After Life (17 page)

Apparently Henry's meeting with the board-of-education people had ended.

Lee approached his office. The door was open. He peered in and saw the

principal at his desk scribbling notes. He knocked and Henry looked up

and smiled.

Come in, come in. Sorry it had to be this late, but I figured you had

something serious on your mind or you wouldn't want to meet today. Have

a seat. Henry pointed to a chair in front of his desk.

Thank you, Henry. He settled himself quickly. Henry sat back and

folded his hands over his stomach.

So what can I do for you, Lee?

Well, I . . . I guess it's no great secret that I was very upset over

the game.

No, Henry said, laughing. That's no great secret.

Yeah, well, to tell you the truth, Henry, I was even more upset about

the things you told the boys in the locker room afterward. I felt we

should be reprimanding them for their behavior and even thinking of

punishing them. Certainly not telling them they were on the right track

by the way they behaved. Getting the opponent to respect you is one

thing; getting him to fear you...

that's not sportsmanship and sportsmanship has always been an integral

part of athletics, a reason for it.

I see, Henry said, nodding. You have a good point, Lee. I guess I've

gotten caught up in this rivalry thing myself. Everyone puts so much

emphasis on it. I'm sorry. He nodded again and then put up his hand

like a man taking the witness stand in a courtroom. I swear, from this

day on, I will stay out of your face when it comes to the team.

That's fine, Henry. I appreciate your saying that and I appreciate your

apology, but Jessie and I have been talking things over and we think it

might be best for us to move on as soon as we can. I think I want to

give you my notice, Lee said.

Oh no, Henry said, sitting forward. You can't mean that, Lee.

Everyone's impressed with you. No one has started work here with such

overwhelming approval. I don't know anyone who doesn't like and respect

you.

Please reconsider this. You're making a tragic mistake.

This situation with the team will improve in time and you'll mold them

into the sort of team you want them to be. I assure you.

Well, it's not just that . . . it's- I know, I know. Jessie's

uncomfortable at the DeGroot house. Well, good news. I've spoken to

Charley DeGroot on your behalf and you're out of the lease as of the end

of the month. Furthermore Dr. Beezly called me late this afternoon to

tell me about an apartment now open in the Courtyard Gardens, a

first-floor apartment with an attached garage. The rent, believe it or

not, is less than what you're presently paying. And it's closer to the

school. Henry sat back, smiling. Actually you'll find out anyway, but

Dr. Beezly owns the Courtyard Apartments. Perhaps, with that sort of

news, you can cheer up Jessie and get her to reconsider.

What do you say? I don't know, I At least sleep on it, Lee. You have a

lot going for you here, he added. Yeah, maybe, Lee said.

Of course. Henry stood up and came around his desk. Why, you've hardly

had a chance to get to know people, including some of the other members

of the faculty, he said. Lee looked up sharply. He had certainly gotten

to know Monica London.

Right. He stood up. Henry extended his hand.

You're a fine young man. I'm proud to have you on our team. Thank you,

Lee said. He started away. Oh, how's Marjorie doing? Better. Much

better. And it was very nice of Jessie and Tracy to visit her today.

She called to tell me they had been there and she was very up because of

their visit. Tell Jessie I appreciate it. She's really a remarkable

woman, your wife. With her handicap, she does so much.

An inspiration, truly. Another reason why I'd hate to see you two go.

Lee nodded again and walked out. His mind was reeling with confusion.

Maybe he should give it all just one more chance.

After all, he had hardly had a chance to try to make a difference. Look

what sort of progress he had made with the boys today, and as far as

some of this other nonsense went . . . well, now he could promise

Jessie they would be moved out of that old house and away from the

cemetery by the end of the month. Surely that would make things much

better. Her imagination would calm down. Maybe they could make a life

for themselves in this community yet, he thought. Really, where were

they running away to anyway? What sort of a job could he get? He

didn't want to go back to driving a cab. He was a teacher, a coach, a

professional. He had an opportunity here. The people in authority

liked him.

Why throw all this away?

Just as he stepped out to the parking lot, a door slammed and Monica

London emerged from a side entrance. She crossed the parking lot

farther down and went to her car.

Before she got in, she turned and looked his way. His heart began to

pound. She waved and he waved back Then he waited as she got into her

car, backed out, and drove off.

He hesitated at his own car because he felt like he was being watched.

He spun around, but there was no one there. Then he lifted his eyes

toward Henry Young's office windows. Because of the way the

late-afternoon sun hit the building, those windows looked dark, almost

like two black eyes gazing down at him. Then a curtain was pulled open

and Henry Young appeared.

He waved and nodded, smiling. A moment later he was gone and the

windows were dark again.

Lee got into his car and started away. What would I ever tell Jessie if

she found out what had happened between me and Monica London? he

wondered. Like fugitive covering his tracks, he groped about mentally

for excuses and reasons, leaving a trail of deceit and lies behind him

as he fled from the truth.

Jessie was still sleeping when Lee arrived. Without a light on, the

apartment was dark and gloomy. The sun had fallen behind mountains and

trees, so that long, deep shadows flowed through whatever windows had

their curtains open. Lee turned on a lamp and started through the

apartment. Not hearing her in the kitchen he went directly to their

bedroom, where he found her sprawled on her side, in the fetal position,

her right hand cupped just under her chin.

