“Fine.” I took a chair by his bed and showed him the pictures I’d taken of Radar with her monkey. He went back and forth between them several times （I had to show him how to do that）。 The pics made him seem happier, if not necessarily any healthier. Facing a long period of convalescence, the nurse had said.
When he handed the phone back, the smile was gone. “They haven’t told me how long I’m going to be in this damn sickbay, but I’m not stupid. I know it’s going to be awhile. I guess I need to think about putting her down. She’s had a good life, but now her hips are—”
“Jeez, don’t do that,” I said, alarmed. “I’ll take care of her. Happy to do it.”
He looked at me, and for the first time his expression wasn’t one of irritation or resignation. “You’d do that? Can I trust you to do that?”
“Yes. She’s almost out of food, but my dad’s getting a bag of that Orijen stuff today. Six morning, six evening. I’ll be there. Count on it.”
He reached for me, maybe meaning to take my hand or at least give it a pat. I would have allowed it, but he pulled his hand back. “That’s… very good of you.”
“I like her. And she likes me.”
“Does she? Good. She’s not a bad old pal.” His eyes were getting glassy, his voice a little slurry. Whatever the nurse had given him was starting to work. “No harm in her, but she used to scare the shit out of the neighborhood kids. Which I appreciated. Nosy little brats, most of them. Nosy and noisy. As for burglars? Forget it. If they heard Radar they’d head for the hills. But now she’s old.” He sighed, then coughed. It made him wince. “And she’s not the only one.”
“I’ll take good care of her. Maybe walk her down the hill to my place.”
His eyes sharpened a little as he considered this possibility. “She’s never been in anyone else’s since I got her as a pup. Just my house… the yard…”
“Mrs. Richland said you took her on walks.”
“The nosy-parker across the street? Well, yes, she’s right. We did go on walks. When Radar was able to go without getting tired. I’d be afraid to take her any distance now. What if I got her down Pine Street and she couldn’t make it back?” He looked down at himself. “Now I’m the one who couldn’t make it back. Couldn’t make it anywhere.”
“I won’t push her. You know, overtax her.”
He relaxed. “I’ll pay you… for what she eats. And for your time, that too.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“She might be okay for awhile yet when I get home. If I get home.”
“You will, Mr. Bowditch.”
“If you’re going… feed her… better call me Howard.”
I didn’t know if I could do that, but I agreed.
“Maybe bring me another picture?”
“Sure. I better go, Mr… Howard. You should rest up.”
“No choice.” His eyes slipped closed, then the lids slowly came up again. “Whatever she gave me… whoo! High-tension stuff.”
His eyes closed again. I got up and headed for the door.
“Boy. What was your name again?”
“Charlie.”
“Thank you, Charlie. I thought maybe… give her another chance. Not for me… once was enough for me… life gets to be a burden… if you live long enough you’ll find that out for yourself. But her… Radar… and then I got old and fell off the fucking ladder…”
“I’ll bring you some more pictures.”
“You do that.”
I turned to go and then he spoke again, but I don’t think it was to me. “A brave man helps. A coward just gives presents.” He fell silent and began to snore.
Halfway down the hall, I saw the nurse I’d spoken to coming out of a room with what looked like a bag of cloudy pee. She saw me and put a towel over it. She asked if I’d had a nice visit.
“Yes, but he wasn’t making much sense by the end.”
She smiled. “Demerol will do that. Go on, now. You should be in school.”
4
By the time I got to Hillview, period two had been going on for ten minutes and the halls were empty. I went to the office to get an Excused Late slip from Mrs. Silvius, a nice old lady with scary blue hair. She had to be at least seventy-five, long past the usual retirement age, but still plenty sharp and good-humored. I think good humor must be necessary when you’re dealing with teenagers.