He brought home some hot food for dinner and saw his next-door neighbor, a middle-aged woman called Nan, as he entered his apartment; that was good luck. He turned on the TV and made it pretty loud; she had complained about it before. He watched a TV program until six-thirty, then got out of the building without encountering anyone and took a cab to the movie theater on Sixty-sixth Street near Second Avenue. He bought a ticket for the seven PM showing, and concentrated as hard as he could on the film and its plot. It helped that it was one he had been looking forward to seeing.

At the film’s finish he walked around the block, then got in line and bought a ticket for the nine PM showing. Then he had a magnificent stroke of good luck: he met a woman who worked at the store who was also in line and had a brief chat with her. He went into the theater and sneaked out as soon as the feature began.

He got another cab home and waited across the street to be sure the lobby of his building was empty, then he went upstairs and let himself into his apartment. He undressed, put on pajamas and a robe, went next door and rang the bell.

“Who is it?” Nan asked through the door.

“It’s Butch from next door.”

She apparently took a moment to confirm that through the peephole, then opened the door. “Good evening, Butch.”

“Hi, Nan. I was expecting a delivery this evening, and it didn’t come. I thought they might have left it with you.”

“No, I didn’t have any callers this evening.”

He managed a yawn. “Thanks, Nan. I’m sorry to disturb you. Guess I’ll be off to bed. Oh, by the way, I saw a very good film tonight.” He gave a brief account of the picture. “I think you might enjoy it.”

“Thank you, Butch, perhaps I’ll go.” She closed the door.

He went back to the apartment, switched off all the lights, then he got dressed. He looked in his closet for something to wear and found an old plastic raincoat that he’d forgotten to throw away when he moved in. He set that on a chair within easy reach, then sat down on the living room sofa and went over it all again in his mind.

—

STONE TOOK HOLLY to Patroon for dinner, where she was treated as an old friend.

“I love this place,” she said as they settled into a booth. “Is this your new Elaine’s?”

“I’m afraid not. There is no Elaine’s without Elaine, and she’s gone. The restaurant was like her living room, where she welcomed friends to a party every night. That’s how she stayed in business for forty-eight years. She liked you, and she didn’t like all that many women.”