@@@@@You should be, because you ain't her 35
@@@@@You
should be, because you ain't her campesino no more
The question is what you're going to do about this
other thingHow you going to keep this guy from
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killing himself? Because you know what happens
when the happy-family cruise is over, right?"
For a moment I said nothingI was translating
that last bit of Spanish, or trying toYou ain't
her farmer no more, was that right? If so, it had
a bitter ring of truth
"Muchacho? Your next move?"
"I don't know," I said"He's got e-mail, but what
do I write to him? 'Dear Tom, I'm worried you're
contemplating suicide, please reply soonest'? I
bet he's not checking his e-mail while he's on
vacation, anywayHe's got two ex-wives, and still
pays alimony to one of them, but he's not close to
eitherThere was one kid, but he died in infancy
- spina bifida, I think - andwhat? What?"
Wireman had turned away and sat slouched in his
chair, looking out at the water, where pelicans
were diving for their own high teaHis body
English suggested disgustYou know damn
well who knows him
"Pam? You mean Pam?"
He only looked at me
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"Are you going to talk, Wireman, or only sit
there?"
"I have to check on my ladyShe'll be up by now
and she's going to want her four o'clockies
"Pam would think I'm crazy! Hell, she still thinks
I'm crazy!"
"Convince her Then he relented a littleIf she's been as close to him as you think,
she'll have seen the signsAnd all you can do is
tryEntiendes?"
"I don't understand what that means
"It means call your wifeUntil your mind changes, the divorce is
just a legal fictionThat's why you give a shit
what she thinks about your state of mindBut if
you also care about this guy, you'll call her and
tell her you have reason to think he's planning to
highside it
He heaved himself out of his chair, then held out
his hand
