@@@@@Maybe just because it gave me the creepsI
@@@@@Maybe just
because it gave me the creepsI put out Hello -
the pencil sketch of the tanker - instead
Wireman came buzzing up in a bright blue golf cart
with sporty yellow pinstripingHe didn't have to
ring the bellI was at the door to meet him
"You've got a certain drawn look about you,
muchacho," he said, coming inI ain't the
doctor and this ain't the doctor's officeIf this was a building and you
were a building inspector, I wouldn't feel this
way, but-"
"But that was your other life," Wireman said
"This be your new one, where you haven't got your
walking shoes broke in yet
292
"That's about the size of it
"You're damn rightSpeaking of your prior
existence, did you call your wife about that
little matter you discussed with me?"
"I didDo you want the blow-by-blow?"
"NopeAll I want to know is if you're comfortable
with the way the conversation turned out
"I haven't had a comfortable conversation with Pam
since I woke up in the hospitalBut I'm pretty
sure she'll talk to Tom
"Then I guess that'll do, pig He was
all the way in now, and looking around curiously
"I like what you've done to the place
I burst out laughingI hadn't even removed the
no-smoking sign on top of the TV"I had Jack put
in a treadmill upstairs, that's newYou've been
here before, I take it?"
He gave me an enigmatic little smile"We've all
been here before, amigo - this is bigger than pro
footballPeter Straub, circa