I did not know what I was going to do with Mildred or how I was ever going to be able to come to a life of harmonious tranquility where matrimonial happiness was a constant joy. The only good thing about it was it gave me a subject of regular worry that I was able to slide endlessly back and forth in my mind during my various ruminations and ramblings over blacktopped back roads. We were not social people and were never invited to parties, nor did we give parties where we invited people to them. We basically lived alone with each other on ten acres of land that was badly eroded in a house of poor quality. I was not drunk but I did not feel sober. The needle on my gas gauge was pointing toward E and had been pointing that way for quite a while. There did not seem to be anything else to do but return home and face the prospect of burying my dog/dealing with my wife. I could see her face just as well and her small ears, and I could see kissing her nose and her chin and her cheeks and the small hollow place inside her soft little elbow, and I felt like disaster was on the way, since it felt like one of those evenings that I’d already had too many of. I wanted to do all I could for her, but it didn’t seem like I could do anything for her at all.

Upon entering my yard, I saw there were no lights on at my house and my dog was lying just as I had left him. Mildred’s car was not in the carport, which was a most unusual sight. I was not extremely steady entering my house but stumbled around only a bit before I found the light switch and turned it on. There on the coffee table, held down by an empty beer bottle, was a note that was addressed to me. It said:

Dear Leroy,

I have met another man and I have gone away with him. He has the equipment to take care of my problem and we have already “roadtested” it, so to speak. Forgive me, my darling, but he is the one man I have been searching for all my adult life. I have taken the cats but of our house and property I want nothing. My attorney will be in contact with you but as for me I must bid you adieu and wish for you that you will some day find your own happiness.

XXX,

Mildred