Jean Madeleine
he made their acquaintance years earlierthey
came into the liquorstore where he worked despite living in the United States
since the 60s60
years their accents remained thickhe had to hang on their every word
to understand them if
they didnt have to address an Anglo they spoke Frenchcant improvenot tha he thought they wanted to their English enunciations
pronunciations if they didnt practise beyond mesmerising entertaining peopleComon
spot on he dated a French woman he didnt care
wha she was saying as long as she said it in French she laughedWha I called youhow you say apple
a hot aromatic horse turd Turd or
apple Apple Sounded marvelous just keep talkin babykeep
talkin
they were always together
he was at the library and ran
into Jean
How arya wheres Madeleine
tears welled in
his eyes
She is
home.
Home Yare home
he laughedit choked on a brief sob he gathered himself
Jean
Yes my friend.
Is Madeleine okay
She is not well. She cannot walk.
Doctors are not helping.
Theyre trying their bestwha they can Yes
I do not know. She is only worse.
Madeleine was a world-class athlete, cross-country skier, all legs. We
meet I call her Legs . . . my beautiful pet . . then she date me. In New Zealand not long ago we climbed the volcano. I could not make the top. She left and went alone. We hike she say Keep up. I will leave you behind.
Now she cannot walk. Her spine.
I’m
terribly sorry to hear tha Jean
he wiped his eyes with his
handkerchief
Hates the wheelchair. You go Jean, I’ll stay here. Go. a sob broke his throat Excuse me.
he gripped Jeans shoulder
Go.
I do not want to . . Go. But I must.
they stood silently before a bank
of computers people busying themselves quietly around them
I am afraid she is going to leave
me behind . . again.
3pmish, Saturday,
1 7. 23
1000, Monday,
3 7. 23
No comments:
Post a Comment