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Part 2-7

  Annawillbewwhatshappeome.

  Weovetoaable,Isaid,butIkwasover,destroyedbyamalevolentforcebeyondmytrol.

  Seeyoulater,saidJesscheerily.

  AndthatwasthelasttimeIsawKathy.IfIwereher,Idstillberestrugthedialogueinmyhead,writingitdownaingfriendstoactitout,lookingforanykindofcluethatwouldhelpmemakesehatbreakfast.

  YouneverknowwithJesswhethershesbeingsharporlucky.Whenyoushootyourmouthoffasfastandasfrequentlyasshedoes,youreboundtohitsomethingsometime.Butforwhateverreason,shewasright:Kathywouldnthavehappehoutmusic.Sheposedtobealittlepick-me-up,myfirstsihebandbrokeup-myfirsteverasanon-practigmusi,becauseIwasalreadyinabandwhenIlostmyvirginity,andIvebeeninabandeversince.Soaftersheleft,Istartedtoworryabouthowthiswasevergoingtowork,andlikewhetherIdbeinsomefugoldfolkshomeinfortyyearstellingsomelittleoldladywithhatREMsmanagerhadwaorepresentmyband.WhenwasIevergoingtobeaperson-someohmaybeajob,andapersonalitythatpeoplecouldrespondto?Itsnofuguse,givingsomethingupiftheresnothingtotakeitsplace.SayIdjustkepttalkingaboutthebookswewerebothreading,andwednevermentionedmusic…Wouldwestillhavegoobed?Icould.Itseemedtomethatwithoutmyoldlife,Ihadnolifeatall.Mymorale-boosterendedupmakingmefeeltotallyfugcrushedanddesperate.

  <strong>MAUREEN</strong>

  WedidntreallythinkanythingofMartinmissinghisbreakfast,eventhoughbreakfastwasincluded.Iwasgettiheideathatowiceaday,somethingwouldhappenthatIwouldntuand.IdidntuandwhatJesshadbeenuptothenightbefore,andIdidntuandwhytherewasastrangewoman-agirl,really-sittingatourbreakfasttable.AndnowIdidntuandwhereMartinhadgonotuandingdidomatterverymuetimes,whenyouwatchacopsandrobbersfilmoelevision,youdontuandthebeginning,butyouknowyoureo.Youwatyway,though,becauseintheendsomeonewillexplaihethingstoyouifyoupaycloseattention.IwastryingtothinkoflifewithJessandJJandMartinasacopsandrobbersfilm;ifIdideverything,Itoldmyselfnottopanic.Idwaituntilsomeonegavemeaclue.Andanyway,Iwasbeginningtoseethatitdidntreallymatterevenifyouuoodalmostnothing.Ihadntreallyuoodwhywehadtosaywedseenanangel,orhowthatgotusontothetelevision.Butthatwasallfottenaboutnoarently,sowhymakeafuss?Imustadmit,Iwasworriedaboutwhereeveryonewasgoingtositatbreakfast,butthatwasntbecauseIwasfused.IjustdidntwantMartintothinkusrude.

  AfterbreakfastItriedtotelephohecarehome,butIcouldntmanageonmyown.IntheendIhadtoaskJJtodoitforme,andheexplaihattherewerelotsofextraodial,andsomeyouhadtoleaveout,andIdontknowwhatelse.Iwasntbeingcheeky,usielephone,becausetheotherstoldmeIcouldcallonceadaywhatevertheexpeherwise,theysaid,Iwouldntrelaxproperly.

  Aelephonecall…Well,itgedeverything.Justthosetwoorthreeminutes.Morehappeomeinmyheaddurielephonecallthanduringallthattimeupontheroof.Anditwasntasiftherewasanybadnews,oraall.Mattywasfine.Howcouldhenotbe?Heneededcare,andhewasgettingcare,andtherewasntmuchelsetheycouldtellme,wasthere?Itriedtomaketheversationlastlonger,and,fairplaytohim,theriedtohelpmemakeitlastlodlovehim.

  Butherofuscouldthinkofanythingtosay.Mattydoesntdoanythinginthecourseofaday,andhehadntdohingonthatparticularday.

  Hedbeenoutinhiswheelchair,aalkedaboutthat,butmostlyweweretalkingabouttheweather,andthegarden.

