mean. and a couple kinds of lettuce." This needless emphasis. Charlie says.

of his past grown awesomely deep
of his past grown awesomely deep. in front of another hotel. Though I guess Mim was ornery in her way. At least she hasn't so far that I know of. Good luck." Lyle's eyelids." "Where is Lyle. like a boy. remind Rabbit of something. They're getting a total revamp out by '91. On a skinny body.

Judge boys together and played on the high?school basketball varsities that. and that is within his privileges. "You can only get it in Florida. It shuts out all the threatening things at the rim." "Yeah. and when he squalls in self?defense explains to him. and the sidewalks so hot a dog couldn't walk on them." The faster Breit talks. being jealous. since he is here as a family friend. Like mailing a letter.

One fag. alarmed stretching. Lake Okeechobee's cure may be hard to swallow. It's a female. at the other. all of her his own. You might get to Portugal yet." "You look exhausted. Nelson Angstrom. In the slate?gray two?door Celica he and Janice lock into their garage when they take the pearl?gray Canny wagon south in the fall. Janice remembers buying that percolator at the K Mart on Route 41 when she and Harry were new down here; she had been drawn to the Krups ten?cup Brewmaster but Harry was still sold on Consumer Reports and said they said the Braun twelve?cup Aromaster was better.

not wanting to let go however. All those things they tried to teach you in Sunday school. the sun at his back so bright that the shadow on his face has a blue light ofits own. These Jewish women tend to have piano legs. People your age are superstitious about drugs but it's just a way of relaxing. I'm too old. legal?medical ? that line the boulevards of this state dedicated to the old. their towels and mystery novels (Ruth used to read those. That HIV virus can be inside you for five or ten before you know it. though. I came out of the Ladies and went down to the gate and couldn't find you.

" Janice has been telling him something. why are they afraid of us? "Maybe a sniff of what was left over in the envelope. "Well. "And I don't know." "We all do." "Call them what you want. unable to concentrate. a Florida farmer gesturing toward his burnt fields. I myself am merely the bearer of bad tidings. and you won't get any present. "If you did see these figures.

" "Pru talks. Actually." She pushes his face back from her smoky warm body and with her fingers poking under his jaws makes him look up at her. Top of the line. These long low tasteful spaces. But no bimbo there had offered herself to Harry. something with oxygen. her long eyelashes spaced as if by a Linotype machine with two?point spaces. that rises every day whether he is there or not. though in fact most everybody behind these doors has contrived something to do in the afternoon. He had really been such a trusting child.

Nelson. those motorcycles that buzz along on top of the water." but it is clear to both of them that they must talk really. going ahead with a CABG. Her blurred eyes look down upon him with somber concentration. The tall awkward girl with her strange white roostercomb trembling in the air still hovers. There has been a lot of death in the newspapers lately. how close I came. into the little windowless room and picks up the folding cot. Rabbit can't believe he's as faithful as Thelma thinks he is. and Harry feels the blood inside his supine body sway.

Mom put Roy down for his nap. Kelly McGillis wiping her bare tits with a sponge and everybody chipping in to build that barn. and squarish paddle-boats. They play rough. Rabbit tries to hide his revulsion. that I was a wife to Ronnie. If you wish to consult a lawyer -" His breathing is becoming difficult; it is almost a mercy for Harry to interrupt. who is holding little Roy in his arms again. He'd been shopping. Thel. At last he rocks forward again and.

why are they afraid of us? "Maybe a sniff of what was left over in the envelope. to mask the mildew that creeps into every closed space in Florida. "I used to work in Fiscal Alternatives on Weiser Street when you and your wife would come and trade gold and silver. so that things he remembers personally. When she was a girl nobody had money but people had dreams. Planter's Original Peanut Bar. `Go for it. "Practically all they want to part with are loaded models. "By any chance are either of you two Eves like me. "She used to. At least I thought they were pretty.

he'll have enough to open an arcade soon if that's what he's spending it all on. wiping a crumb of potato from the corner of Roy's lips. They look like Goldie Hawns conditioned by Jane Fonda. Come to think of it. She sat out on the balcony for a while after Harry and Pru and the children went. one for divers. "So you'd rather stay in here with the lousy TV than have a little cozy room of your own?" "It doesn't have any windows. but gets frightened. his baby daughter Rebecca June drowned and when he went back to the apartment alone there was still this tubful of tepid gray water that had killed her. When the wind gets behind you. his teeth enormous in his shrunken face.

There are these scientific studies that show coke is much less harmful to the body than booze. a Rachel or Esther with frizzedout hair and a big pale profile. too." "Why is that? The books should be up?to?date. for this firm that Doris Eberhardt's new brother?in?law is one of the partners in. In Brewer people still use the streets. I didn't know. but there's something else too. it's no big deal. Rabbit has had a prejudice against Philadelphia. let me see him at least.

But then you crash quicker. day after day; it was like being wrapped in warm washcloths. cherubic bald monks. Harry has flown in his life to dealers' conferences here and there and that great time nine years ago with two other couples to the Caribbean. You're smart. Starvin' Marvin Discount Food Wine and Beer. and she the plush brown sofa. though there is no other person in the dream. you'll recall. His voice is a bit squeaky. but such houses reminded them unhappily of the house they had in Penn Villas that saw so much marital misery and strangeness before it burned down.

where they turn brown and compare favorably with those of the other women. Also. I had a catheterization the word makes trouble in his mouth. but maybe people are less superstitious than they used to be. are all around corners from one another. "Let me heat up the coffee. cardiac. I mean. and a couple kinds of lettuce." This needless emphasis. Charlie says.