she said. “The plus is because I didn’t have to use my own condom.”
Second time was Betty Chayka. Chike. I held back and it was good for her I think because we dated for a few months. She’d say she wanted to see the green light in my car, nights we’d do it.
Movie Star says when a Mexican girl is fifteen, she has a party called a quinceanera; she wears a frilly dress and dances her first dance with her father. His sister is having hers this week, and we all signed a card he made for her: Congratulations, Gina!
13
I HEAR YOU’RE writing Lynn Dunlinger , I wrote my brother. I hope you’re not falling for her, since you’d have to get in line. Only kidding! I know you better.
Joan, the cat, wore a yellow ribbon, and there was one tied to every tree, lamppost, railing, and fence on Linger property.
Mr. Dunlinger handed me three large ones, already tied, with two wires attached behind the bows, ready for hanging.
“These are to go up on the outside porch of Lingering Shadows,” he told me.
“Yes, Sir.”
“You don’t have to sir me, Gary. But I admit I like that you do. Bobby never did.”
“No, Sir. He’s not the type.”
“When you write him, you tell him we miss him around here, will you do that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, I know he’s writing my daughter and she could tell him, but I don’t think Lynn will remember to, and I don’t think she’s a very frequent correspondent.”
“I’ll remember to tell him.”
“I want you to check the smoke alarm in Lingering Shadows, and the burglar alarm, too. Lynn will be staying there weekends. Her mother and I agree that she should have a place of her own. And I think she’ll visit us more often this way. I used to never be able to get her away from Faith Academy. Now she’s coming home nearly every weekend.”
I knew that. I’d see them together walking out back, or she’d sit in the bar and watch him play. Nothing obvious. But I knew.
Mr. Dunlinger made the same leap from Lynn to Jules Raleigh, and I flinched as he said, “I’m assigning you a spy mission, too, where Jules is concerned. Who else would give you permission to spy on your teacher? … I want you to keep an eye on him.”
I was dumbstruck, a state of being which I think Mr. Dunlinger preferred from his help.
He said, “I’ve told him I want an upbeat patriotic song to start every set, and I want them blended into the mood music as well.”
“Did he agree?”
“He works for me. There’s no disagree to it if he wants his paycheck. But he wrinkled up his face, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’d forget when I’m not around…. I want you to jog his memory.”
“Yes, Sir.” That was all.
“And everyone is to wear a yellow ribbon and a flag.”
“Did you tell Mr. Raleigh that?”
“I told him.” Mr. Dunlinger dug down into his pocket, felt around, and then took out a tiny lapel flag and an envelope. He said, “Give Mr. Raleigh this flag. He claimed he could find a ribbon but not a flag.”
“He’s not going to like it,” I said. “You know how he feels about us being over there.”
“Everybody in this county knows how he feels. I could fire him tomorrow and nobody’d blink an eye.”
“I’ll give him this,” I said.
“Linger is like a little country, Gary. We have our customs and our ways and our beliefs. You can visit us without subscribing to any of it … but if you’re a Lingerite, you do what the rest do.”
It was right on the dot of six, and Mr. Raleigh began to play in The Regency Room. Both Mr. Dunlinger and I paused to listen.
I’d never heard “America the Beautiful” played on the violin.
Mr. Dunlinger looked pleased.
Then he handed me the envelope.
“Lynn asked me to give this to you.”
Just beyond The Grill, there was a little hallway where I paused and ripped open the envelope.
There was a note and two photographs.
The note said, Dear Gary, I thought you and your folks would like to have these…. Very best,
Second time was Betty Chayka. Chike. I held back and it was good for her I think because we dated for a few months. She’d say she wanted to see the green light in my car, nights we’d do it.
Movie Star says when a Mexican girl is fifteen, she has a party called a quinceanera; she wears a frilly dress and dances her first dance with her father. His sister is having hers this week, and we all signed a card he made for her: Congratulations, Gina!
13
I HEAR YOU’RE writing Lynn Dunlinger , I wrote my brother. I hope you’re not falling for her, since you’d have to get in line. Only kidding! I know you better.
Joan, the cat, wore a yellow ribbon, and there was one tied to every tree, lamppost, railing, and fence on Linger property.
Mr. Dunlinger handed me three large ones, already tied, with two wires attached behind the bows, ready for hanging.
“These are to go up on the outside porch of Lingering Shadows,” he told me.
“Yes, Sir.”
“You don’t have to sir me, Gary. But I admit I like that you do. Bobby never did.”
“No, Sir. He’s not the type.”
“When you write him, you tell him we miss him around here, will you do that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, I know he’s writing my daughter and she could tell him, but I don’t think Lynn will remember to, and I don’t think she’s a very frequent correspondent.”
“I’ll remember to tell him.”
“I want you to check the smoke alarm in Lingering Shadows, and the burglar alarm, too. Lynn will be staying there weekends. Her mother and I agree that she should have a place of her own. And I think she’ll visit us more often this way. I used to never be able to get her away from Faith Academy. Now she’s coming home nearly every weekend.”
I knew that. I’d see them together walking out back, or she’d sit in the bar and watch him play. Nothing obvious. But I knew.
Mr. Dunlinger made the same leap from Lynn to Jules Raleigh, and I flinched as he said, “I’m assigning you a spy mission, too, where Jules is concerned. Who else would give you permission to spy on your teacher? … I want you to keep an eye on him.”
I was dumbstruck, a state of being which I think Mr. Dunlinger preferred from his help.
He said, “I’ve told him I want an upbeat patriotic song to start every set, and I want them blended into the mood music as well.”
“Did he agree?”
“He works for me. There’s no disagree to it if he wants his paycheck. But he wrinkled up his face, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’d forget when I’m not around…. I want you to jog his memory.”
“Yes, Sir.” That was all.
“And everyone is to wear a yellow ribbon and a flag.”
“Did you tell Mr. Raleigh that?”
“I told him.” Mr. Dunlinger dug down into his pocket, felt around, and then took out a tiny lapel flag and an envelope. He said, “Give Mr. Raleigh this flag. He claimed he could find a ribbon but not a flag.”
“He’s not going to like it,” I said. “You know how he feels about us being over there.”
“Everybody in this county knows how he feels. I could fire him tomorrow and nobody’d blink an eye.”
“I’ll give him this,” I said.
“Linger is like a little country, Gary. We have our customs and our ways and our beliefs. You can visit us without subscribing to any of it … but if you’re a Lingerite, you do what the rest do.”
It was right on the dot of six, and Mr. Raleigh began to play in The Regency Room. Both Mr. Dunlinger and I paused to listen.
I’d never heard “America the Beautiful” played on the violin.
Mr. Dunlinger looked pleased.
Then he handed me the envelope.
“Lynn asked me to give this to you.”
Just beyond The Grill, there was a little hallway where I paused and ripped open the envelope.
There was a note and two photographs.
The note said, Dear Gary, I thought you and your folks would like to have these…. Very best,
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