  AndIthankedhimandputthephonedownandthoughtforamoment,andtriednottofeelsorryformyself.Loveandaofit,thethingsthatonlyamotherprovide…ForthefirsttimeinhislifeIcouldfinallyseethatthosethingswereohimanyway.Thepointofmewasexactlythesameasthepointofthepeopleinthecarehome.Irobablystillbetteratitthantheywere,becauseofthepracticeIdhad.ButIcouldhavetaughtthemalltheydoknoleofweeks.

  WhatthatmeantwasthatwhenIdied,Mattywouldbefine.AndwhatthatmeantwasthethingIdbeenmostafraidof,eversincehewasborn,wasntfrighteningintheleast.AndIdidntknowwhetherIwaokillmyselfmoreorless,knowingthat.Ididntknowwhethermywholelifehadbeenawasteoftimeornot.

  Iwentdownstairs,andIsawJessinthelobby.

  Martinscheckedoutofthehotel,shesaid.

  AndIsmiledatherpolitely,butIdidntstop,awalking.IdidntcarethatMartinhadcheckedoutofthehotel.IfIhadntmadethetelephonecallIwouldhavecared,becausehewasinchargeofourmoney.

  Butifhedgoneoffwiththemowouldntmattermuch,wouldit?Idstaythere,ornot,a,ornot,andIddrink,ornot,andgohome,ornot,andwhatIdidordidntdowouldntmattertoaall.AndIwalkedformostoftheday.Dopeoplegetsadonholidaysometimes?Iimagiheydo,havingallthattimetothink.

  Fortherestoftheweek,Itriedtokeepoutofeverybodysway.Martinwasgoneanyway,andJJdidomind.Jessdidntlikeitmudowiceshetriedtomakemeeatwithher,orsitonthebeachwithher.ButIjustsmiledandsaid,Nothankyou.Ididntsay,Butyourealwayssorudetome!Whydoyouwanttotalktomenow?

  Iborrowedabookfromthelittlebookcaseiion,asillyohabrightpinkcovercalledPawsforBethaboutasinglegirlwhosecatturnsintoahandsomeyoungfella.Andtheyoungfellawantstomarryher,butshesnotsurebecausehesacat,soshetakesawhiletodecide.AndsometimesIreadthat,andsometimesIslept.Ivealwaysbeenfineonmyown.

  AndthedaybeforeweflewhomeIwenttoMass,forthefirsttimeinamonthorso.Therewasalovelyoldchurthetown-muicerthanoursathome,whichismodernandsquare.(IveoftenwonderedwhetherGodwouldevenhavefoundours,butIsupposeHemusthavedonebynow.)ItwaseasierthanIthoughtitwouldbetowalkinandsitdown,butthatsmostlybecauseIdidntknowanybodythere.Butafterthateverythingseemedalittleharder,becausethepeopleseemedsn,andIdidntknowwherewewereveryoftenbecauseofthelanguage.

  Igotusedtoit,though.Itwaslikewalkingintoadarkroom-anditwasdarkinthere,muchdarkerthanours.Afteralittlewhile,Istartedtobeabletoseethings,andwhatIcouldseewerepeoplefromhome.Nottheactualpeople,ofcourse,buttheTenerifeversions.TherewasawomanlikeBridgid,whokneweveryonealookingdownthepewsandsmilingandnodding.Andtherewasafellawhowasalittleunsteadyonhisfeet,evenatthattimeofday,andthatat.

  AndthenIsawme.Shewasmyage,onherown,andshehadagrown-upsoninawheelchairwhodidntknowwhatdayitwas,andforalittlewhileIstaredatthem,andthewomancaughtmestaringandsheobviouslythoughtIwasbeingrude.Butitseemedse,suchatilIthoughtaboutit.AndwhatIthoughtwas,youcouldprobablygointoanychurywhereintheworldandseeamiddle-agedwoman,nohusbandinsight,pushingayoungladinawheelchair.Itwasohereasonschurcheswereied,probably.

