Disturbing the Peace (Vintage Classics) (31 page)

“Yeah. Yeah, he looks good. He looks tall.”

“Five foot eleven. Almost six feet.”

“Wow. That’s really something.”

“And in another year he’ll be ready for law school. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Yeah. You want these back?”

“No, they’re for you. I want you to keep them.”

“Thanks.” And he put the pictures away in his shirt pocket. “How’s Paul?”

“Oh, Paul’s fine. He said to give you his – very best.”

“You two getting along well?”

“Very well.”

“Good.”

For a little while they sat like strangers sharing a table in a cheap cafeteria. Then she said “John? Is there anything you need? Anything I could get for you while I’m here?”

“No, thanks.”

“You have plenty of cigarettes?”

“Oh, sure. Anyway, I’ve cut ’way down. I smoke less than a pack a day now.”

“Well, that’s wonderful. Are there any – you know – activities for you here?”

“Oh, they keep us pretty busy. In the mornings we generally have OT.”

“What’s that?”

“Occupational therapy. I’m in woodwork refinishing. Tables, chairs, things like that.”

“I see.”

“Then in the afternoons we have sports. I’m on the softball team.”

“Oh? Does that mean you get out and play teams from – other hospitals, or whatever?”

“No. It’s intramural.”

“Oh.”

“And when it rains we do different things. Sometimes we have dance therapy.”

“Well, I imagine you enjoy that; you always were a good dancer.”

“Oh, this isn’t social dancing. It’s interpretive.”

“I see.”

She knew her next question would be a difficult one, but she decided to ask it anyway. She might never be in California again; she might never see him again. She had to wait for a swelling in her throat to go down before she could trust her voice. “John,” she said, “have you made any plans or – you know – given any thought to what you might do when you leave here?”

He looked puzzled, as if she had asked him a riddle. “Leave here?” he said.

That was when an orderly came out and announced that visiting hour was over.

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