Albuquerque Journal du lieu suivant : Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 53

FICTION WORKSHOP Savings A new world is coming for the veteran and the former Army nurse. in by pig the the ARL dream Pelham car Santa with active of and knee-high are HUNTER funds Monica. work visiting exploring talking purple and of from Nancy his about America feeding Nancy plastic cousin bottle does the time know once." longer He Plymouth "Vibes it the nods. and I don't trip Duster feel "Damn longer lie, will is it," to in right. right?" he become convince says.

Saved showroom a me her reality. more that condition. "This this than I out has him, little. saliva cover. Those putting her he done to It What first soften the himself doesn't breakfast.

existed bothers the same first. from bother What crust him before one him is and Until bothers her her guilt that score Nancy him and she nails to over is to uses left that another. rescued always scoop her her he "In Nam?" post-Vietnam years were compulreturns and corner begging. She also neatly He shrugs and says, "And here." He doesn't sive ones. He had to drug himself to blank out lists cars being sold by private parties.

He want negativity anywhere near him not memories. There was a time when he was collects maps; he marks routes with a Carter's now. squeaky clean. That was when he joined the yellow Highlighter. He cleans the blackening He shakes the bank.

He rubs the pig's belly Army left his job at 7-Eleven left the mop felt tip against his patchwork jeans, streaking as if it has the power of Aladdin's lamp. He with its braided cotton stuffed in the toilet himself haphazardly, with frenzied speed. He winks and lets out a holler. She pulls her with water bubbling over the rust-stained wants to cut and tape sections while her turtleneck toward her ears. It's a wonder to enamel.

He was 18 and didn't want to be left enthusiasm is at a peak. him that she never complains doubts, yes, behind again. It wasn't that he disliked the The shed where they live on Bread and Milk but curses hardship, never. long hours and poor pay; it was just that there Road, Vernon, is cold. It is March.

Most of the She has towel around her waist was no one to care. So once he fell for the gaping boards have been plugged with news- her which is than the recruiter's line, he never went back to what a pinned to papers and rags, but a storm splintered the shrunken she looks was. Nancy is his bonus to himself. protect back, longer makeshift door, and an old shower curtain is like some one-of-a-kind model but she can't "Want half an English?" he asks, knowing it sweater. Yet, appealing too short to rock down.

They are caked with see herself so she doesn't know. She's in a will make her feel like a lady. English muffins mud. A kerosene lantern casts smells and tough spot, wanting to believe him, remember- are her favorite. Giving her a sandwich made shadows.

ing other times when they came close to with English muffins pleases her more than "We're gonna do it," he says, and grins. starting the journey. He tells himself that this wine. That's what knocked Carl out about "Yeah." She stomps her sneakered feet as if time he will not let himself down. He'll be Nancy her simple tastes.

by waking her numbed toes she'll revive her strong and not give in to old cravings. spirits they've just finished counting their "You sure a '74 isn't too old?" she asks. funds. She pops her blue fingers into her about all will NANCY SCRAPES OFF the mold without mouth, careful to give equal time to each hand. "And Jeeter promised a share front?" complaining because it is like a gift from Carl, "That's $630 buy." "You really think we're finally going to do it?" "Didn't I tell He $300 and she doesn't have the heart to tell him she is up you? gave me already "You betcha," he says, singing her out of her and promised two more before hit the muffined they are boring.

too taste we doldrums. "What with Jeeter forking in a trail." bud-deadening. All that mold is nauseating. share to get to Vegas, the three of us can leave "He did?" English muffins remind her of lifeless eyes. next week at the latest." What Nancy really wants is a tub bath.

Of He tackles her to the cardboard floor and "Yeah. And when we get the car, Olsen's course she doesn't voice that. Visions of a tickles her. She laughs and rolls side to side. going to take out the back bench seat and put bubble bath are what got her through Nam Eventually, they kiss.

He can usually get her 1 to in a single, bucket-style." hospital duty. She never had that luxury shake her blues and that gives him a feeling of "What for?" before becoming an Army nurse, and she "So we can squeeze in a trunk to hold power. knows if she expresses that wish that someNancy was a nurse in Vietnam. Carl was one how it will vanish and she'll be left with bedrolls, cooking utensils and clothes." of her patients. He doesn't care that she's He reminds her they need tools, tents, food nothing.

educated and he's a high school drop-out. He's and water as he aims to be on back roads as Carl is the only veteran, the only patient she had schooling that doesn't come from books. well as main highways. He squirms like a kid. has allowed into her life.

Other nurses were She acts less educated than he, actually. More She says, "Hey, you're drooling." able to return to work without fighting off like a bud that's never blossomed. No matter "Can't help it. It's a new kind of high for me." river demons. They probably think she had how often they go their separate ways, they She doesn't say anything more, doesn't alligator dreams before her Nam tour.

But she find their way together again, and it's as if match his enthusiasm. Something is matting loves Carl for letting her pour out without they never parted. her emotions. She asks, "Any peanut butter trying to stuff her holes. Even though he is She has been his reason for trying to get left?" dependent on her to stay clean, he has taught flush again.

He doesn't know whether she He hands her the 2-pound jar. The sides are her how not to be worried about tomorrow. realizes that. smeared with dried spread. He shrugs, Nancy doesn't mind picking up cans from Time is the enemy.

Lately it's taken him apologizing for neglecting to scrounge up a roadsides and parks because she wants to A short story by CONCETTA DOUCETTE Illustration by RUSS BALL January 27, 1987 IMPACT Albuquerque Journal Magazine.