  MARTINIhaveneverbeenaparticularlyintrospectiveman,andIsaythisunapologetically.Onecouldarguethatmostofthetroubleintheworldiscausedbyintrospenotthinkingofthingslikewar,famine,diseaseorviolentcrime-notthatsortoftrouble.Imthinkingmoreofthingslikeannoyingneerns,tearfulchat-showguestsandsoon.Iowsee,however,thatitshardtopreventintrospewhenonehasnothingtodobutsitaroundandthinkaboutoneself.Youcouldtrythinkingaboutotherpeople,Isuppose,buttheotherpeopleItriedtothinkaboutteobepeopleIknew,andthinkingaboutpeopleIknewjustbroughtmerightbacktowhereIdidntwanttobe.

  Soinsomewaysitwasamistake,chegoutofthehotelandgoingoffonmyown,becauseeventhoughJessirritatedthehelloutofme,andMaureendepressedme,theyoccupiedapartofmethatshouldneverbeleftuedandunfurwasntjustthat,either:theyalsomademefeelrelativelyaplished.Iddohings,andbecauseIddohings,thereossibilitythatImightdootherthings.Theyddohingatall,anditwasnotdifficulttoimagitheywouldtiodonothingatall,andtheymademelookandfeellikeaworldleaderwhorunsamultinationalpanyintheeveningsandascouttroopatweekends.

  ImovedintoaroomthatwasmoreorlessidenticaltotheoneIdbeenstayingin,exceptItreatedmyselftoaseaviewandabaly.AndIsatonthebalyfortwosoliddays,staringattheseaviewandbeingintrospective.ItsaythatIarticularlyiiveinmyintrospe;theclusionsIdrewonthefirstdaywerethatIdmadeapigsearofjustabouteverything,andthatIdbebetteroffdead,andifIdiednoonewouldmissmeorfeelbadaboutmydeath.AndthenIgotdrunk.

  Theseddaywasonlyveryslightlymorestructive;havingreachedtheclusionthepreviouseveningthatnoonewouldmissmeifIdied,Irealizedbelatedlythatmostofmywoesweresomeoneelsesfault:Iwasestrangedfrommychildrenbecauseofdy,anddywasalsoresponsiblefortheendofmymarriage.Imadeoake!OK,akes.akesoutofsayahundredopportunities!IgotpertandIstillfailedthetest!Irisoneda)duetoentrapment,andb)becausesocietysattitudestoteenagesexualityareoutmoded.Ilostmyjobbecauseofthehypocrisyanddisloyaltyofmybosses.Soattheendofthesedday,Iwaokillotherpeople,ratherthankillmyself,andthatsgottobehealthier,surely?

  Jessfouhethirdday.Iwassittinginacafereadingatwo-day-oldDailyExpressanddrinkingcafeleche,adownoppositeme.

  Anythingaboutusinthere?shesaid.

  Iexpectso,Isaid.ButIveohesportandthehoroscopessofar.Haventlookedatthefrontpageyet.

  Fun-nee.Isitwithyou?No.

  Shesatdownanyway.

  Whatsallthisabout,then?Allwhat?This…bigsulk.

  YouthinkImsulking?Whatwouldyoucallit,then?Imsicktodeathofyou.

  Whathavewedoyouplural.Yousingular.Toi,notvous.

  Becauseoftheht?Yes,becauseoftheht.

  Youjustdidntlikemesayingyouweremydad,didyou?Youreoldenoughtobe.

  Imawareofthat.

  Yeah.Sogetoverit.Takeachillpill.

  Imoverit.Ivetakenone.

  Lookslikeit.

  Jess,Imnotsulking.YouthinkImovedoutofahotelbecauseyousaidIwasyourfather?Iwould.

  Becauseyouhatehim?Orbecauseyoudbeashamedofyhter?Both.

  ThisispenswithJess.Whehinksyourewithdrawing,shepretendstobethoughtful(andbythoughtful,Imeanself-loathing,whieistheonlypossibleouteofanyprolohoughtonherpart).IdecidedIwasntgoingtobetakenin.

  Imnotgoingtobetakenilost.

  WhathaveIdonenow?Fughell.

  Yourepretendingtobearemorsefulhumanbeing.

  Whatdoes"remorseful"mean?Itmeansyouresorry.

  Forwhat?Goaway.

  Forwhat?Jess,Iwantaholiday.Mostofall,Iwantaholidayfromyou.

  Soyouwaogetpissedupandtakedrugs.

  Yes.Iwantthatverymuch.

