Springer Memorial

It was the day of the Springer Memorial. They had a shot of his dead friend on the TV news. – The boat, must have been a family video. Langland looking somehow younger, more spruce – throwing a line. – Did he catch anything?

The Senator switched off the TV and rang up Paul, told him he’d changed his mind and wasn’t going. Then he walked across the corridor to his wife’s room.

He sat down on the bed, watching her as she did her hair at the dresser.

What’s bothering you, Frank?

I don’t know, he said. Feel pretty weird. Guess I must be sick.

Well, she said. Why don’t you go back to bed? I’ll get the maid to bring you up something.