Ход королевы

           Whenhehadleft,shegotthebottlesoutoneatatimeandputthemneatlyintothecabinetoverthetoaster,infrontofMrs.Wheatley’soldcansofspaghettiandchili.Thensheopenedabottleofginandtwistedthecapoffthevermouth.Shehadnevermadeacocktailbefore.Shepouredginintothetumblerandaddedalittlevermouth,stirringitwithoneofMrs.Wheatley’sspoons.Shecarriedthedrinkcarefullyintothelivingroom,satdownandtookalongswallow.

           ***

           Themorningswerehorrible,butshemanagedthem.ShewenttoKroger’sonthethirddayandboughtthreedozeneggsandasupplyofTVdinners.Afterthatshealwayshadtwoeggsbeforeherfirstglassofwine.Bynoonshehadusuallypassedout.Shewouldawakeonthesofaorinachairwithherlimbsstiffandthebackofherneckdampwithhotsweat.Sometimes,herheadreeling,shewouldfeelinthedepthofherstomachanangerasintenseasthepainofaburstabscessinthejaw—atoothachesopotentthatnothingbutdrinkcouldalleviateit.Sometimesthedrinkhadtobeforcedagainstarejectionofitbyherbody,butshedidit.Shewouldgetitdownandwaitandthefeelingswouldsubsideabit.Itwasliketurningdownthevolume.

           OnSaturdaymorningshespilledwineonherkitchenchessboard,andonMondayshebumpedintothetablebyaccidentandsentsomeofthepiecesfallingtothefloor.Sheleftthemthere,pickingthemuponlyonThursday,whenfinallytheyoungmancamebytomowthelawn.