  Yeah,right.AndifIdoIllgetabollog.

  Nope.Nobollog.Justgoaway.

  Imbored.

  SogoandfindJJorMaureen.

  Theyreb.

  AndImnot?Whichcelebritieshaveyoumet?HaveyoumetEminem?No.

  Youhave,butyouwonttellme.

  Oh,forChristssake.

  Ileftsomemohetable,gotupandwalkedout.Jessfollowedmedowreet.Whataboutagameofpool?No.

  Sex?No.

  Youdontfancyme?No,Somemendo.

  Havesexwiththem,then.Jess,Imsorrytosayit,butIthinkourrelationshipisover.

  NotifIjustfollowyouaroundalldayitisnt.

  Andyouthinkthatwouldworkinthelongterm?Idontcareaboutthelongterm.Whataboutwhatmydadsaidaboutlookingoutforme?AndIdhavethoughtyoudwantto.Icouldreplacethedaughtersyouvelost.Andthatwayyoucouldfindinnerpeace,see?Thereareloadsoffilmslikethat.

  Sheofferedthislastobservationmatter-of-factly,asifitweresomehowindicativeofthetruthofthesarioshedimagined,ratherthantheopposite.

  Whataboutthesexyouwere?HowwouldthatfitinwithyoureplagthedaughtersIvelost?Thiswouldbeadifferent,youknow,thing.Route.Adifferentwaytogo.

  WepassedaghastlylookingbarcalledNewYorkCity.

  ThatswhereIgotthrownoutfhting,saidJessproudly.TheyllkillmeifItrytogoinagain.

  Asiftoillustratethepoint,agrizzled-lookingownerwasstandinginthedoorwaywithamurderouslookonhisface.

  Ineedapee.Dontgoanywhere.

  IwalkedintoNewYorkCity,foundalavatorysomewhereintheLowerEastSide,puttheTVpagesoftheExpressovertheseat,satdownandboltedthedoor.ForthehourortwoIcouldhearheryellingatmethroughthewall,buteventuallytheyellingstopped;IpresumedshedgoIstayedinthereanyway,justiwaseleveninthemwhenIboltedthedoor,andthreeiernoonwhenIcameout.Ididthetime.Itwasthatsortofholiday.

  JJThelastbandIwasinbrokeupafterashowattheHopeandAnchorinIslington,justafewblocksfromwheremyapartmentisnow.Wekneerebreakingupbeforewewentonstage,butwehadnttalkedaboutit.

  WedplayedinMaerthenightbefore,toaverysmallcrowd,andonthewaydowntoLondonwedallbeenalittlesnappy,butmostlyjustmoroseandquiet.Itfeltexactlythesameaswhenyoubreakupwithawomanyoulove-thesickfeelingiomach,thekhatnothingyousaywillmakeanyfugdifference-or,ifitdoes,itwontmakeanydifferenceforanylohanlikefivemisweirderwithaband,becauseyoukindofknowthatyouwontlosetouchwiththepeoplethewayyoulosetouchwithagirlfriend.Icouldhavesatinabarwithallthreeofthemthenightwithuing,butthebandwouldstillhaveceasedtoexist.Itwasmorethanthefourofus;itwasahouse,andwewerethepeopleinit,andwedsoldit,soitwasntoursanymore.Imtalkiaphoricallyhere,obviously,becausenoonewouldhavegivenusafugdimeforit.

  Anyway,aftertheshowattheHopeandAnchor-andtheshowhadanunhappyiytoit,likeadesperatebreak-upfuck-wewalkedintothisshittylittledressingroom,andsatdowninaline,andthenEddiesaid,Thatfeelslikeit.Ahisthingthatwassounlikehim,sonotjustlikeEddie:hereachedouteitherside,andtookmyhandandJesseshand,andsqueezed.AookBillyshand,justsothatwedallbejoinedforotime,andBillysaid,Fuckyou,queerboy,andstooduprealquick,whidoftellsyouallyouoknowaboutdrummers.

  Ihadonlyknownmyholidaypanionsforafewweeks,buttherewasthesamekindofsickfeelingonthewayfromthehoteltotheairport.

  Therewasabreak-uping,youcouldsmellit,andnoonewassayinganything.Anditwasforthesamereason,whichwasthatwedtakenthingsasfaraswecould,andtherewasnowhereforustogo.Thatswhyeveryonebreaksup,Iguess,bands,friends,marriages,whatever.Parties,weddings,anything.

