I couldn't help but feel a small amount of remorse for questioning her gift of the cane and wondered if she thought I was questioning her hospitality as well. I was of course but didn't want her to think so. The point was moot now, I'd said my piece. I made up my mind to remain silent until we reached the picnic spot or until she spoke to me, and I wondered in the silence about what answers would come at the end of this ride.

Her lighter popped up first. I watched her profile as she lit her cigarette. She was the epitome of elegance, and of enigma. My lighter clicked and I looked out the window as I smoked. It was a beautiful day. 'I need to call Henry tonight, I should have called him last night. He'll never believe this story,' I thought, replacing the lighter and closing the cover.

Antonio drove slowly through residential areas and stayed off of major thoroughfares except to connect to the next neighborhood. She looked straight ahead and spoke to him only once more. I looked straight ahead too, sneaking glances at her when I could. Her right hand was placed on top of her left and showed the tattoo I had seen earlier. It was flat black and stood out dramatically on her fair skin.

We drove alongside the short, fence that bordered the large Evergreen cemetery. Three small, monument covered hills rose above one another beyond the green. Antonio slowed almost to a stop as he turned right into the cemetery.

I turned back to her and opened my mouth partially, but found she was already looking at me. I wanted to say something but stopped. One corner of her mouth curled into a smile as she spoke. "We're almost there. I hope you're hungry."

"Yes, I am," I said, regaining my presence of mind. I looked out the window and continued waiting. 'A picnic in a cemetery, different.'

Antonio drove at a respectful ten miles per hour.

The headstones got older the farther back into the cemetery we went. Two groundskeepers on large, three-bladed riding lawnmowers drove next to us and kept up for a second before peeling off together like formation fighter planes weaving quickly in and out of a long row of granite monuments. The first section of the cemetery we drove through was dotted with the light brown rectangles of fresh graves along with fresh flowers and mourners, but on this back part, on the third hill, everything was green. Old grey soldier's crosses, headstones, and large vaults stood lonely, vacant and abbreviated like the remnants of a lost city. There were no flowers or visitors in this oldest section, only groundskeepers, birds and squirrels to keep the dead company. Looking around this deserted area with all its green grass and trees, the idea of a picnic seemed less strange. This was probably the most peaceful and secluded spot in the city.