“I know big words, too.”

“He does,” Sheila agreed. “That’s the third one I’ve heard him use.”

Jamal set down the burger, grabbed her, and pulled her into the room. He was smacking at her hand to keep her from worrying the food stain. She chuckled and slapped his shoulder. He said, “Seriously, Miss Dee goes to church and then meets with her women’s circle so she’s not here most of Sunday. We don’t take advantage and have parties or anything but as long as nobody gets caught, it’s okay.”

“Has she ever caught anybody?”

Jamal giggled. “No. We just make sure nothing gets changed in the house and keep out of sight and that takes care of it. We try to take care of her.”

“She’s sweet.”

“She’s barely getting by in terms of money,” Jamal added. “She almost lost this house when a fraternity rented it and messed it up.”

They closed their door after a while and Ronny went into his room to listen. He couldn’t hear much, but maybe they weren’t very loud. He pictured them as boisterous, uncomplicated, though he knew nothing at all about them, really. They had nothing to worry about except Miss Dee, who had her prohibition about girls upstairs but had no real way to keep track of what went on. Maybe the challenge of sneaking Sheila in and out of the house gave them a feeling of delicious wickedness. Later the door opened and one of them went to the bathroom. It relaxed him to think that the walls were solid. But it was an uncomfortable thought to realize he still felt the need to hide.

Long Distance

MAYBE IT WAS BEN’S ABSENCE THAT brought all those memories hurtling back. Now in May with the first edge of summer heat in the air, after many of his doubts were resolved, it was easy for Ronny to think about that uncertainty. Later on Sunday at the appointed time he called Ben’s number and Mrs. Nickelsen answered. For the first moment she sounded surprisingly strong, her voice clear, the tone of a bell in her speech. “Hello, young man. I hear you’re coming to see us.”

“I sure hope so.”

“We’ll be glad to have you here. I know Ben will be.”

“I hear you’re not doing so good,” Ronny said.

She tried to laugh and ended up coughing a bit. She took a moment to continue, and he could hear then the labored quality of her breath. “I’ve been better, I know that. I know you’ve been mighty good to Ben through all this. He tells me.” She spoke more slowly as a sentence went on, and had to stop in the middle. Now Ronny was hearing more of her weakness.

“He’s a good friend.”

There was still the noise of television in the background. She asked, “So when are we going to have you up our way?”

“Soon, I hope. If everything works out.”

She chuckled. “Well, it better. Ben’s already driving to you.”