@@@@@This time there was no anger in it"Why do
@@@@@This time there
was no anger in it"Why do you have to be such a
bastard? Why won't you leave me alone?"
I wanted no more of thisWhat I wanted was a
couple of pain pillsAnd maybe to sprawl on my
bed and have a good cry myself, I wasn't sureTell him to see his
psychiatrist and start taking his antidepressants
againAnd here's the most important thing - tell
him that if he kills himself, you'll tell everyone,
starting with his mother and brotherThat no
matter how good he makes it look, everyone will
know it was really suicide
"I can't do that! I can't!" She sounded hopeless
I considered this, and decided I'd put Tom Riley's
life entirely in her hands - simply pass it down
the telephone wire to herThat sort of letting-go
hadn't been in the old Edgar Freemantle's
repertoire, but of course that Edgar Freemantle
would never have considered spending his time
painting sunsetsOr playing with dollsIt might be useless anyway if
he no longer cares for you, but-"
"Oh, he does She sounded more hopeless than ever
290
"Then tell him he has to start living life again,
like it or not
"Good old Edgar, still managing things," she said
wanly"Even from his island kingdom
"That hurts," I said
"Lovely," she said, and hung upI sat on the
couch awhile longer, watching as the sunset grew
brighter and the air in the Florida room grew
colderPeople who think there is no winter in
Florida are very mistakenAn inch of snow fell in
Sarasota in 1977I guess it gets cold everywhere
I bet it even snows in hell, although I doubt if
it sticks
ii
Wireman called the next day shortly after noon and
asked if he was still invited to look at my
picturesI felt some misgivings, remembering his
promise (or threat) to give me his unvarnished
opinion, but told him to come ahea