She looked so peaceful, so content, he didn't have the heart to wake

her. Seeing her this way brought an ache to his heart because it made

the memory of his adultery that much sharper and more painful. In so

many ways she was so helpless. What a bastard he was.

He had to turn away and get his mind on something else, so he decided to

prepare their dinner. Twenty or so minutes after he had begun, she came

to the kitchen door. She had walked so softly, he had never heard her

approaching. One moment there was no one in the doorway, and the next

there she was.

Hi, he said. I didn't hear you get up. Feeling okay?

Yes, she said, even though she was still so groggy she had to lean

against the doorjamb. I can't believe I didn't wake up when you came

in.

I tried phoning you a couple of times today, he said quickly, unable to

filter out a note of defensiveness. She didn't appear to notice.

I never heard it ring. How long have you been home?"

Oh, awhile, he said. You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to

bother you.

I'm sorry. She pressed her palms against her fore head and then ran

them over her hair.

Hey, no problem. I have things under control. The table's set. What

were you, tired from visiting Marjorie' he asked, pretending he didn't

know. Lies, little lies, thought. Why not just admit he called Tracy

and she told him about the wine?

Oh Lee, she said. Her lips began to tremble.

Hey. He put down the pot he was using and rushed to embrace her. What

is it, honey?

I drank too much of her wine, she cried.

He started to laugh.

No, don't laugh, she said, pulling back. It wasn't funny. It wasn't

like wine; it was like a drug to make you tell the truth.

Huh?

I want to sit down, she said, and he guided her to the kitchen table. He

sat beside her and still held her hand What are you talking about, Jess?

What drug?

I didn't want to say anything about your meeting with Henry today. It

wasn't anyone else's business.

so After I started drinking the wine, I just babbled away, telling

everything, she moaned.

Hey. He patted her hand. There's no harm done;

and as far as the wine being a drug . . . well, a lot of people open

up when they drink alcoholic beverages.

It's no big deal.

Oh Lee, I can't help feeling I told them the most intimate things.

What sort of things? he asked softly.

'-Events, feelings, I don't know. It's all a blur now.

So maybe you really didn't say anything you thought you did. Maybe you

just imagined it, he suggested. She shook her head.

No. I don't think so. She took a deep breath.

Apparently Marjorie was feeling all right then?

Feeling all right? Didn't I tell you on the phone?

We didn't speak on the phone, Jess, he said. I told you I tried to

call, but- Oh, I'm so confused. Marjorie's fine; Marjorie's even better

than she was. At least according to Tracy.

What do you mean?

She's bright, animated, laughing, baking cakes, and telling risque

stories. You wouldn't think it was the same person we met at the

Bakers' dinner party. Tracy says the accident had the effect of an

electric shock treatment.

She thinks it was good.

Hmm. Lee sat back, folding his arms across his chest. Maybe so. Who's

to say no? Just her doctor, I guess.

He was there, too, Jessie said quickly. And he's coming here tomorrow

to examine me. I couldn't get out of it.

Is that so? Well, maybe he can do something, suggest something.

What can he do? Lee, you know it's a waste of time. We've been to the

biggest doctors and the best hospitals. What's a country doctor going

to do that they couldn't? I don't even know why he wants to examine me.

It's . . . it's weird, just like everything else around here.

Now, hold on, honey. This doctor does seem to have performed near

miracles here. Don't forget, medicine is an art, too. There are

physicians who are more talented than others. Maybe he's one of them.

You're not serious? she said, and then the look on her face changed.

Lee, what happened with Henry Young? You gave him your notice, didn't

you? We're leaving, right?

Well, not exactly, he confessed.

Oh no. She brought her hands to her face.

just listen for a minute, Jess. I did go there to resign, just as we

discussed. I began by bawling him out for his behavior with the team

after the game.

So?

He didn't get upset with me. In fact, he admitted he had been wrong. He

said he had gotten caught up in the rivalry and excitement just like

everyone else. He promised not to have anything more to do with the

running of the team.

And you believe that'

I don't see why he would lie about it, Jess. Then, contrary to what we

thought, he was terribly upset about my leaving. He went on and on

about how well I was doing and how quickly and enthusiastically the

other staff members have taken to me.

Lee, he was just saying these things because it will be hard for him to

find a replacement, she insisted but he couldn't quell his new feeling

of pride.

I don't know; the school family has been very congenial and I have

received a number of compliments from other teachers, secretaries- Lee,

she cried. I can't stand it here. I can't I know, and that's another

thing Henry told me.

He's spoken to DeGroot on our behalf and the lease can be broken. He

and Dr. Beezly have found us a new apartment in a much nicer area and

cheaper rent too. We're moving at the end of the month. You won't hear

any more of those imaginary noises or be spooked by old man Carter.

How's that sound?

Did you see if there was a funeral today? she demanded.

I looked in the paper during lunch hour. Nothing, Jess, he said.

I didn't imagine the digging. I heard it, she insisted.

All right. So maybe there are grave robbers out there at night. Who