a rap at the door stilled their cross words

                                               a muted Housekeeping. through it

One moment please

                      taking a breathsuppressing his anger  If youre ready to go for breakfast Ill let housekeeping in

Breakfast? she glared  You might have ruined my appetit . .

. . Have a Bloody Mary then

Just one more moment please

Youre ready

grabbing her purse hanging off the deskchair As ready as I’ll ever be.

he stepped aside as she rushed the dooropened it inward

                                                              sidestepping the housekeeper she managed a smile a Good morning

Good morning, ma’am. the housekeeper said to her hustling form padding down the carpeted hallway

she was unexcelled at swinging through moods

                                                   he on the otherhand wasnt  he grimacedgrit his teethran both his hands over his face as if washing itrubbed his closed eyes with his fingersthey finished at his temples

opened his eyes

                  the housekeeper stoodframed in the doorway

Good morning glanced at her breasther name stitched there  Wanda

Sir. Good morning.  she was stout looked Eastern European  a block of a woman

                                                                                     If I may?

May he thought before he said it outloud  May

                                                   What

The madam.

Madam

           The mad damn  woman

a smile curled on her lips

                            Mad damn.   I have not thought that before.

he smiled  Ive had lots of practice

                                       Yes  You may

she stepped inside the roomwalked up to him patted his shoulder with what he thought was compassion  he could be wrong

            Without fear . . . there can be no control.

1843,  Sunday,  23  3. 25

1005,  Tuesday,  25  3. 25