Read Online What Is All This? by Stephen Dixon - Free Book Online

especially the one I haven’t said yet.”
    â€œWhat? That I get jealous because you see other men?”
    That’s another. A very big one. Jealousy, which I can’t take. But it’s not the one I was going to give.”
    â€œDon’t let me stop you. What is it?”
    â€œForget it.”
    â€œBut I want to know the big reason of them all.”
    â€œReason one. Persistence. Stop it. Leave me alone.”
    She goes downstairs. I follow her.
    â€œReason ten or eleven. You hound me. Just what you’re doing. Following me, hounding me. Always on my back after I’ve said get off.”
    â€œAnd one I have against you is repetition. You repeat things too much. You say something and then repeat it till it’s dead.”
    â€œYou don’t? You just did. Maybe it’s the one thing we have in common.” She looks around. “Good. You have all your things packed from downstairs. Now please get your clothes and bathroom things and catch the five o’clock bus.”
    â€œFive after five. And reason two for me is your inconsiderateness. For you couldn’t have driven me? The last thing I asked from you and you wouldn’t? Well, thanks.”
    â€œI’ve an appointment around that time, that’s why.”
    â€œYou could’ve called to delay it. But that’s only part of your inconsiderateness. And maybe you’re a liar too. Because before you said it would’ve been too sad or disturbing for you to be with me during the trip.”
    That too.”
    â€œBull.”
    She leaves the house. I follow her.
    â€œDamn you, will you get your things and leave?”
    â€œRight. One reason in my favor and which should maybe cancel out one of the twelve to fourteen negative ones is that I take orders well. Obedience. Yes, sir. At your command. Goodbye.” I salute her, go into the house, pack my things upstairs, stuff what I can’t get into the carryall into two shopping bags, and leave. She’s nowhere around. I walk up the hill and wait for the bus. It doesn’t come. I walk down the hill and knock on her door. She opens it. She’s been crying.
    â€œBus never came.”
    â€œIs that true?”
    â€œSwear. Got there before five. Waited for more than a half hour. I didn’t want to come back. Honest. You’ve been crying.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œNot about us, of course.”
    â€œDon’t be reason number whatever it was before.”
    â€œI’ve been crying too. Why are we doing this? Not the crying, but just this.”
    â€œI’m not sure. Anyway, what we’re doing is right.”
    â€œRight. Can I come in and call the bus company to see what’s wrong?”
    â€œBut be quick.”
    The bus company man says “Because of road construction the route’s been changed from Sunset Drive to River Road on weekdays from seven-thirty to half past six. We posted a notice on the post office and community bulletin boards of all the towns affected.”
    â€œYou should’ve posted them at the libraries too, but thanks.” To Mona: “I’ve got to run if I’m to catch the five after six bus.”
    She sticks out her hand. We shake. “No goodbye kiss?” I say.
    â€œWouldn’t do.” She goes upstairs.
    â€œLast chance to keep me?” I yell.
    â€œBye.”
    I go to River Road and wait for the bus. It comes. I don’t wave it down. I go back to Mona’s and knock on the door. Her son opens it.
    â€œOh, you got home,” I say.
    â€œWhat are you doing? I thought you were already here.”
    â€œYour mother and I had a little spat.”
    â€œFor good this time?”
    â€œI think so.”
    Then what are you doing back with your bags?”
    â€œBurleigh, how can you be so insensitive? You’re supposed to feel relatively crumbled that I won’t be around anymore.”
    â€œI’ll miss you, don’t worry, but what