tie came to me one day there were women ding this with their ives all ver. There were women joe waiting and waiting by malbores forone letter or another imagined me making thijourney dy after day snd yar afer year, and my hair tating ogo gry, and Thought Ts ‘ever made # goon like that, So T stopped mesting the mai 1 there ‘were women all through life wing, and women buy and not wating, Jznew which Tha tobe, Eventhough there might be things the recond Kind of women have pass up and never know about, it stil s beter Twas suprised when the mailman phoned the Peblese'place inthe crering and asked for me. He side mined me, He asked if | would Tike to go to Goderich, where some well-known movie was on, I forget, ‘ove what. So Tid yes, and went out with hin fortwo yeas ade tsked metomary him, and we were engaged a yar mote while got my ‘things together, and then we dd mary. He aktays els the children the story of how I weataferhimby siting by the mailer ay and mat ‘rll Taugh and let him, because I ke oe people to eink what pleases them and maker dem happy. Questions: 1, esse the lt strcucin he ey. Howie the angen fhe pte Dena Arich pot wor yur expiant ase are? 2, How deh ory genet pene Wiss Seapets fe he teins he see eee 3, Hod miner shen ke Lr dad Me eee a ‘ls What ee do tao hse? 4. ees amputee tarts How oes her ate ied gat r cece Malaies 147 5 Eye Cee Water a poe bund or Bie Does he eatin fhm ills Be ead 4 Te e"ow Mery Husband” ayo 2 renin ld oe ‘ier, wir Edie who divine om the young gl working foe Dr. and in Pie 2, Dose al of Ale Kling in ing the plo ain ay m2 sis onda deca esearch yt 4. Dns feces ofthe peeling Har cy Camis dir From Ch Wiens Cant bea th te sup enc nee Joumpa Labiri Interpreter of Maladies ‘Ache tea stall Me, and Mr, Das bickered aboot who should take ‘Tina to the toilet. Eventually Mrs, Das relented when Mi. Das poised ht that he had ven the gl her ath the night before nthe rearview tttor Mr Kapa watched as Mes, Das emerged slowly fom his bully ‘vite Ambassador, ding hr shaved agely bare leg acon the ack teat Shedd noth the lite is and as they walked othe restroom “They were on tie way to ace the Sun Temple at Kona war 2 dy, bright Saturday, the tid-July et tempered by # steady ocean Iver, deal weathe for sighting. Ordinaly Mr, Kapast would ot fave stopped vo soon long the wa, but ss than five minutes afer hed picked up the fiily that morning in font of Hotel Sandy Vila the File gi had complained. The fst dhig Me. Kapasi had noticed when fe say Mr and Mrs. Das, standing with dei children under the por- ‘cof the hotel wae that they were very young, perhaps no even thirty Tindiion to Tia they had two boys, Ronay and Bobby, who appeared sry close in age and had teth covered in a network of ashing silver re erzaraern on seanees Ft ple inher 199 alin Is Hite woe ais kn tense and he Und Ser Tat ny ales pac ate Oreo he {Sco find Sun Telet Ror aed hes nee ttre the Dsante rp Lal 1987) ‘osama nden row opin ole eared in Mince wi Eset uw fence Sa fm son Ut Se ow