PARTISAN REVIEW
233
"So you don't like it," she said. "You don't like my place."
"I do, 1 told you. But it's not worth starting tonight. We're
going out."
"Why don't we just stay then, if you like it. I can't think now.
I don't want to go anywhere. Just stay."
"But over the phone you asked me to come because it was late
and ..." Dave stopped. No, she'd only be afraid. He stepped near
and put his hand on the girl's nape, stroking it. He couldn't take
her anywhere, not even home. Let her run tonight, run with her,
let it be her night, stay.
"The first evening in my place," she said. "Just sit down,and
eat, and listen to music, and talk. Paint the chairs maybe. And
sleep here. In my new place."
"AIl right."
Nancy hugged him around the waist. Tonight, tonight she'd
try and he'd try, and then he'd know. Just a few grains. Love.
"But we must do some things," he added. He couldn't just sit
there, in that place her way, and eat. Or even talk. Simply couldn't.
His stomach would turn. "So we can sleep, I mean. And get food.
We can't eat without food, you know," she heard him from above.
"I don't want anything. I can't work now, I can't think."
"Don't worry. You just stay there. Listen to music. Sleep. I have
a few things to do, it won't take long, then I'll join you."
He stepped away from her and threw his jacket on a chair.
Then he took the boxes. "All right?"
"Yes. AIl right." She smiled. Let him, why not, a few things
will make him happy, let him think and work and get somewhere.
Then they could try. There was time and she loved him. She had
time, a whole evening, a whole night, more perhaps, she could try.
Dave had thrown down the boxes and was pushing the ward–
robe into a corner. "It's in the way," he explained.
"I put it there," Nancy said. "I like it in the middle, it's like
a door and yet not a door."
"Yes. And you can also walk into it at night."
"You're always thinking," she laughed.
"That's what it's all about," he laughed too, and went into the
bedroom.
Soon he reappeared with a chair. Then another. Then shoved
