houtevenknohadhappened
shepushedtheletterasideinstead,shepaidsobills,thensteppedoutsidetoslipthentheilboxphoebebrellahighagainsttherainont,hoightfeellikefreedo
theraihingopenedupinherheart,sopoadecaroliuandsheknepty,theplatesetneatlyonthencretefloor,thesill
phoebegone
goneingrainatrainsoundedinthedistanbedthehilltothetrackstotheright,itendedinthefreepallright,thintthinkjwherewouldshego
doeeredphoebesaying,earlierthating,sreeredphoebe,fascinatedbyitssllness,itstinysoundsandsureenough,hesphoebe,theygesturedacrosstheroadtothepseoftreesthekittenhadrunaorescueit
atthefirstbreakintraffic,carolinedartedacrosstheroadtheearththehillsintothencreteditchphoebesyellobrellaarded,likeaflag,besideher
”avery”shesquatteddohegirl,touchedhershoulder”wheresphoebe”
”shetogetthecat,”averysaid,pointingintothepipe”itinthere”
carolines,honey,areyouhere
sileneeringthenightshedppurplebathroourginghertobreathe
”ogetoutofhere,honeyogetout”
butphoebeove
”ined,andingbeneathphoebesshirt,heardthesllycat”
”forgetthecat,”carolineshoutedshepulledphoebegentlyinthedirectionshehade”eon,phoeberightnow”
”cat,”phoebesaid
”okay,”carolinesaid,errushinghigheosyourcatjustgo”
phoebebegantove,ininthenedistanthighiliarfortoftheseroothatwereherown
”itsallright”aroundphoebethekittented,thinclachingthebacksofherhandstherainfell,drippingoffthedark,vividleaves
”therestheiln,”phoebesaid
”yes,”btheporchandslidethebillsshedputoutintohisleatherbag
herlettertodavidhenrysatunfinishedonthetableshehadstoodatthebaensuddenly,andsheletherselftuthefearshedfeltatphoebesdisappearanher,andheailnbrellaflashing
”yes,honey,”shesaid,strokingthekittensbonyhead”yesthereheis”
april1982
i
iarolinestoodatthebusstopneartheerof
forbesandbraddopetinglocaltavesvedinutestheparentssittingonthebenchesorstandingethegroethereadeitoutforaneveninganearlyshotheregent,thendinnerandifaloncallaupleofbeers
tonighthebuseoohoursslidae,theroadspinningoutbeneaththeorever,adarkribbonbiseerizingfinallyal,blearyhielf,theoheyhadleftbehindinedlikefallingthroughstrangeholesintheuniverse,asifyoughtinoneeestripllsandgasstationsandfastfoodplaces,thesahufes,thelight,thefacesshedgonehalthenneveragain
thebusroundedtheerandroaredtoastopthedoorsfoldedopenandbedinandtookaetery,lurberingonthroughth
