Our Souls at Night

18

He slept part of that night with Addie again. In the morning they ate breakfast and then he went over by himself to Louis’s house and knocked on the front door.

Here you are again, Louis said. Where’s your grandmother?

She told me I could come over to see you. She said to say come to her house for lunch.

Okay. What do you want to do?

Can I see the mice?

Let me put the dishes away and grab my hat. You need a hat too. It’s too bright out here without something on your head. Don’t you have a cap?

I left it at home.

Then we better get you one.

They went out to the shed in the backyard and Louis lifted the lid from the box and the mother ran away, out over the side, and the pink babies crawled over one another and whimpered. The boy bent down closer and looked at them. Can I touch one?

Not yet, they’re too little. In a week or so.

They watched the mice for a while. One of them crawled to the edge of the box and lifted its blind face.

What’s he doing?

I don’t know. Maybe he’s smelling. He can’t see anything yet. I better put the lid back over them.

Can I see them tomorrow?

Yes, but I don’t want you to come in here without me.

They worked in the garden again, pulling weeds and watering the beets and under the tomatoes. At noon they went to Addie’s house and ate lunch. When the boy went upstairs to play with his phone Addie said, I think you could come over tonight.

It’s not too soon?

No, he likes you.

He doesn’t say much.

But you can see how he studies you. He wants your approval.

I just think it’s pretty tough right now for him.

It is. But you’re helping. I appreciate that.

I’m enjoying it.

So will you come tonight?

We’ll try it.

—

So at dark Louis walked over and she met him at the door. He’s upstairs, she said. I told him you would be here.

How’d he take that?

He wanted to know how soon. And he wanted to know why you were coming.

Louis lauem; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2em; text-align: la about his handghed. I’d like to have heard that. What’d you say?

I said you are a good friend and sometimes we get together at night and lie down and talk.

Well, that’s not a lie, Louis said.

In the kitchen Louis drank his bottle of beer, Addie her glass of wine, then they both went upstairs to the boy’s room. He was playing with the phone and Addie put it on the dresser and read to him while Louis sat in the chair. Later they went out leaving the light on and the door open and moved to her room. Louis changed clothes in the bathroom and came to bed. They talked for a while and held hands and fell asleep. In the night the boy’s screaming woke them up and they hurried into his room. He was sweaty and crying, his eyes frantic.

What’s wrong, honey? Did you have a bad dream?

He kept crying and Louis picked him up and carried him back to the other room and settled him in the middle of the big bed.

It’s all right, son, Louis said. We’re both here. You can sleep with us for a while. We’ll be on each side of you. He looked at Addie. We’ll be a little group, with you in the middle.

He got into bed. Addie went out of the room.

Where’s Grandma going?

She’s coming back. She just has to use the bathroom.

Addie returned and lay down on the other side. I want to turn the light off now, sindent" id="p5