@@@@@Not because I'd hurt my hip falling off the
@@@@@Not because I'd
hurt my hip falling off the chair, but because my
legs were trembling so badly I didn't trust myself
on my feetI was afraid I might take a header,
even going down backward so I could clutch the
banister with my left handHell, I was afraid I
might faint
I kept remembering the day at Lake Phalen I'd
turned to see Tom with that unnatural shine in his
eyes, Tom trying not to embarrass me by actual
bawlingBoss, I can't get used to seeing you this
way
The telephone began to ring in Tom's nice Apple
Valley homeTom, who'd been married and divorced
twice, Tom who had advised me against moving out
of the house in Mendota Heights - It's like giving
up home field advantage in a playoff game, he'd
saidTom who'd gone on to enjoy my home field
quite a little bit himself, if Friends with
Benefits were to be believedand I did believe
it
I believed what I'd seen upstairs, too
239
"Come on," I muttered"Pick the motherfucker up
I didn't know what I'd say if he did, and didn't
careAll I wanted right then was to hear his
voice
I did, but on a recording"Hi, you've reached Tom
Riley," he said"My brother George and I are off
with our mother, on our annual cruise - it's
Nassau this yearWhat do you say, Mother?"
"That I'm a Bahama Mama!" said a cigarette-cracked
but undeniably cheerful voice
"That's right, she is," Tom resumed"We'll be
back February eighthIn the meantime, you can
leave a messagewhen, George?"
"At the zound of the zeep!" cried a male voiceOr you
can call my office He gave the number, and then
all three of them said "BON VOYAGE!"
I hung up without saying anythingIt hadn't
sounded like the outgoing message of a man
contemplating suicide, but of course he had been
with his nearest and dearest (the ones who, later
on, were most apt to say "He seemed fine"), and -
"Who says it's going to be suicide?" I asked the
empty r