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PARTISAN REVIEW
But basically he's a happy person . His mother used to tell peo–
ple what a sweet little boy he'd been , not crying much, making up
games for himself, crap like that , Harvey doesn't remember any of
it
but he knows it's true . He knew when his luck was due to change even
when he felt lousy with a morning hangover or when he was laid off
again at the plant or when the telephone rang and he let Marian an–
swer it because he felt too tired just then to answer it himself. (Who
would it be? One of his in-laws maybe, or someone in his own family.
Asking for a favor like all Harvey was was a strong arm, a back to
carry out furniture or something. Or they'd be complaining. Want–
ing to commiserate with Marian, maybe . As if he wasn't right there
in his own house trying not to listen . Sons of bitches, the fuckers, his
blood beat hard and hot and heavy , he'd had enough of them all.) So
when news came about the lottery he wasn't that surprised . Some of
his family and in-laws came over to celebrate , they had a few beers,
things to eat, his father took Polaroid pictures of Harvey holding up
the check from the State of New Jersey Treasury, Harvey and Marian
with their arms around each other, Harvey with little Paulie climb–
ing in his lap , but it was like Harvey was really standing off to one
side watching, thinking his own thoughts . So his luck had changed,
well it was about time.
The sons of bitches.
Marian was expecting the baby in early November, now it was
almost the end of the summer, the lottery money had come at the
right time. The pregnancy hadn't been planned exactly but when
Harvey got over his surprise he said he felt good about it, he felt
right. Still , every few nights Marian would say, You aren't really
happy about it, are you? and Harvey would say at once, What?–
sure I'm happy . And Marian would say angrily , I know
you,
your
mind's a thousand miles away. She'd rub her knuckles hard against
his head until he stopped her. It's half your baby, isn't it, damn you,
she'd say, and Harvey would say, kidding, Honey I can't vouch for
that,
and she'd get angrier, maybe try to slap him, they'd wrestle
around for a while then go to bed , there he'd fit himself into her like
a hand into a glove just tight enough, or maybe it was a shoehorn,
a shoehorn and a satiny silky high-heeled shoe , she clutched at him
and mashed her mouth against him as she usually did, it was clear
sailing, Harvey thought, past a certain point, and then his mind
