Hide and Seek

"Don't know. Maybe. Say goodnight to mother for me."

"Yes."

He stood up absentmindedly but with some effort. It was learned

behavior but its hold on him was stronger than the discomfort it caused

him. Or that's how it looked to me. When a lady leaves the room, you

stand. Even if it's your daughter. It was years of habit talking. But

it wasn't making life any easier for him.

Like everything else I'd seen him do, its net effect was zero. Except

to make you wonder where all that lethargy came from. Here was a man,

I thought, inhabiting a great big void.

"Good night... young man," he said.

He'd forgotten my name.

"Good night, sir."

We walked outside into the warm summer night. I was glad to be out of

there.

She looked at the pickup across the street.

"You really want to take that thing?"

"I don't care."

"Let's take the Chevy, then. Kim and Steve would never forgive me."

She turned and headed for the driveway. I grabbed her arm.

"Suppose we make a deal?"

"What's that?"

"We take the Chevy. But tonight we skip Kim and Steve."

She laughed. "They're expecting us."

"Call in sick. Say you've got your period."

"I can't do that." Sure you can.

"Suppose they see us driving around town or something?"

I shrugged. "You got better again."

We climbed into the car. I watched her mull it over for a minute. She

was smiling and I had the feeling I was winning this one. She started

up the car. I leaned over and took her chin in my hand, turned her

toward me and kissed her. At first I kissed smiling lips and teeth.

Then there was heat and a brittle hunger.