574
PARTISAN REVIEW
tub to the canopied bed and lay her down among her swatches, which
like all innocent goods brought to the city , required nothing save
their own multiplication . She had only breath to say, "Watch the
swatches ," and then the portrait of their avalanche was painstakingly
painted. Pines and boulders, boulders and pines , end over end.
"Why are we so good together, Geoff? Just because we don ' t see
each other much?"
"Because we've got nothing to prove , I guess ."
"It's odd you should say that . It's just lately that I've wanted to
prove something. ' ,
"With me? "
"Not exactly . .. with everybody, " she said very softly.
Geoff seemed distracted . He sat on the edge of the bed, elbows
on knees, rubbing his eyes. Then Corinne's knees were on the red
spots his elbows had left, her arms wound about his head, nipping
his nape . Geoff steadied himself on his palms , blowing her hair aside
so he could see.
"You know, " she said , from over his shoulder, "ftom the back
you don't look more than twenty-one . "
" It's a bad back, though . Inside, I mean . I have to sit down to
urinate now. ' ,
" This is not a problem," Corinne said , but the phone rang
sharply, and Corinne's hands went to her heart. Geoff dropped the
receiver twice then handed it over to her.
,'Mommy ," it crackled .
"Oh Christ, Brucie , what 's wrong!"
"When are you coming home, Mommy?"
"Tomorrow, honey, just like I told you."
"Well ... uh ," Corinne's husband Fred broke in . "Nothing's
wrong here dear. We just wanted to call before bed . I didn't see the
harm ... "
,'Of course . You're sure there's nothing .
"Not a thing. How's your cold? "
" About the same, Fred ."
"All right, Brucie? " Fred said .
There was no answer from the child , and Corinne's husband told
her he'd meet the plane .
