Magna Takes the Calls
Magna says “It’s Ruth. She sounds a little upset,” and hands me the receiver, collects her students’ exam papers and goes into the bedroom.
I say “Hello, mom, how are you?” and she says “I’ve some bad news for you, Will. Aunt Rae called a few hours ago and said Uncle Saul died last night.”
“Oh God, that’s terrible, awful. I’m very sorry.”
“His heart. I just spoke to him last week. We all knew he didn’t have that long to live — the doctor told Rae that a few months ago. That he was just waiting around to die. But when you hear that it’s happened, it always comes as a shock. I’m just glad he never knew how bad off he was.”
“I’ll say. It’s awful, awful.”
“He in fact called me — when was it? — two months ago and said he’d be in for Christmas for a week. I told him he could stay with me, there was plenty of room here, but he said he’d be staying at his sister-in-law’s — Rae’s sister Dolly. I don’t think you ever met her. When I spoke to him last week I asked what about his Christmas plans and he said they’d have to be pushed back a ways but he’d see me in no later than three months.”
“I’m really sorry, mom. I loved Saul. He always took an interest in us — in you, your kids. He was like a second father. In some ways, what I wish dad had been more: interested.”
“Your father was interested. Maybe in a different way than Saul.