On the road with the sun low over the fields to our left as we stroll toward the farmhouse John mentions that he intends to settle some money on Marie when he dies. But hell, he thinks that’s a hell of a note really, and he has now decided there is no reason in the world that she shouldn’t get the bulk of the money right now if she decides to remarry, to the right man. And I am enough of a man of the world, it seems to John, to know what he means by the right man. If I get his drift?
I’m smiling into the glare of the sun, lopping the heads off black-eyed Susans with a switch and John brings up Helga Schmidt’s name again and considers that if he does what we discussed in the Bluebird concerning that wonderful woman, a congenial and lovely lady, Marie would feel really free because she’d know that he’d be well taken care of in his old age after retirement, which is, let’s call a spade a spade, not far off. And that might, it is John’s considered opinion, might just make Skip a little more receptive to anything an, what can John call it, an admirer, might have to say concerning marriage.
Then John mentions the possibility of a double wedding, oh, certainly as a joke. But anyway, it seems to him that irregardless of what happens between him and Helga, that I should go ahead with his blessing. All that John wishes for Marie is her happiness and he doesn’t want her worrying about him. But I should take my time and not rush into anything.
I clap John on the back, as happy as a clam. It’s been one of the best Sundays! How swell that everything, as quick as a wink, should almost solve itself! God almighty, it has been a crackerjack talk. John laughs and says that it will be such a joy to him to see Marie’s face when she tells him that I’ve asked her to go dancing and then, then her face when he says, why, of course, Skip, you’ll go, won’t you? God knows, he’ll tell her, I have no objections to Mr. Thebus! Oh, it will be rich!
We hear the supper bell as we reach the fork in the road. I think that maybe I’ll ask Marie to take a walk after supper and tell her, well, something about how I feel about her. If John doesn’t mind? The rush? My God! Mind? He doesn’t mind and thinks, as a matter of fact, that he just might take a leaf from my book and ask Helga to play the piano for him in the parlor. She used to all the time in years past, but of course poor Otto was alive then.
Just then, as we come around a curve in the road, we are face to face with, speak of the devil! Marie and Helga, who are arm in arm, laughing and talking to beat the band. And when they see us in front of them, they separate and rush to us, Marie stopping in front of me to look into my eyes, her cheeks slightly flushed, and Helga calmly and yet surely taking both of John’s hands in hers, her eyes modestly on the ground. The four of us stand in the gorgeous light of the sunset, at a loss, just at a loss for words.
~ ~ ~
Susan had always been a terrific artist, and how. The way she could draw Mickey Mouse and Jiggs and the Katzenjammer Kids! Just exactly, exactly, like the real ones. Her flowers were also beautiful. Her trees.
She crossed her legs, the lamplight shining on her silk stockings, wow, concentrating on her sketch pad. And Janet looked just as good too. If Alex knew … but sure Alex knew what a knockout Susan was. Janet was giggling and, blushing? Hey, what’s up, you two? They both looked over at him, Susan’s mouth open a little and she was panting. Well, a little bit. He got up to build them all another highball. Janet was still, dammit, blushing. What in the hell?
Thanks for the lift, Tommy. You have to wait hours if you miss that trolley that comes around eleven. Thanks.
Any time, Susan.
Cigarette? Oh no, I forgot, the pipe. I like the way it smells. I wish that Alex would switch to a pipe and lay off those cigars. What’s so funny?
Because Janet is always telling me how rotten my pipes smell.
Oh. God, it’s a nice night.
Here … give me your coat if you’re going to sit here awhile.
Just let me smoke this cigarette. Alex is asleep by now anyway.
That’s a nice dress. I wish to God Janet would buy something stylish for herself, Christ. I’m making more money than I ever made in my life, Depression or no Depression. She acts like we’re on relief.
Well, Janet … you do like this dress? When I saw it I really fell in love with it. It buttons all the way … see? You can just… If you want, of course.
Hey.
Susan! You can’t just come into my office and, my God! Disrobe!
Oh God, oh God, oh God, I can’t stand it Tom, oh Tommy, Tommy, I’m nuts about you, burning up! This way? Do you like me like this? Back like this with my legs up like this? Anything you want, my love, my dearest. Oh just tell me what you want. What you like. Jesus Christ, let me lock the goddamn fucking door, will you?
Here, you two nuts. Now what the hell are you up to? Oh oh.
Susan had almost completed a drawing in the pad on her lap, a man, a man, a woman, a woman, and … another man? Yeah. They were going at it hot and heavy, like nobody’s business. Christ almighty!
Janet! So that’s what you’ve been blushing at like a schoolgirl. Janet put her highball down and handed Susan her cigarette, then suddenly stood up and abruptly pulled her dress off, then her slip. Susan reached over and touched her inner thigh. Jesus H. Christ! Am I going crazy? Is this my wife? Is this my sister-in-law?
But we’re right out in the street, Susan …
Shh. High-school kids do it all the time. We’re in the pitch dark under the tree and nobody is on the street around here, oh, ah, there, after ten o’clock. Oh my God, oh Jesus. Susan.
It feels good, right, Tommy, good. Good? Do you like it?
I’ll get over here like …
Yeah, yes, oh yeah …
Pull down my … yes …
Oh! Hold on there, over there, and we can …
Oh, Tommy! Tomm-my! Slow …
Your blouse. Open your damn blouse …
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh …
Jesus fucking H. Christ …
When Janet sat back down in nothing but her shoes and stockings, Susan leaned over and they began to kiss like the French do, you know? with their tongues and both their mouths open and for Christ sake you couldn’t hear anything but them moaning and slobbering and they were both squirming, brother. Janet’s hand was up Susan’s skirt and Susan had her legs wide open, really wide open, oh Christ! Tom just took his goddamn pants off. He was almost crazy looking at them. Then he got busy on Susan’s clothes and she was watching him with her eyes half-closed as she pushed and writhed against Janet’s hand, wherever the hell that was. And my God, she didn’t have any step-ins on at all. My sister-in-law?
I can’t! I can’t with the damn gear shift, you come over here. Susan, we can’t …
Then let’s go in the back, oh Christ, Tommy, I want it! What the hell’s the matter with you? O.K. We’ll climb over. Here, come on, here. O.K.? Yes, ahh yes, oh baby, baby, I’m all ready … just sit back and I’ll get right, like, like this? O.K.? OH. Ohh.
Like that, like that, yes baby yes, oh play with them, play with them, baby baby, ohh.