Ann Beattie - Chilly Scenes of Winter

Permettez-moi de vous prsenter Sam McGuire Charles says.

Sam is standing in the doorway holding a carton of beer. Since Sams dog died, he has been drinking a lot of beer. It is raining, and Sams hair streams down his face.

Hi, Susan says without looking up.

Hi, Sam says. He takes off his wet coat and spreads it out on the rug. He goes through the living room to the kitchen and puts two six-packs in the refrigerator. Charles follows him into the kitchen.

The one who doesnt speak is a friend of Susans from college, Charles whispers.

Sam rolls his eyes to Charles and holds his hands cupped in front of his chest, moving them up and down.

Hi, Sam says to Elise, walking back into the living room.

Hi, Elise says. She does not move over on the sofa.

Move over, Sam says, sitting down next to her. Hows school? he says to Susan.

Im sick of it

Beats walking the streets, Sam says.

Elise giggles. Are you a streetwalker? she says.

Me? What are you talking about?

Werent you just talking about streetwalking?

In a manner of speaking, Sam says.

I wonder how our failing economy has affected that? Elise says.

You wouldnt know, huh? Sam says, punching her shoulder lightly.

Elise looks bored. Didnt you bring beer with you? she says.

Yeah, but I dont like you. You wouldnt move over for me, so I wont give you any beer.

Elise giggles. No matter what Sam does, he always has great success with women.

What if I get it myself? Elise says.

Ah! Sam says. An aggressive woman. Are you an aggressive woman?

When Susan and I take to the streets were very aggressive, Elise says.

I wouldnt doubt it, Sam says. College kids are nuts now. You probably do hit the streets.

Are you drank? Susan says.

No. Just trying to be cheerful. My dog died.

Were eating in five minutes, Charles calls.

Elise goes out to the kitchen for a beer.

What happened to your dog? Susan says.

Had a heart attack. Eight years old. Everybodys dog lives longer than that.

Is your heart bad? Elise says, coming back into the room. She puts the beer can on the floor, sits down, puts her head against Sams chest.

How much do you charge for doing a little something more? Sam asks.

I bet you think that because Im a nursing student I dont charge anything at all, Elise says.

Keep it clean, Charles calls from the kitchen.

Sams drunk, Susan says.

Come and eat, Charles says. He has made chili, and puts the pan on the table.

What would Amy Vanderbilt say? Sam says.

Not much of anything now, Charles says, dishing up the chili.

What are you two talking about? Susan asks.

Amy Vanderbilt, Sam says.

Whos that? Elise says.

Are you kidding? Sam says.

No. Who is she?

A dead woman, Charles says.

She jumped out a window, Sam says. Excuse me fell.

Youve heard of her, havent you? Charles says to his sister.

No, Susan says.

Shit, Sam says. These two.

But everyone is in a good mood during dinner. They are in a good mood until the phone rings, just as they finish. Charles is putting on water to boil for coffee.

Hello? he says, phone wedged between chin and shoulder, trying to undo the coffee lid.

Im so glad youre there.

Whats the matter, Mom?

If you werent there I was going to kill myself, Ive been in the bathtub, trying to get the pain to go away. The pain wont go away.

What are you talking about? Wheres Pete?

Is the appendix on the left or the right side, Charles? I think that must be what it is.

Susan, Charles says. He gives her the phone, walks away, still trying to undo the lid.

Of course I believe you, Susan says.

Charles doubles up, clenching the coffee jar, his face twisted in mock agony. Susan makes a motion with her free hand as if shes swatting him away.

You didnt take any medicine, did you? Susan says. Wheres Pete?

Hes probably under a rock, Charles says.

Dont take anything. Well be right there, Susan says, putting the phone down. Come on, she says to Charles.

Where the hell is Pete? Charles says.

Hes not there. Arent you coming?

Shit, Charles says. He hands the unopened coffee jar to Sam.

Charles, shes in pain. Please come on,

Shes not in pain. Hes out with some barfly and shes acting up.

Charles stalks through the kitchen to the closet, gets his jacket. Susan puts hers on without buttoning it and walks out the front door.

Shit, Charles says to Sam, Even your dog had the good sense just to lie down and die. He opens the door that Susan slammed behind her and goes out into the rain. He knows the Chevy wont start. It never starts when its wet. He fishes around for his car keys, finds them cant lose any time there and reaches around Susan to unlock her door.

Susan, youve got to stop letting her upset you. Shes either drunk or in a bad mood because hes out with some woman. Shes done this a hundred times.

Are you going to lecture me or drive over there? Susan asks.

Shit, Charles says. He slams her door and walks around to his side. The car starts the first time he turns the key.

What are you worried about? he says. You know shes faking. Isnt she always faking?

He is driving fast. The cold light is still on. The car skids around a corner. Susan is biting her nails.

You know its all in her mind, he says.

No answer. He puts on the radio, slows down a little. Maybe if the situation lacks drama shell be calmer. He hates it when his sister gets nervous. He hates it when his mother makes crazy phone calls. On the radio, George Harrison is singing My Sweet Lord. Charles rummages in the ashtray for a cigarette, finds one, rummages in his coat pocket for a match. There is no match. He throws the cigarette back in the ashtray.

Dont be nervous, Susan says.

In five minutes they pull into the driveway. All the lights are out in the house. Deliberately, to make it hard for them to find her.

Upstairs! their mother calls. They run up the stairs and find her naked on the bed, her robe bunched in front of her. There is a heating pad, not turned on, dangling from the bed. A small light is on, for some reason on the floor instead of the night table. There are things all over the floor: The Readers Digest, Petes socks, cigarette packs, matches. Charles picks up a book of matches and two cigarette packs. Both empty. He drops the matches back on the floor.

Wheres Pete? Charles says.

The pains over here, Clara says, running her hand across her side. I didnt take a laxative. I knew I shouldnt take a laxative.

Wheres Pete? Charles says.

Chicago.

Whats he doing in Chicago?

Leave her alone, Susan says. I think we should get the doctor.

Their mother has stringy dyed-red hair. Charles puts the light on and sees red smeared all over her pillow. Lipstick. She wears purply-red lipstick, even to bed. She had silicone implants before her marriage to Pete. She is sixty-one now, and has better breasts than Susan. Charles stares at her breasts. She is always naked. The television is turned on a picture, but no sound.

Youre going to be all right, he says automatically.

You hate me! she says. You dont want me to be all right.

I despair of your ever acting normal again, but I do want you to be all right.

My side, she says.

Youre going to be all right, he says, walking out of the bedroom to the hall phone.

The bathtub, Clara says to Susan.

What about the bathtub? Susan says.

Its full of water. I tried to soak the pain away.

Let it be full of water. Its all right.

Empty it, she says.