Chapter 6

           Somethingsarehardtoremember. I’mthinkingnowofwhenStradlatergotbackfromhisdatewithJane. ImeanIcan’trememberexactlywhatIwasdoingwhenIheardhisgoddamstupidfootstepscomingdownthecorridor. Iprobablywasstilllookingoutthewindow,butIswearIcan’tremember. Iwassodamnworried,that’swhy. WhenIreallyworryaboutsomething,Idon’tjustfoolaround. IevenhavetogotothebathroomwhenIworryaboutsomething. Only,Idon’tgo. I’mtooworriedtogo. Idon’twanttointerruptmyworryingtogo. IfyouknewStradlater,you’dhavebeenworried,too. I’ddouble-datedwiththatbastardacoupleoftimes,andIknowwhatI’mtalkingabout. Hewasunscrupulous.Hereallywas. 

           Anyway,thecorridorwasalllinoleumandall,andyoucouldhearhisgoddamfootstepscomingrighttowardstheroom. Idon’tevenrememberwhereIwassittingwhenhecamein—atthewindow,orinmychairorhis. IswearIcan’tremember. 

           Hecameingripingabouthowcolditwasout. Thenhesaid, "Wherethehelliseverybody? It’slikeagoddammorguearoundhere. "Ididn’tevenbothertoanswerhim. IfhewassogoddamstupidnottorealizeitwasSaturdaynightandeverybodywasoutorasleeporhomefortheweekend,Iwasn’tgoingtobreakmynecktellinghim. Hestartedgettingundressed. Hedidn’tsayonegoddamwordaboutJane. Notone. NeitherdidI. Ijustwatchedhim. Allhedidwasthankmeforlettinghimwearmyhound’s-tooth. Hehungituponahangerandputitinthecloset. 

           Thenwhenhewastakingoffhistie,heaskedmeifI’dwrittenhisgoddamcompositionforhim. Itoldhimitwasoveronhisgoddambed. Hewalkedoverandreaditwhilehewasunbuttoninghisshirt.