“You know, when you think about it,” I said, “it’s not bad, what’s happening to us…”

“Yeah? You think so?”

“Yeah. Usually I can’t stand people, but I’m glad you’re here.”

The next day she was up before me. It had been such a long time since I’d had breakfast with someone, I’d forgotten what it was like. I got up and got dressed without saying a word. I slipped behind her and kissed her neck. I sat down in front of my coffee cup. She was buttering bread wide as water skis, rolling her eyes, and I couldn’t keep from smiling. The day was off to a really good start.

“Okay, I’m going to try to get through with work as soon as I can,” I said. “I’ve got to go into town for a minute, you want to come?”

She glanced around the house and shook her head.

“No, I think I better try to straighten up a little around here. It really needs it…”

So I left her there and went to get the truck out of the garage.

I parked in front of the entrance, by the guard house. George was half asleep, a newspaper on his stomach. I went in behind him and grabbed the laundry bag.

“Oh, it’s you,” he said.

He grabbed one too and followed me out, yawning. We threw the bags in the back of the truck and went back for the others.

“I saw that girl again yesterday,” he said.

I hauled a bag, not answering.

“It’s you she was looking for, right?”

He was dragging his heels. The sun was starting to beat down hard.

“A girl in a little violet skirt and lots of black hair,” he added.

lust then Betty came out of the house and ran toward us. We watched her come.

“You mean a girl like that?” I said.

“Jesus H. Christ” he said.

“Well, you’re exactly right. It was me she was looking for.”

I introduced them, and while the old man was doing his Romeo number, I went back and got the shopping list. I shoved it in my pocket and went back to the car, lighting up my first cigarette of the day. Betty was sitting in the passenger seat, talking to George through the window. I walked around and slid in behind the wheel.