Ход королевы

           Shelayonthesofadrinkingfromthelastbottleinhercaseandlistenedtotheroaringofhispowermower,smellingthegrasscuttings.Whenshehadpaidhim,shewentoutsideintothegrasssmellandlookedatthelawnwithitsclumpsofcuttings.Ittouchedhertoseeitsoaltered,sochangedfromwhatithadbeen.Shewentbackin,gotherpurseandcalledacab.Thelawdidnotpermitdeliveriesofwineorliquor.Shewouldhavetogetanothercaseonherown.Twowouldbesmarter.AndshewouldtryAlmadén.SomeonehadsaidAlmadénburgundywasbetterthanPaulMasson.Shewouldtryit.Maybeafewbottlesofwhitewine,too.Andsheneededfood.

           Lunchescamefromacan.Thechiliwasprettygoodifyouaddedpepperandateitwithaglassofburgundy.AlmadénwasbetterthanPaulMasson,lessastringentonthetongue.TheGibsons,though,couldhitherlikeaclub,andshebecamewaryofthem,savingthemuntiljustbeforepassingoutor,sometimes,forthefirstdrinkinthemorning.BythethirdweekshewastakingaGibsonuptobedwithheronthenightsshemadeitupstairstobed.SheputitonthenightstandwithaChessInformantoverittokeepthealcoholfromevaporating,anddrankitwhenshewokeupinthemiddleofthenight.Orifnotthen,inthemorning,beforegoingdownstairs.

           Sometimesthephonerang,butsheanswereditonlywhenherheadandvoicewereclear.Shealwaysspokealoudtocheckherlevelofsobrietybeforepickingupthereceiver.Shewouldsay,“PeterPiperpickedapeckofpickledpeppers,”andifitcameoutallright,shewouldtakeupthephone.