“Perfect,” Anna said.

I went on to brag about Tim, saying that ever since that day, he had taken special interest in the homeless man, whose name was Lenny. He became Tim’s charity project. Every so often Tim gave him money to sweep our building’s stoop, or bought him slices of pizza, or gave him a Cayton College stocking cap.

“Your husband is a good man,” Anna said.

“Yes, I think so.”

“A good, good man.”

Later, after she was gone, I realized she hadn’t touched her tea. Maybe because I’d forgotten to pour it.

Downstairs, I found the mail scattered on the vestibule floor. Bills, mostly, and junk mail, and a large manila envelope that I opened. Halfway in, I realized what was inside. I’d forgotten that I’d even ordered it. It was easy to do, and I’d done it from work. When the woman from The Tonight Show asked where to send it, I had to think for a moment. My first impulse was to give my work address, but then I thought, I have nothing to hide. So I gave my home address, telling myself that if Tim found it, I’d explain.

All it took was a phone call and payment by credit card. I didn’t even need to know the airdate. Did I know the guests? I knew only one, I said. One was all they needed. “And the guest’s name?”

The transcript read like your standard late-night interview. Small talk: You look great. It’s great to be here, etc. I confess to skimming it quickly, looking only for my name, thinking that he must have mentioned me. Hadn’t he said on our answering machine I’m talking about you when I’m talking at the end?

I didn’t find my name, but he was right. It was at the end. When I found the section, I had to read it twice.

JEFF SLADE: Well, Jay, I’m basically a normal guy. I go to work. I love my dog. But like all people, I have my regrets.

JAY LENO: Can you give us an example of a Jeff Slade regret?

JEFF SLADE: Actually, I can only think of one.

JAY LENO: Just one?

JEFF SLADE: But it’s big. And she’s probably not watching.

JAY LENO: Aw, we’re out of time. You promise to come back and tell us all about your one big regret?

JEFF SLADE: I’d like that, thanks.

So I was Jeff Slade’s one big regret. Now he tells me. I tore the transcript into pieces, stopped at a neighbor’s garbage can, and buried the scraps deep in the trash.

TIM

“CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? JUST RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU can’t.

“Good evening. My name is Tim Welch. I’m the son. What a privilege it is for me to speak with you tonight. And what a remarkable turnout, especially considering the short notice. There’s so much one can say at a time like this. Hey, wasn’t the video presentation terrific? Excuse me while I look for my notes. Oh, here. On behalf of my sister, Sally, and our mother, Bobette, we’d like to thank the Cayton College community for your rousing send-off of my father. Several of you have mentioned your surprise at learning Coach Welch had a son. This, I think, reflects the intensity with which Coach—yes, even I call him Coach—went about his work. A tough man to label, Coach was more than a father, a friend, a teacher, more than a taskmaster, more than the Great Motivator—he wasn’t just any one thing.