【时间旅行者的妻子】97

and then I walk down to the skating rink. A few couples and little kids are skating. The kids chase each other and skate backward and do figure eights. I rent a pair of more-or-less my size skates, lace them on, and walk onto the ice. I skate the per

【时间旅行者的妻子】99

I want to be with people, I want to be distracted. I suddenly think of the Get Me High Lounge, a place where anything can happen, a haven for eccentricity. Perfect. I walk over to Water Tower Place and catch the #66 Chicago Avenue bus, get off at Dam

【时间旅行者的妻子】96

I didnt mean to put all this sadness on you. I just find Christmas.. .difficult. Oh, Henry! Im so glad youre here, and, you know, Id rather knowI mean, you just come out of nowhere, and disappear, and if I know things, about your life, you seem more.

【时间旅行者的妻子】98

The Berghoff is warm, and noisy. There are quite a few people, eating and standing around. The legendary Berghoff waiters are bustling importantly from kitchen to table. I stand in line, thawing out, amidst chattering families and couples. Eventually

【时间旅行者的妻子】102

Arrgh. Ill never get this. I stand up and stretch. I desperately need to go for a walk. My grandmothers room is comforting but claustrophobic. The ceiling is low, the wallpaper is dainty blue flowers, the bedspread is blue chintz, the carpet is white

【时间旅行者的妻子】07

To my immense relief he does say yes. We plan to meet tonight at a nearby Thai restaurant, all the while under the amazed gaze of the woman behind the desk, and I leave, forgetting about Kelmscott and Chaucer and floating down the marble stairs, thr

【时间旅行者的妻子】30

Okay, heres your cookie. And I get one for being right. But we have to save them til were done looking at the book; we wouldnt want to get crumbs all over the bluebirds, right? Right! He sets the Oreo on the arm of the chair and we begin again at the

【时间旅行者的妻子】31

The T-shirt is warm empty cloth in my hands. I sigh, and walk upstairs to ponder the mummies for a while by myself. My young self will be home now, climbing into bed. I remember, I remember. I woke up in the morning and it was all a wonderful dream.

【时间旅行者的妻子】33

Why are you hiding? Clare is glowering at me. I toss her shoes back into the clearing. She picks them up and stands holding them like pistols. Im hiding because I lost my clothes and Im embarrassed. I came a long way and Im hungry and I dont know any

【时间旅行者的妻子】35

Clare sits down at the edge of the clearing. Etta says I shouldnt talk to strangers. Thats good advice. Silence. When are you going to disappear? When Im good and ready to. Are you bored with me? Clare rolls her eyes. What are you working on? Penmans

【时间旅行者的妻子】49

If I hadnt said something, you wouldnt have gotten up.... Then why did you say anything? Because I did. You will, just wait. He shrugs. Its like with Mom. The accident. Immer wieder. Always again, always the same. Free will? He gets up, walks to the

【时间旅行者的妻子】62

The temperature is dropping. Ten minutes ago the sky was coppery blue and there was a heavy heat over the Meadow, everything felt curved, like being under a vast glass dome, all near noises swallowed up in the heat while an overwhelming chorus of ins

【时间旅行者的妻子】65

You know, like telling me that I like coffee with cream and sugar before I hardly even taste it. I mean, how am I going to figure out if thats what I like or if I just like it because you tell me I like it? But Clare, its just personal taste. You sho

【时间旅行者的妻子】70

He is wearing Dads old jeans and a plaid flannel shirt, and he looks tired and unshaven. I left the back door unlocked for him this morning and here he is. I set the tray of food I have brought on the floor. I could bring down some books. Actually, t

【时间旅行者的妻子】71

Why did you say was? No reason. Lucille is fine. Dont worry. Hes lying. My stomach tightens and I wrap my arms around my knees and put my head down. HENRY: I cannot believe that I have made a slip of the tongue of this magnitude. I stroke Clares hair

【时间旅行者的妻子】72

CLARE: Ive been waiting all day for Henry. Im so excited. I got my drivers license yesterday, and Daddy said I could take the Fiat to Ruths party tonight. Mama doesnt like this at all, but since Daddy has already said yes she cant do much about it. I

【时间旅行者的妻子】88

I am sleepy and content. It is January in my present, and Clare and I are struggling. This summer interlude is idyllic. Clare says, Id like to draw you, just like that. Upside down and asleep? Relaxed. You look so peaceful. Why not? Go ahead. We are

【时间旅行者的妻子】84

and part of me doesnt want to beat up somebody whos taped to a tree. Jason is bright red. It contrasts nicely with the gray duct tape. Oh, says Clare. You know, I think thats enough. I am relieved. So of course I say, You sure? I mean there are all s

【时间旅行者的妻子】82

Thats all I need to hear. I draw the gun and step to Clares side. I point it at the guys chest. Hi, Jason, Clare says. I thought you might like to come out with us. He does the same thing I would do, drops and rolls out of range, but he doesnt do it

【时间旅行者的妻子】101

 I think about it. Yeah. Well, anyway, the stuff you were drinking was about forty proof. And you had two whiskeys.. .but you seemed perfectly fine and then all of a sudden you looked awful, and then you passed out, and I thought about it and realiz