LESLI E EPSTEIN
49
"Can't take that dog," Arthur said, from where he was rubbing a
chamois over the already po lished surface of the hood. "Don't allow no
dogs in the motels or in the national monuments."
I saw that Sampson had jumped into the rear and stuck his muzzle
through the crack in the window, as if in anticipation of the breezes to
come. "I'll take him back," I volunteered.
Sampson dug in; I had to haul him our by the collar and drag him to
the portico and into the house. Arthur turned on the engine before I
came out. 1 closed the front door behind me and started across the
bricks.
"Richard."
That was Norman's voice. It came from overhead. I heard my father's
footsteps on the little balcony that jutted out from the room where all
of those about to embark on this journey had watched the different
sorts of wrestl ing matches two n ights before. I stepped through the
colonnade and squinted upward. I saw Norman's foreshortened head
and torso.
" You'll have a hell of a trip," he told me. "The caverns are a natural
wonder. You'll never see anything like them again."
"Yeah. Okay. But why don't you take us? Why Arthur and Mary? It's
embarrassing."
"Some other time. There's a lot to deal with now."
"I guess I understand. You want us out of your hair."
"You're never in my hair, sweetheart. I'm sorry I didn't tell you: I'm
glad you liked that silly show 1 put on. I shouldn't have done it. It's not
fair to you. To any of you. You know the reason: it's the shaving mirror."
"I'm sorry too. 1 mean about Bartie. 1 feel bad. I heard him rocking.
I said it out of exasperation."
"It breaks my heart, and it breaks Lotte's heart, when you talk to him
that way. That's something I have to say to you. But I shouldn't be up
here on a balcony. It's like I'm talking down to you. You know, like a
pun. Rich, L'm proud of Bartie, the same as I am of you. Hell, I showed
the pictures of the two of you in my wallet all over Washington. Even
to Tavenner. You don't measure the love for your children. That would
be like choosing between you. Barton is going to be fine. He needs time.
Be patient. Please be patient. What I want more than anything is for you
to be his friend. He has a pure heart. Remember that. You go on now.
And don't worry. We aren't selling the house. Lt's paid for. You'll never
have to leave San Remo Drive."
