“So, Plan A was a bust. And what we learned in Plan B is too hot to handle,” Leslie said. “What’s Plan C?”

“Plan C is to think about it and tomorrow we’ll come up with something,” Momma said.

There was a lazy supper of whatever we could put together from last night’s dinner with a salad of tomatoes, greens, and red onions. Momma went to bed, Leslie and I cleaned up the kitchen, then we took a glass of wine to the porch.

We sat in our usual rockers, toasted each other, and took a sip.

“At some point in our unremarkable lives, one of us needs to take a course about how to avoid buying bad wine,” Leslie said.

“Good idea. I just put a lot of ice in it and then it doesn’t taste so terrible.”

“That was one thing Charlie knew. Wine, I mean,” Leslie said, and paused for a moment. “You know, I don’t think Charlie is really so, so odd. I mean, way down deep in his soul. I think he’s afraid of life passing him by or something. He wants a thrill. A big thrill. Do you know what I mean? There’s something about getting married, buying a house, and moving to the burbs of Cleveland, or anywhere like that, that can feel suffocating.”

“I was all set to be suffocated, and nada. Ain’t happening.”

“Domestic life just doesn’t ring his bells. Like, he thinks his life’s over. There are no more big choices at our age. You’ve made them. Now you have to wait for a promotion to do just what you’re doing, except more of it, for some stupid incremental raise. It’s a big fat snore.”

“You think he really doesn’t mean to be a full-time female impersonator?”

“I think he’s trying to be outrageous.”

“Job well done,” I said.

Leslie raised her glass to Charlie, in the darkness.

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“Maybe. Are you going to hire a lawyer?”

It was getting dark.

“Not tonight. I’m going to take a walk over to Middle Street and do a pub crawl. Care to join me?”

“Me? Oh, Leslie. No. No, thanks. Maybe some other time.”

“I know. But no guts, no glory. Listen, I’m losing my mind staying home every night.”

“I’m used to it. Anyway, you go have fun. I’ll see you later.”

“Don’t wait up for me, babe.”