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Show Motherlunge a novel 242 Joseph smiled slowly, showing his teeth and his missing teeth. "Viva Italia. Is mat Eli? That your dad?" I nodded. I explained that we were visiting the grave of Walter's boss and friend. "No way. At the library, you mean? Judith?" Joseph asked. "Black hair, kind of..." he moved his hand about his head in an imaginary shampoo. "Right," I said, nodding. "Wig, I'm pretty sure." "She was a good lady. If you fell asleep in the library, she wouldn't wake you up. She'd let you stay all day." "How about him?" I inclined my head toward Walter. He was still at the graveside talking to Eli. I wished I could hear what he was saying; I was missing the story. "What's his reputation at the library?" Joseph shrugged. "I don't know. I don't hang out there much now. How's Dorothy?" I told him about the assisted living place; he nodded. "Good. That's good. She'll be safe there. No one to try and take advantage of her, you know?" I looked at him. What was there to say? "You know? thea? Safe?" Now it was my turn to nod. I took a breath. "She's really down at the moment. Like, can't-get-out-of-bed down." "Yeah." Joseph shifted to the other shoulder the rope that held his sleeping bag. "Yep," he said. Strings of yam got caught on the cameo ring as I pulled off my mitten. I worked them free and held out my hand to Joseph. |