“So used to gettin the heel of the boot, don’t even know what the middle’d feel like no more. Heel’s fine. Just fine.”

He takes it delicately and sops it in the broth. Lincoln keeps working on his side of the table but glances up at One-Two, who eats hungrily, but politely. He cradles the spoon in one hand and a piece of bread in the other and despite his size he doesn’t crowd out either Lincoln or Betty. Two visitors in one day is too much. The first he didn’t know existed and the second he’s known all his life. Lincoln can’t remember not knowing One-Two, he’s always hovered on the periphery of Lincoln’s world. He walks a path around the small life Lincoln and Betty have carved into the thin frame house on the corner of Third and Franklin. When the front walk ices up, One-Two comes over and chips it away. He climbs the ladder to fix and clean the sagging gutters, and shovels a pass through the mounded snow at the curb so Betty doesn’t slip or fall.

One-Two’s body is flush, not fat, and Lincoln sneaks looks at the smooth face skin the color of walnut, the jet-black crew cut. Strong but easy.

“We’re movin,” says Betty suddenly.

Both Lincoln and One-Two look up quickly, surprise etched on One-Two’s face, mistrust on Lincoln’s. Lincoln doesn’t say anything. One-Two loads his spoon with mac.

“Cause of Simon?”

“Not no one, not even him gonna shake me outta here. Not that. Got a notice today they gonna rip her down.”

“This old house? Why?”

“Make way for a gas station or some such.”

One-Two chews his food thoughtfully and plays with the noodles that stick out above water level with his spoon and pushes them back down into the broth.

“When? They say?”

“Six months. A year. They ain’t sure yet.”

“Where you gonna go?”

“Ain’t sure about that either.”

One-Two sighs and pushes the empty bowl away. He chuckles to himself and takes out a package of Tops from his shirt pocket.

“Seems like they’re always rippin them down. Back when I worked steel, it made me happy to see it. It just meant they’d put up a new one and I’d never be outta work.”

He rolls the cigarette tight and lights it.

“Remember when you got here? They was rippin them down then, too.”

“Couldn’t forget that. No way.”

Lincoln looks up.

“Couldn’t forget what? Why didn’t you tell me we’re moving?”

“Don’t get mopey on me. I’m supposed to ask you?” She laughs. “You go where I go.”

“Come on, Betty. He can’t help wantin to know.”