JAMES TATE is set to release Memoir of the Hawk (Ecco Press) in 2001. THE RIVER When I met Lester on the street, he was all excited. He had just bought his first house. "What's it like?" I asked. "It's got a view of the river," he said. "You should come and see it some time." About a week later, I did. It wasn't much of a house. In fact, it was a wreck. Wall-to-wall shag rug of no discernible color, plywood walls. Lester didn't have much furniture. We pulled two rickety plastic chairs up to the window and looked out at the river. That was that river all right, and it was a mighty one. Lester was smiling. "My God, it's powerful," he said. "I wouldn't want to catch myself in it," I said. "You'd be a dead man on your way to the gulf," he said. We sat there talking like that for a couple of hours. "I think you're high enough up you won't get flooded," I said. "No, I'm safe up here," he said. "You're pretty well set," I said. "Oh, I'm set alright," he said. "You'll see it all," I said. "Anything that matters, I'll be right here," he said, smiling and slapping his hands together. It was hard to tear myself away. I congratulated Lester on his great, good purchase and he invited me to stop by anytime. I had always before thought of Lester as a lost soul, when all along the river was patiently waiting for him. THE FUNERAL Earle Starkie worked for the town for sixty years. And then one night he died in his sleep. I knew Earle, I liked Earle. He was a good man. A couple of days later I went to his funeral. The place was almost empty. His wife was there. She showed no emotion. I listened to the minister's words carefully, and it sounded to me like Earle was going to hell. Afterwards, I went up to Harvey Esman, who had worked with Earle for many years. "Where was everybody?" I asked. "People didn't like Earle," he said. "Earle was a whiner." "But he worked for the town for sixty years," I said. "And he whined about everything the whole time. He's finally stopped whining, that's why I came, to thank him for that," he said. "He was always real decent to me," I said. Harvey looked me up and down as though I were the most naive person in the world. "See you next time," I said, and I gave him my best cold gaze. |