— Will you stop chattering about that damn dog! Lily? can you hear me?
— No but this is the part, listen to this part, the decision by a Federal judge questioning the good faith of a jury and reversing its verdict in a trial to determine the cause of the dog's death, for which he has been vilified as an unAmerican ungodly racist and even burned in effigy. These charges have been taken up by Senator Orney Bilk, appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee which is considering the fitness of the judge, Thomas Crease, for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals. I mean he really has a lot on his plate, here's another helping listen, have spilled over into another lawsuit in his court, in which the attorneys for the defendant in a case of wrongful death occurring during a baptism have demanded that Judge Crease be removed in light of his amply demonstrated antiChristian bias which, Christina? Where'd you go. There's just this…
— Oscar? I'm in the library, will you please come in here?
— Just this last, yes. The controversy that has swirled around the sculpture Cyclone Seven itself has also taken a new turn, as…
— Now!
— Yes, as its creator the sculptor R Szyrk seeks its removal over the vigorous protests of the community where it has become a substantial source of tourist income reflected in the new fully booked motel and expanded Kandy Kitchen and the Cyclone Seven pin replicas worn by the townsfolk in their petition for according it Landmark status, to be joined by a theme park featuring strolls among artifacts of modern American history recently opened by James B's father, who…
— Will you put down that paper and tell me what you plan to do about that mess in there?
— A lot on his plate, he muttered getting up unsteadily from the crippled chair where he'd settled again.
— Well so have we! Will you, wait a minute. Your little cart there, you're sure it won't go?
— No I told you, the battery's dead.
— Well we'll get one, we can get one can't we?
— Yes but, but I don't really need…
— My God, you don't think I'm thinking of you do you?
— But I, but how long is she going to stay? Because I, I'm not quite steady on my feet yet, I might need…
— Marching around the room, I'm on my feet and I'm going to stay on my feet? isn't that what you told us? God knows what shape she's in, you heard her on the phone didn't you? what she's been through and you're too selfish to lend her your little cart? Like a three year old, my God, and when are you going to shave, are you planning to grow a beard too?
— Well why not! Why shouldn't I!
— And that suit, one of the last civilized men left with this whole ridiculous, oh Lily. When you've made up the bed in the library I want you to drive down and get a new battery for that chair will you? There was something else I, yes a deck of cards, get two decks of cards we may want to play cards, you can play bridge can't you or you can just be the dummy to have a little life in this house again after nothing but complaints day after day, as cheerful as could be on the phone with what she's going through maybe she can set you an example Oscar, all this mumbling and brooding if you see any other games Lily, there was a Scrabble set around here somewhere, look in the library, Oscar? have you seen it?
— No. No and listen, I'm trying to get this work done I can't spend the day playing cards and…
— Work? You were sitting here reading the paper when we came in weren't you? tiptoeing around as though you're ready for the last rites with this play of yours it's like running an intensive care unit, it's like living with a disease that permeates the whole house, it's a disease this play of yours thank God it's not infectious or we'd all be dead, where are you going now? Wait, just put those things down Lily and go help him clean up that mess in the library, and those boxes, let's get those boxes out of the hall there before somebody breaks their neck, I'll be in the kitchen, and pudding. I should have thought of pudding, vanilla pudding or something easy to digest. I'll think of something. And she did, after a day of almost speechless dolour relieved only by fetching and carrying, clean sheets, boiled onions, that little electric heater it must be somewhere, sitting down to supper but not the chicken, no, for tomorrow or whenever she gets here, there must be something in a can we can have, — it occurred to me, Oscar? over noodles with a tomato coloured sauce spiced with the taste of tin, — if it's not already too late of course, I mean she may have been dragged over the coals in court today over it but Still it would make a nice gesture.
— I don't…
— It wouldn't cost you a penny if that's what you're thinking.
— But I still don't…
— If you'll stop interrupting, this absurd paternal rights case by this miserable boy who got a court order to stop her abortion.
— But she had it, I thought that was all…
— I know she had it, my God I was with her wasn't I? that right to life idiot throwing catsup on her and all the rest of it? Of course now he says it was animal rights because her insurance people are suing him for the cost of that lovely chinchilla while this revolting boy is after her for God knows how much in damages for killing his unborn child while they haggle about foetal personhood and the rest of this nonsense where you might make yourself useful, I know she'd be eternally grateful.
— But what could I, I don't know anything about…
— Well think about it Oscar. She's up before a judge who's already called legal abortions legal executions even if it was legal, even some church idiots trying to get in the act saying she might have been carrying the Messiah. Now do you see what I mean?
— No.
— Well I'm sure Lily does. There's no proof at all that this wretched boy was the socalled father is there? While they sit there splitting hairs over these absurd legal arguments is there any proof that he's the one who got her pregnant in the first place? I mean they can't do these fancy DNA tests and God knows what else on this dreadful little foetal person because it's off where it belongs with that dreadful little dog in its simulated Spotskin, it's exactly the same thing. Lily sees what I mean.
— You mean Oscar? that he was doing it with her too?
— That's a way of putting it, my God they've known each other for a thousand years he's certainly had the chance, he can say he did can't he?
— You mean if he just said it?
— Well my God I'm not trying to get him into bed with her, it's a little late for that, I've always thought it was a shame you never took the opportunity Oscar. She's always been quite fond of you.
— Is she cute looking?
— Cute isn't quite the word Lily, she's rather tall and, rangy you might say. She's lots of fun.
— And she's rich?
— She's very rich. She'd so appreciate it Oscar, think about it. It would really be the gentlemanly thing to do. You might even find you enjoy playing the gay Lothario.
— He did it with her too? And later, as they took their separate ways, — it was probably her money, that's probably how he got it up for her even if he was gay, Oscar? getting an arm around him, — did you? ever do it with her? He simply looked at her for a minute, sharing this weary half embrace there at the foot of the stairs where she'd cling to him as briefly late the next morning, descending carefully one step at a time with a raised finger hushing his lips. — No, she's already up, she's out in the kitchen making something. You want some tea? And by the time she brought it in he'd already begun his siege with the telephone, slamming it down when she said — I think I heard a car, and was gone up the hall.
— Well who was it.
— It's this real estate lady. She says would we mind if she goes through the house.
— If she, I certainly would mind! Barging in like a, what's she doing here. Who sent her.