“Philip.”

“What kind of work did he do?”

“He was a handyman.”

“Did he have a business?”

“Not really. People called him for odd jobs. But he did pretty well for himself.”

“You were born in Fort Lauderdale?”

“No, in Canada in a house trailer. They were on a fishing trip.”

“Are you a Canadian citizen?”

“No. They registered the birth later, in Florida.”

The questions continued. Although Frank’s tone was conversational, I felt an urgency behind the questions and I think Virgil did too. Finally, I stepped in.

“What do you plan to study in college?” I asked.

“Not history or English.” He chuckled. “They’ve always been my worst subjects. Maybe phys ed or social work.” He talked readily about his love of sports. I tried to keep my face looking interested while I observed Frank. I could see he was itching to jump back in.

“Regina said you met at a football game,” Frank said.

“That’s right.”

“How did that happen?”

“I was sitting next to her.”

“Since you don’t go to that school, how did you happen to be at one of their games?”

“You know Central has been the class A state champ quite a few times. They have a big following.”

“That kind of news gets all the way to Florida?”

“No, I found that out when I got up here.”

“All this question and answer is making me hungry,” I said. “I think we should eat.”

As we moved toward the dining room, I brushed Frank’s arm and whispered, “Leave him alone now.”

While we ate, Virgil and Regina told us about the movie. Virgil did most of the talking and Regina hung on every word. It was both touching and amusing to see the transformation in her, all that hard brass turning to putty. Already I was drawing parallels between her and myself at the time I had met Frank.

She walked Virgil out to his car and Frank watched from the window. When she came back in, he was waiting for her.

“Did you have a good time?”

“Yes. Until we got back here.”

“Honey, I’m just interested in who you see.”

“You’re just interested in ruining things for me! If he doesn’t ask me out again, I’ll—you’ll be sorry!”

“If he likes you,” I said, “he’ll ask you out again.”

She turned to me. “I’m not bringing him in this house again if he’s here!”

Frank flinched. I wanted to take a crack at both of them, at Frank for his ridiculous behavior and at her for handing out orders. “No fighting,” I said. “It’s too late.”

“Regina, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“Oh, yes, you did! You’re always butting in, you’re always asking questions. I’m sick of it. Just leave me alone.” She ran upstairs and slammed the door.

Frank sat down with a long sigh. I knew we had to discuss this and I was anxious to get it over with.

“She’s right, you know.”