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       DOUG   

 

   You done with that cake?

    Uh huh.

    You want some more?  Something else?

    No.  Just take me inside.

    You sure?  We're going to play some badminton.  Remember what a kick you used to get out of watching?  Janice falling all over herself.

    No.  I just wanna go inside.  It's getting cool.

    Cool?  It must be close to ninety out here.

    He just stares ahead, not wanting to argue.  He knows I'll do whatever he asks.

    I pick him up and head for the back door.  We almost run into Momma on her way out.  She holds the door.  What's the matter?

    Nothing.  He just wants to go in.

    Does he feel okay?

    Yeah, I think so.  He's just tired of the whole thing.

    Before she can ask anything else I push past her and heel the door shut.  I put him in his chair.

    You want to go up to your room?  I can

    I just wanna sit here.

    Are you sure?  I can go up and pull your covers down and then

    I just wanna sit here in my kitchen.

    Okay.  You warm enough now?  I don't think it's any warmer in here than it was outside.  If anything it might be cooler.  You want this sweater here?

    He doesn't answer, but I get the sweater anyway and start to put it on him.  But he won't help.  He doesn't fight me; he just doesn't help.  He just goes limp;  it's like trying to dress a bagpipe.  Finally I just put it around his shoulders and tucked it in around the arms of the chair.  The old chair looks out of place with the rest of the stuff in the kitchen.  It doesn't go with the scratchless maple table and chairs.  I bet Lorraine just loves it there.

    There, I say.  You ought to be warm enough now.  What do you think?

    He just looks at me, not out of belligerence but as if he hadn't heard me.

    That ought to do it, heh?  I try again, but his face doesn't change.  I'm about to say something else, but he talks first, You go on out and play whatever it is you were going to play.

    Anything else?  I can get

    No.

    How about I get down the ole Four Roses?  That'd warm you up.  What do ya say?  What did she do with it?  She didn't throw it out, did she?

    You let that bottle alone and get out of here.

    You want the radio on?

    No.

    Here, I'll put it down where you can reach it if you want.

    He gets his disgusted look and turns his head toward the window.

    Okay, I say.  From beside the door, I can hear them outside; Art laughs and Eric yells something from the other end of the yard.  Lorraine is being loud over at the second table, but I can't make out a single word.  I turn the knob.

    You remember to check up there about that shooting?

    I look back, but he's staring out the window.  Yeah, I look at him, staring till I know he can feel it, but he doesn't flinch.  Yeah, I'll check.

    Outside, I stop at the tables and take a piece of cake.  Momma looks up, He okay?

    I nod, my mouth full of cake.

    He didn't look so good to me.  He's been tired lately, whether he'll admit it or not.

    He's okay, I say around the cake.

    I don't know, Lorraine butts in.  His color didn't look good to me.

    I said he's okay! He's okay!