Если я останусь

           Thetablesarecrammedwithdoctorsandnursesandnervous-lookingmedicalstudentsinshortwhitejacketsandstethoscopessoshinythattheylookliketoys.Theyareallchowingdownoncardboardpizzaandfreeze-driedmashedpotatoes.Ittakesmeawhiletolocatemyfamily,huddledaroundatable.GranischattingtoHeather.Grampsispayingcarefulattentiontohisturkeysandwich.

           AuntKateandAuntDianeareinthecorner,whisperingaboutsomething."Somecutsandbruises.Hewasalreadyreleasedfromthehospital,"AuntKateissaying,andforasecondIthinkshe’stalkingaboutTeddyandamsoexcitedIcouldcry.ButthenIhearhersaysomethingabouttherebeingnoalcoholinhissystem,howourcarjustswervedintohislaneandsomeguynamedMr.Dunlapsayshedidn’thavetimetostop,andthenIrealizeit’snotTeddythey’retalkingabout;it’stheotherdriver.

           "Thepolicesaiditwasprobablythesnow,oradeerthatcausedthemtoswerve,"AuntKatecontinues."Andapparently,thislopsidedoutcomeisfairlycommon.Onepartyisjustfineandtheothersufferscatastrophicinjuries..."Shetrailsoff.

           Idon’tknowthatI’dcallMr.Dunlap"justfine,"nomatterhowsuperficialhisinjuries.Ithinkaboutwhatitmustbeliketobehim,towakeuponeTuesdaymorningandgetintoyourtrucktoheadofftoworkatthemillormaybetothefeed-supplystoreormaybetoLoretta’sDinertohaveeggsovereasy.Mr.Dunlap,whowasmaybeperfectlyhappyorperfectlymiserable,marriedwithkidsorabachelor.