If Death Ever Slept

“Not at all.” Her low voice, shy or coy or wary or demure, made you feel that there should be more of it, and that when there was you would like to be present to hear it. “Since you’ll be living here it will be nice to get acquainted with you. I was wondering what you are like, and now you can tell me.”

“I doubt it. I’ve been wondering about it myself and can’t decide.”

The smile got through. “So to begin with, you’re witty. What else? Do you go to church?”

“I don’t know because I don’t know you yet. I don’t go as often as I should. I noticed you didn’t eat any salad at dinner. Don’t you like salad?”

“Yes.”

“Aha!” A tiny flash came and went in her eyes. “So you’re frank too. You didn’t like that salad. I have been wanting to speak to my mother-in-law about it, but I haven’t dared. I think I’m doing pretty well. You’re witty, and you’re frank. What do you think about when you’re alone with nothing to do?”

“Let’s see. I’ve got to make it both frank and witty. I think about the best and quickest way to do what I would be doing if I were doing something.”

She nodded. “A silly question deserves a silly answer. I guess it was witty too, so that’s all right. I would love to be witty-you know, to sparkle. Do you suppose you could teach me how?”

“Now look,” I protested, “how could I answer that? It makes three assumptions-that I’m witty, that you’re not, and that you have something to learn from me. That’s more than I can handle. Try one with only one assumption.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t realize. But I do think you could teach me- Oh!” She looked at her wristwatch. “I forgot!” She got up-floated up-and was looking down at me. “I must make a phone call. I’m sorry if I annoyed you, Mr. Green. Next time, you ask questions.” She glided to the door and was gone.

I’ll tell you exactly how it was. I wasn’t aware that I had moved until I found myself halfway to the door and taking another step. Then I stopped, and told myself, I will be damned, you might think she had me on a chain. I looked back at the chair I had left; I had covered a good ten feet before I realized I was being pulled.