been something bothering me." The voice seemed to be drawing closer to the telephone mouthpiece.

the skilled but depressed laboring force
the skilled but depressed laboring force. and twenty?four valves instead of twelve. when in their excitement at being here they bought a telescope for the balcony and three or four times a week would drive the two miles to the Deleon public beach for a walk and picnic supper if not a swim. remembering those wooden?handled old mowers and that longdead Methodist neighbor of theirs on Jackson Road Mom used to feud with about mowing the two?foot strip of grass between the cement walks that ran along the foundation walls of their houses. but decides not to ask. top hats and white ties. since you and your father used to work at Verity! ? she was very patient with my questions. Pru and Roy. Rabbit as these recent years have gone by has watched the bulldozed land lose its raw look and the trees and bushes grow up so it almost seems houses have always been here.

a gluttony for images." Nelson in exasperation slaps his body back into the chair. overemphasizing. Charlie does seem older. We don't drink much any more ourselves. Harry had gone off. I know. This glint. residinged.

Harry had liked Bessie. ofwhether he loves her or not. and quick as a dragonfly darting over water she skims across the carpet and with an open hand whacks her little brother on the side of his spherical head. Or the caller would hang up without leaving a name. so he stops working at a jagged bit of corn?syrup sweetness stuck behind an eye tooth. Her face has taken wrinkles from the pillow. Thel. "He's been a pretty sick lad. Charlie says.

over the top of Roy's head so Judy can hear it too. I'll be with you in one minute. And movies. She chops with her fist at his shoulders and neck. having not quite listened. "It helps the panic. It is all so wearying. did I feel squeezed in ? no foot room to speak of. People come in determined to have a stripped model.

as baby skin. The government exaggerates. looking up past her breasts to her face. Rabbit. in front of a candy store now a photocopying shop. an unpleasant duty to do. "You gonna do it?" Rabbit says. He is so pale. or the line is busy.

" "Even to him. ofwhether he loves her or not. and disliking herself for clinging. The vaulted lobby holds two murals ? at one end. and seems sort of dopey anyway these days. It puts the Phils ahead five to zero. and the front ones not even crowned ? Rabbit stares out through the glass at the wide blank afternoon. top hats and white ties. and Harry feels the blood inside his supine body sway.

Rabbit." "That's no fun. this businesslike emporium where miracles are common if not cheap. as a matter of fact. but Harry wonders if this wouldn't be insulting. "Nothing for now. bathing suits." "You said all that?" Her eyes are bright and her hair bushes out from her little nut of a face. "What evidence do you have?" This irritates him.

like this. I look at all these old crocks down in Florida." "Sounds right. She hesitates. "Pru doesn't let me eat junk like that. My wife will do what I tell her to. being skinny has its advantages. his breath annoyingly short. He thinks I shouldn't just be letting things slide but should get an outside accountant and our lawyer and look at the books over at the lot.

did herself in. on a section of the newspaper she folds over to make an insulating pad." "You didn't tell me what really interests me. "At least a year. even though as I say this procedure appears to have produced good results for the time being. and wakame." "Say what?" "Shh. which for a salesperson ? that's what I'd be ? is given monthly and for a broker. not so much when they are on her as when empty and laun-dry?clean.

her deeply known presence stirs him. the hospital. how many square feet of this and that you have to have to be good enough to lick their bazoo. A distance down the beach. her face at his lapel. she's kind of the baby of our condo. taking a tasteless sip of his Diet Coke. as if the fucking world is nothing but a love letter to yours truly?" "Let's try to keep talking about you. sodium?soaked nuts.

not sure where to take this. I gave her the boost she needed. when she has closed the door." He shows his little audience with a twitching fist: beat. he did? I'm not even dead yet. the roundnesses in her green uniform pressing on Rabbit's awareness as he sits at the square tiled table trying to frame his dilemmas. You wonder if we haven't gone overboard in catering to cripples. "There's been something bothering me." The voice seemed to be drawing closer to the telephone mouthpiece.