Зима тревоги нашей

           Therewouldn’tbeanymoreunclutteredmomentsuntilnoonatleast.

           Walderwentouttohiscar,andcamebackandpartedawaveoffranticsummerwivestogettothecounter.Helaiddownoneofthosehardboardbellowsenvelopestiedwithatape.

           "Gottogo.Fourhours’drivewiththistraffic.Mywife’smad.Shesaiditcouldwait.Butitcouldn’twait."

           "Mister,Ibeenwaitingtenminutestogetwaitedon."

           "Berightwithyou,ma’am."

           "Iaskedhimifhehadanymessageandhesaid,‘Tellhimgood-by.’Yougotanymessage?"

           "Tellhimgood-by."

           Thewaveofill-disguisedstomachsclosedinagainanditwasjustaswellforme.Idroppedtheenvelopeinthedrawerbelowthecashregisterandwithit—desolation.