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           Louiscamebacklaterfeelingsmall.NooneaskedhimtoexamineNormaCrandall;whenhecrossedthestreet(rud,heremindedhimself,smiling),theladyhadalreadyretiredforthenight.Judwasavaguesilhouettebehindthescreensoftheenclosedporch.Therewasthecomfortablesqueakofarockeronoldlinoleum.Louisknockedonthescreendoor,whichrattledcompanionablyagainstitsframe.Crandall’scigaretteglowedlikealarge,peaceablefireflyinthesummerdarkness.Fromaradio,low,camethevoiceofaRedSoxgame,andallofitgaveLouisCreedtheoddestfeelingofcominghome.

           "Doc,"Crandallsaid."Ithoughtthatwasyou."

           "Hopeyoumeantitaboutthebeer,"Louissaid,comingin.

           "Oh,aboutbeerIneverlie,"Crandallsaid."Amanwholiesaboutbeermakesenemies.Sitdown,Doc.Iputanextracoupleonice,justincase."

           Theporchwaslongandnarrow,furnishedwithrattanchairsandsofas.Louissankintooneandwassurprisedathowcomfortableitwas.AthislefthandwasatinpailfilledwithicecubesandafewcansofBlackLabel.Hetookone.

           "Thankyou,"hesaidandopenedit.Thefirsttwoswallowshithisthroatlikeablessing.

           "More’nwelcome,"Crandallsaid."Ihopeyourtimeherewillbeahappyone,Doc."

           "Amen,"Louissaid.

           "Say!Ifyouwantcrackersorsomethin,Icouldgetsome.Igotawedgeofratthat’sjustaboutripe.