Joe Burke's Last Stand

alized why she was sad. She was a perfect twenty-two, frozen in time; she would never be younger, more beautiful, or more beautifully made up to answer a man's fantasy. And it wasn't enough.

d feeling. Lost mail-that's what a poem is, he decided. He made up his mind to submit it to the university literary publicatio

ed the lost mail, and

have

m Kate was wa

he ceremony will be Saturday, outside at the county park, followed by a dinner at the yacht club. I'm hoping everyone will come-Mom, of course, and Ingrid and Max

ing would ever be the same. Sally and Ingrid on the

ing it back and forth across the carpet. Jackson was a good fellow. Kate was happy. He had never met Jackson's parents. He was going to have to be respectable. Where was San Juan Island, anyway

hone

, J

here." It

dinner la

di

with me? I'm going to rent a

said, "but I've

'm thinking about the end of the

e good," he said,

your place?" He gave directions and then s

ting done early, and it won'

ear the

es

ou written down the story abou

N

sponsibility,

's getting marrie

l about it, Saturday. What kin

vy . . . with

, J

get the kind with the bu

them," she said.

Inn and ate a Reuben sandwich. It would be good to see everyone and to meet Jackson's family. All he had to do was show up in shape and not drink too much. He would buy an outfit that could travel in the Filson bag. A camera. The Edge

'm going to combine the trip with work, and then we're both going to Vermont for my parents' fiftieth wedding anniversary. I won't be back until Labor Day." She paused. "Maybe we can

blend jacket-olive, gray, and brown in a quiet weave. A pair of lightweight wool pants, neutral gray green, a silvery tan Italian dress shirt, and a dark brown tie complemented the jacket. He bought an Olympus camera t

e myself," he told

hter will be proud

red wine." They were headed out of town toward Nanakuli. It was raini

r course?"

ean. It makes me want to go to Japan and visit the monasteries, find a t

to imagine her having had job troubles. "Why d

but they were only getting one point of view in their education. The books in the curriculum dealt with science from a fundamentalist point of view, presenting arguments as though they were objective and unbiased.

he said, "what triggered the final blow up was an editing job I did on an article for the school publication. T

avens,"

the light of eternity, wha

lost a good pe

" she said. "I

of two horses. Alison had packed a bottle of wine to wash down sandwiches of red peppers,

brought glasses

g more into his paper cup. "I wrote t

, g

their address, so I sent the story. You were right; it was my responsibility. It felt good to drop the letter in the mail. Hope it gets to her." Alison clapped her hand

did you

hair and brown skin. She was strong-beautiful, really. I was

a rays. I guess there's one time of year when mantas come into shallow water to mate or lay eggs or something. People can step on them by accident and get hurt." Joe p

appened

ed if I could come see her. She was feeling bad, too. She looked me in the eye

her," Al

mm

ht be stopping. Let's find

d called to the horses. "Say

e end of the road and turning back. Neither was in a hurry to return to the city. At the

ng sun. Purple and crimson flares rolled across the bottom of the ragged sky. Two hundred yards away, a painted f

stared at the energy that see

ch," Jo

dly in the small seats as they tried to get closer. As they clung to each other, ordinary as cloth, as dogs in a parking lot, Joe was unexpectedly transported with relief. He was a tiny speck in a un

drive?" A

nd came around to the driver's side. Joe put his arms around her, and she settled her head against his chest. They stood fo

e,

he Dylan line echoed in his mind as he climbed the stairs. It was true. Something was happening. It didn't feel like lo

artment. They were sitting on her couch when Joe tried to

zen people call 'lit

I've been messed up." His eyes wer

lf," she sai

body, stopping his breath and tightening his stomach muscles. Alison tuned right in, moving with him, sighing. In a few minutes they were lying on her bed,

en he felt a washcloth gently but firmly applied. He jumped. "Just cleaning up," she sai

. . . "

es

this like a d

Swedish," she

wonderful, but I

disappointed.

es

., J

trees were dark green in the shadows. He was only forty minutes from home and he wanted to walk in the cool air.

ld Batman, on duty at

t handle." But h