Американские боги

           Hedidn’tknowwines,buthefiguredthatfortwentybucksitoughttotastegood.HeboughtaCalifornianCabernet,becauseShadowhadonceseenabumpersticker,backwhenhewasyoungerandpeoplestillhadbumperstickersontheircars,whichsaidLIFEISACABERNETandithadmadehimlaugh.

           Heboughtaplantinapotasagift.Greenleaves,noflowers.Nothingremotelyromanticaboutthat.

           Heboughtacartonofmilk,whichhewouldneverdrink,andaselectionoffruit,whichhewouldnevereat.

           ThenhedroveovertoMabel’sandboughtasinglelunchtimepasty.Mabel’sfacelitupwhenshesawhim."DidHinzelmanncatchupwithyou?"

           "Ididn’tknowhewaslookingforme."

           "Yup.Wantstotakeyouice-fishing.AndChadMulliganwantedtoknowifI’dseenyouaround.Hiscousin’sherefromoutofstate.She’sawidow.Hissecondcousin,whatweusedtocallkissingcousins.Suchasweetheart.You’llloveher."Andshedroppedthepastyintoabrownpaperbag,twistedthetopofthebagovertokeepthepastywarm.

           Shadowdrovethelongwayhome,eatingone-handed,thesteamingpasty’spastry-crumbstumblingontohisjeansandontothefloorofthe4Runner.Hepassedthelibraryonthesouthshoreofthelake.Itwasablackandwhitetownintheiceandthesnow.Springseemedunimaginablyfaraway:theklunkerwouldalwayssitontheice,withtheice-fishingsheltersandthepickuptrucksandthesnowmobiletracks.