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had never died.” “He never did, how can you say that?” Eva says. “Whatever. And easy as it is for me to say this after the fact and much as I would have missed if he had lived—I’ll be straightforward with you—I didn’t know him but have heard so many wonderful things about him that I only wish I had.” “Had what?” Olivia says. “That he can’t be replaced. By me. I know that. Never deluded myself otherwise. And that I wish I’d known him.” “So, it can be arranged,” Eva says, “can’t it, Olivia?” “Let’s stop—really. We’re spoiling our day and being extra extra lousy to Eric.” “Okay, he’s dead, heave-ho, hi-heave, what d’ya say, Joe, bury the problem? For what I want most now is to get out there to fish, splash and row.” “Well,” Eric says, “it seems we’ll have to wait for a couple of strapping guys to come along and help us or come back when the tide comes in. Anyone think to bring that card with the tide times?” “Daddy will come help,” Eva says. “Sometimes it only takes one and he’s the one. So hey, hi, daddy of mine, come and pull our boat into the water. You’ll see. I’ve wished. Daddy come now,” and she sits down hard in the sand, puts her thumb in her mouth and sucks it while she twiddles her hair in back and looks off distantly. “Eva, get up, get up quickly, you hear me?” Olivia says. “You’re scaring the shit out of us.”

THE TRUE STORY
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    I’m walking past a cheap Village hotel. It’s on a side street. I didn’t know it was cheap, but later I do, and a woman comes out of it, taller than I, much younger too, long heavy fur coat that looks worn and old and she says from a couple of yards away while she’s approaching me “Would you like me to be your date tonight?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou didn’t actually hear me?”
    â€œOnly something about a date.”
    â€œWould you like me to be your date tonight?”
    â€œI really would but I’m going to a party now.”
    â€œOh well,” and she walks away.
    I continue in the direction I was heading and then turn around. She’s near the corner, opening her handbag. I run to her. She turns around quickly as if expecting trouble.
    â€œOh,” she says. “What do you want?”
    â€œWould you like to come to the party?”
    â€œThanks but no.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œI won’t know anyone there.”
    â€œYou’ll know me by the time we get there.”
    â€œNo, I don’t think so.”
    â€œYou don’t think you’ll know me? We could stop in a bar first for a drink.”
    â€œDrink sounds okay but when I said no I don’t think so I meant I didn’t think I want to go to the party even if I knew you. I don’t like going to strange places with lots of strangers around. And my clothes aren’t nice. Really.”
    â€œYour clothes are fine. Look at mine. It’s just my coat that’s nice.” I open my coat and show her my clothes. “And there won’t be many people. They’re all very pleasant, mostly friends.”
    â€œI still won’t know any of them and they won’t appreciate me. They’ll say to you where’d you find me.”
    â€œI’ll tell them ‘One hour ago outside this hotel.’”
    â€œThanks loads.”
    â€œWhy, what’s wrong? You were lonely, that’s what I’ll say. Or not that, that’s no good, but they know I’m single, so something that we’ll say happened to you like you just had a fight with your husband—”
    â€œI have no husband.”
    â€œI’m just making that up. Your husband or boyfriend or even your mother—for the story we’ll give these people at the party.”
    â€œI don’t want to give anybody any