"YES. A COUPLE OF TIMES."
"Do I know you from somewhere?" She wants to talk about John Hawkes. Iwant more desperately than I have believed myself capable to be silent,unselfish, and to listen. Black coffee tastes sweet. The Sears purchase slung over the back of mychair, for all she knows I am a football player. Not a soldier.
When I learn her name I hear the word and picture the spelling "carrel". She's the type I've loved since I was a kid, a ladybug in bookworm'sclothing.
I ask her to a go-go. That is, I get Carol's telephone number so I cantake her out to a concert. The RollingStones. "Okay. Aren't they playing free next week?"
Yes, Carol. And there is a Santa Claus.