Американские боги

           "Youdone?"

           "Nearly."

           "Youwanttoseeamovie?"

           "Sure.Loveto.I’vegotagoodfiveminuteslefthere,though.Whydon’tyousitandreadtheOnion?"

           "Isawthisweek’salready."Shesatonachairnearthedoor,ruffledthroughthepileofnewspapersputasideforrecyclinguntilshefoundsomething,andshereadit,whileSambaggedupthelastofthemoneyinthetillandputitinthesafe.

           Theyhadbeensleepingtogetherforaweeknow.Samwonderedifthiswasit,therelationshipshe’dbeenwaitingforallherlife.ShetoldherselfthatitwasjustbrainchemicalsandpheromonesthatmadeherhappywhenshesawNatalie,andperhapsthatwaswhatitwas;still,allsheknewforsurewasthatshesmiledwhenshesawNatalie,andthatwhentheyweretogethershefeltcomfortableandcomforted.

           "Thispaper,"saidNatalie,"hasanotheroneofthosearticlesinit.‘IsAmericaChanging?’"

           "Well,isit?"

           "Theydon’tsay.Theysaythatmaybeitis,buttheydon’tknowhowandtheydon’tknowwhy,andmaybeitisn’thappeningatall."

           Samsmiledbroadly."Well,"shesaid,"thatcoverseveryoption,doesn’tit?"

           "Iguess."Natalie’sbrowcreasedandshewentbacktohernewspaper.

           Samwashedthedishclothandfoldedit.