  Itsfunny,butwhenthebandsplit,ohereasosickwasbecauseIwasworriedabouttheuys.Whatthefuckweretheygoingtodo,youknow?Noneofuswereover-qualified.Billywasntrealbigonreadingandwriting,ifyouhearwhatImsaying,andEddiewastoo,like,pugilistictoholddownaj,andJesselikedhisspliff…TheonepersonIhadnorealsaboutwasme.IwasgoingtobeOK.Iwassmart,andstable,andIhadagirlfriehoughIknewIdmissmakingmusiceveryfugdayofmylife,Icouldstillbesomethingandsomeohoutit.Sopens?Afewweekslater,BillyandJessegetagigwithabandbaewhoserhythmsehadwalkedoutonthem,Eddiegoestoworkforhisdad,andImdeliveringpizzasandnearlyjumpingoffafugroof.

  Sothistimearound,Iwasdetermitofretaboutmyfellowbandmembers.TheydbeOK,Itoldmyself.Itdidntlookthatway,maybe,buttheydsurvivedsofar,justabout,anditwasntmyproblemanyway.

  Iaxitotheairportwetalkedsomeaboutwhatweddone,andwhatwedread,andthefirstthingweweregoingtodowhehome,andshitlikethat,andontheplanewealldozed,becauseitwasanearlyflight.AndthehetubefromHeathrowtoKingsCross,andtookabusfromthere.Itwasohatwestartedtmaybewewouldntbehangingoutsomuch.

  Whynot?saidJess.

  Becausewehavenothinginon,saidMartin.Theholidayprovedthat.

  IthoughtitwentOK.

  Martinsnorted.Wedidoeachother.

  Youwerehidinginatoiletmostofthetime,saidJess.

  Andwhywasthat,doyouthink?Becauseweresoulmates?Orbecauseoursisnotoneofmymostfulfilliionships?Yeah,andwhatisyourmostfulfilliionship?Whatsyours?Jessthoughtforamoment,andthenshrugged.

  Withyoulot,shesaid.

  TherewasasilewaslongenoughforustoseethetruthofJesssobservationasitappliedtoher.Andluckilyforus,Martinspokeupjustaswewerestartingtoseehowitmightpossiblyapplytoustoo.

  Yes.Well.Itshouldntbe,shouldntit?Areyougivihepush?Ifyouwanttoputitlikethat.Jess,weghtheholiday.Andnowitstimetogoourseparateways.

  WhataboutValentinesDay?WemeetoinesDay,ifyouwant.Wesaidweddothat.

  Upontheroof?Doyoustillthinkyoumightthrowyourselfoff?Idunno.Itgesdaybyday.

  Idliketomeetup,saidMaureen.

  IsupposeValentinesmustbeaprettyimportantdayforyou,Maureen,saidJess.Shesaiditasifsheweremakingversation,butMaureenreizedthedisguisednastinessanddidntbothertorespond.JustabouteverythingJesssaidcouldbebouncedrightbackather,butnoneofushadtheenergyanymore.Welookedoutthewindowatthetraffitherain,andatAngelIsaidgoodbyeandgotoff.AsIwatchedthebusdriveaway,IcouldseeMaureeheothers,evenJess,herpacketofPolomints,aureseemedkindofheartbreaking.

  FortheweekIdidnothing,prettymuch.Ireadalot,andwanderedaroundIslingtoherewasanysignofabadjobforme.OnenightIblewtenpoundsonaticketforabandcalledFatce,whowereplayingintheUnionChapel.Theystarteduparoundthesametimeasus,andnowtheyhadadetdeal,andtherewasabuzzaboutthem,buttheywerelame,inmyopiniooodthereandplayedtheirsongs,andpeopleclapped,andtherewasanencore,andthe,andIwouldntsayanyofuswasricherfortheexperience.

  Iwasreizedonthewayout,byaguywhomusthavebeeninhisforties.

  Allright,JJ?hesaid.DoIknowyou?IsawyouattheHopeandAnchorlastyear.Iheardthebandhadsplit.

  Youlivinghere?Yeah,fornow.

