The last time he’d renewed his prescription, the shrink had said it’ll take the time it takes, Dan, I’m not clairvoyant. But give up on the idea of sleeping like a baby.
I’m not a magician either.
This kind of crisis left him beat for the entire day. Once more, he bagged his exercises. He straddled his motorcycle and went to visit the shack. It was a nice day, the Moto Guzzi ran like a dream. It was so good that he arrived feeling more or less alive, face paralyzed by the crisp air, the white tracks of dried salt tears spangling his temples.
The place was magnificent, surrounded by greenery, deserted. The shack was a simple fisherman’s hut built near the water, with a small wooden dock that stretched onto the lake. It was here that they’d smoked their first cigarettes, then screwed their first girlfriends while listening to music and puffing on joints. It belonged to the father of one of Ralph’s cousins, a solitary angler who’d fallen in the lake and drowned. The place’s ill-starred reputation kept people away, a moss-covered wooden fence kept it closed, the road leading to it was abandoned.
Everyone had grown older since then.
The padlock on the door still worked. He opened the shutters. More than anything, the surrounding trees had grown. The interior was more or less maintained, tidy; there was a bench, a portable stove, a table, a staved-in armchair, a clutch of old fishing rods in a corner, a basket hanging on the wall, a net, storm lamps.
He pulled a blanket from his saddlebags, a few provisions, candles, rolls of cellophane tape, bananas, and brought them inside. Before leaving, he walked out onto the dock. The water lapped below his feet. The silence and surroundings were lovely. Even if you didn’t know the first thing about fishing, it still made you feel like going out to buy a rod and some worms.
He was back in town by midmorning. Ralph introduced him to two guys, two brothers, whom they could count on to handle things—and maybe more, if they hit it off, and if Dan could dislodge some extra cash for possible further activities, which he might.
After sending part of his pension to his mother, he was nearly cleaned out, but he promised the guys he’d manage if it turned out he needed to keep them around.
We trust you, buddy, declared one of them, slapping him on the shoulder while the other bro nodded. If Ralph says you’re square, you’re square.
Dan joined Marlene at the pool between noon and two.
They rested a moment in their deck chairs, eyes shut.
When he opened his, she was looking at him. Can I tell you something, he asked her after a minute, and as she nodded, he said, your glasses. Marlene, forgive me for saying so, but they don’t suit you at all.
Yes, but that’s going to change soon, she answered. I’m getting more and more used to contacts.
He dozed off again, mentally rehearsing the operation that, in itself, shouldn’t pose any problems, he’d done it dozens of times.
His name is Vincent.
He opened his eyes. Who’s that.
The guy Nath is seeing. His name is Vincent. I heard it when they were on the phone. She was talking to him in the back room, and when she came out, she was pale, white with fury. I feel a storm brewing. What, what’s with you, as if you didn’t know about it.
He was a bit dumbfounded. I didn’t think she was seeing one guy. I thought she was just having a few flings.
Anyway, it’s none of our business. You want me to put some lotion on you.
No, no lotion, thanks.
In any case, it’s not very reassuring. It doesn’t seem to be going very well.
Let’s not panic. Your sister knows how to handle herself.
Yeah, but if Richard ever found out.
Please. Let’s not talk about worst-case scenarios. Spare me. I’m going to get a headache if we keep on much longer.
At those words, he stood up and dove into the pool.
Swam the entire length underwater. Then he lay there, floating on his back.
When he returned to his chair, Marlene picked up the conversation as if nothing had happened.
The one you have to watch out for is Mona. She’s the one who told me about it. She never brings it up, but things haven’t exactly improved between her and her mother.
He grabbed a magazine and leafed through it distractedly. Yes, but what can we do about it. What’s the point of telling me this. As if there was something we could do. Things like this happen in every home, behind every window. I’m going to get some sandwiches, what would you like. Mona wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t go that far. Mona’s at a difficult age. She seems to have trouble controlling herself. I wouldn’t trust her if I were you. When I was a teen, I felt like killing people, I’m just saying.
Anyway, get me a veggie.
You know, I warned Nath. I told her she should watch her step. But I guess she thinks she’s smarter than everyone else. It seems to run in the family. I don’t mean you, Marlene, I don’t have any idea. But the rest of them are know-it-alls.
I was wondering what you’re doing tonight.
I’m going to hit the sack early. I have to recuperate. I told you I spent a lousy night, and I need some sleep.
You could just come have a drink at my place.
No, it’s nice of you to offer, but I’m going to bed.
Dan, it’s only two in the afternoon.
You see, I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore.
Exhaustion.
While everyone else was going nuts, Dan, for his part, was determined to stay the course.
Late that afternoon, he received a text from Mona saying that the date of their tickets was no good and they’d have to pick a later one. He answered that unfortunately Lynch’s film would be gone by then. She shot back that she could care less.
Meanwhile, Nath was clipping a poodle. According to her, there was no dog stupider or more annoying, or less worthy of interest, and she was eager to be rid of it. Marlene was trimming the claws of a young cat she had just dewormed, and the radio was murmuring an oldie by Sinatra in the background. When Vincent came in, accompanied by a kind of long-haired mongrel on a leash, she raised her eyes as Nath’s clippers slipped from her hands and continued to vibrate on the floor at the end of their cord and the poodle bared its fangs.
Marlene, said Nath, unplugging her machine, would you do me a favor and go buy me some cigarettes, if you don’t mind.
Are you sure, asked Marlene, standing up.
I’m sure.
She untied her smock and slipped on a coat while the lights of the shopping center lit up beneath a reddening sky. She crossed the parking lot and hugged the opposite wall, between a clothing boutique of questionable taste and a store for running gear—the people coming out of it looked like clowns, but they examined their kicks with delighted and self-congratulatory faces. From where she stood, she could see Nath and the guy from behind.