15

    talking to Emma. Pink ation failures visible, blasted sumac, iris, pigue pants, green fatigue s.

    Looking very beautiful ther said.

    Oh am I, said Emma.

    You are a very her said.

    No no, said Emma, just ordinary. Just an ordinary housands.

    Not at all, not at all. Now I ime many a one.

    Yes, Emma said, I believe it.

    Some stunning beauties. Some extraordinary ladies. I can distinguis. You are sui generis one might say.

    , Emma said. Just anothe beach.

    No no no, said te remarkable. the bosom, for example.

    Yes, said Emma, t adequate.

    Adequate!  a s like in ty years.

    Yes, said Emma, t passable.

    I  to t of te of Gyrene if you ake off your s so I could see it better.

    No, said Emma, I do not t ent yourself ion of terior. t trick is Julies.

    I remember a bosom, t be a better bosom t be a iful, bosoms, all beautiful, eacs oalk of quot;betterquot; and quot;; its apples and oranges, really.

    bosom is t t you remember?

    tter. I  buggering a black gang. A eam and grease. Some suggestion of coercion. Some suggestion of abuse of rank. And so on and so on. Sing ticed t robes. I ransfixed, couldnt keep my eyes off ain line, bosom under robe, I cant describe it. Makes one lig ts case on trictly on ts. Merits piled on merits. Afteroget as bad as Id been painted. I said, Oogetle, as I recall. Incomparable. taug of la all. Claudia. Married a sky diver, as I recall. One of t of airplanes and drop for t ing for to open. Finally it didnt. A ednesday, as I recall. I gave ed by tion for excellence beyond t was Claudia.

    And t o it?

    Groy, still beating ion t table, I  appointments, in retrospect.

    Fretfulness of Emma. Adjustment of s, etc. Pulling up of pants. Nervous play of fingers about t.

    I am old, said t is;  to s is under your s.

    ts not it, said Emma. then she changed her mind.

    t is it, she said.

    is ed. You are making me feel like the Congress of Vienna!

    Nonsense, said Emma, taking  as good as you ever were.

    to bed s in your ear. Pos.

    Yes, Emma said, secrets, ts t part, ts. t part in my opinion is buying ture. Picking out toainless steel. tted plant. ter for t object. the can opener.

    Emma begins lacion (serious).

    the colander.

    her.

    I  tears. Salad after salad. I am h salads.

    Dont cry, please.

    I am so good h salads, she said.

    I am sure you are.

    Only virgin imported fresalian olive oil. Sliced musitutionalized tomatoes, from a little place I kno. Coke, or sno, sprinkled on top along , pepper, parsley, prepared mustard --

    Come to bed, dear salad-o bed h me.

    No I , said Emma. Pardon me for saying it but you are, you are, you are too old.

    t of the road.

    Dont do t, dear friend, said Emma, plucking at  doesnt help.