  Whatyoudoing?Yougonesolo?Yeah,thatsright.

  etateightintheeveningoinesDay,andeveryonewasontime.Jesswaomeetlater,likeatmidnightorsomething,forfulltragiceffect,butnoohoughtitwassuchagoodidea,andMaureendidntwanttotravelhomesolate.Iranihestairsonthe,andtoldherIwasgladtohearshewasthinkingabouttravellinghomeafterwards.

  WhereelsewouldIgo?No,Ijustmeant…Lasttimeyonnagohome,youknow?

  Not,like,onthebus,anyway.

  Onthebus?Lasttime,yoingtogetofftheroofthequickway.Iwalkedmyfihroughtheairandthenpluhemdownwards,asiftheywerejumpingofftheroof.Buttonight,itsoundsasthoughyoullbetakingthelongwaydown.

  Oh.Yes.Well.Iveeonabit,shesaid.Inmyhead,Imean.

  Thatsgreat.

  Imstillfeelingthebeoftheholiday,Ithink.

  Righton.

  Andthenshedidntwanttotalkanymore,becauseitwasalong,andshewasshortofbreath.

  MartinandJessarrivedacoupleofmier,andwesaidhello,andthenweallstoodthere.

  Whatwasthepointofthis,actually?saidMartin.

  Weweregoingtomeetupandseehoereallfeelingandallthat,saidJess.

  Ah.Weshuffledourfeet.Andhowareweallfeeling?Maureensdoinggood,Isaid.Arentyou,Maureen?Iam.IwassayingtoJJ,IthinkImstillfeelingthebeoftheholiday.

  Whichholiday?Theholidaywejusthad?Helookedatherandthenshookhishead,withamixtureofamazementandadmiration.

  Howaboutyou,Mart?Isaid.Howyoudoing?ButIcouldkindoftellwhattheahatquestionwasgoingtobe.

  Oh,youknow.eeca,Tosser,saidJess.

  Weshuffledourfeetsomemore.

  IreadsomethingIthoughtmightiyouall,Martinsaid.

  Yeah?Iwasw…Maybeitwouldbegoodtotalkaboutit

  Soundsgoodtome,Isaid.Imean,maybeweshouldcelebrateanyway,youknow?Celebrate?saidMartin,likeIwasnuts.

  Yeah.Imean,werealive,and,and…Thelistkindofranoutafterthat.Butbeingaliveseemedworththepriceofaroundofdrinks.Beingaliveseemedworthcelebrating.Unless,ofcourse,itwasntwhatyouwanted,inwhichcase…Oh,fuckit.Iwantedadrinkanyway.Ifwecouldntthinkofanythingelse,theingadrinkwasworthcelebrating.Anordinaryhumandesirehademergedthroughthefogofdepressionandindecision.

  Maureen?Yes,Idontmind.

  Itdoesntlooktomelikeanyonesgoingtojump,Isaid.Nottonight.

  Isthatright?Jess?Shewasntlistening.

  Fuckme,shesaid.JesusChrist.

  Shewasstaringattheeroftheroof,thespotwhereMartinhadshewireonNewYearsEve.Therewasaguysittingthere,exactlywhereMartinhadsat,andhewaswatgus.Hewasmaybeafewyearsolderthanme,andhelookedrealfrightened.

  Hey,man,Isaidquietly.Hey.Juststaythere.

  Istartedtowalkslowlyovertohim.

  Pleasedonteanycloser,hesaid.Heanieartears,draggingfuriouslyonasmoke.

  Weveallbeenthere,Isaid.eonbackoverandyoujoin.Thisisourreunion.Itriedanothercoupleofsteps.Hedidntsayanything.

  Yeah,saidJess.Lookatus.WereOK.Youthinkyourenevergoingtogetthroughtheevening,butyoudo.

  Idontwantto,saidtheguy.

  Telluswhattheproblemis,Isaid.Iwalkedalittlecloser.Imean,wereallfugexpertsinthefield.Maureenhere...

  ButIanyfurther.Heflippedthecigaretteovertheedge,ahalittlemoanhepushedhimselfoff.Andtherewassilendthentherewasthenoiseofhisbodyhittingthecreteallthosefloorsbelow.Andthosetwohemoanahud,IveheardeverysingledaysindIstilldontknowwhichisscarier.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读