After Life Read Free Page A

turning.
     
    But before she greeted Tracy, Jessie pulled her hand from Baker's
    abruptly because it felt loathsome felt as if she had joined hands with
    a rotting corpse. She pressed her palm against her bosom and covered it
    with her other hand protectively.
     
    Jess? Lee said.
     
    She shook off the grotesque image quickly. These images, voices, when
    would they stop haunting her?
     
    I'm all right, she said quickly, and forced a smile.
     
    It's terrible of us to barge in on you like this, Tracy said, but Bob
    insisted.
     
    No, no, it's all right, Jessie said. Really.
     
    It's one of the few duties I have that I thoroughly enjoy, Baker
    quipped. He gazed around. You haven't done too badly. I think it took
    us what ten days to unpack, Trace. More like ten months.
     
    How long have you lived in Gardner Town? Jessie asked.
     
    A little over ten years. Teaching was going to be my temporary job,
    Baker said. I had high hopes of becoming another Brando.
     
    Oh, I'm sorry, Jessie said. I can appreciate what it means to be
    frustrated.
     
    Ah, I've adjusted, Baker said. Besides, teaching is really a
    performance. Look at what we're competing with for the students'
    attention these days: MTV, the Laugh Channel, and home videos. He
    slapped his hands together and looked at Lee. We can just open the
    bottle and pass it around, if you don't have your glasses unpacked yet.
     
    Lee! Tracy exclaimed. He's incorrigible and I think he tipped a few at
    O'Heanie's before he came home from school today.
     
    Absolute poppycock, Baker said.
     
    I'll get the glasses, Jessie said. Take them into the living room, Lee.
    Do we need a corkscrew?
     
    Naw, it's a twist off, Baker said. Old wine in a modern container.
     
    Jessie smiled and then began her slow journey back to the kitchen,
    feeling her way down the corridor. The Bakers stared and then turned
    slowly toward Lee, who nodded. Yes, he said softly, she's blind. A car
    accident a little over a year ago.
     
    Oh, I'm sorry, Tracy said quickly. Bob, I told you it wasn't right to
    intrude.
     
    No, it's fine, Lee said. She doesn't let it prevent her from doing
    much. She's already memorized her kitchen.
     
    Come on in and sit down. I appreciate the break and chance to relax.
     
    This is a roomy apartment, Tracy said, gazing around. I didn't know it
    was available. Old man Carter, the cemetery caretaker, still lives
    upstairs, doesn't he? Yes, Lee said, and then indicated they should sit
    on the sofa. He sat across from them in the high backed, thick
    cushioned easy chair.
     
    I heard he's in his nineties, Tracy said, but I guess he still does his
    work satisfactorily.
     
    How do you know? Just because none of his residents have voiced any
    complaints? Baker said, and laughed at his own joke.
     
    Bob, that isn't nice.
     
    One thing, Lee said, quickly gazing toward the doorway. Jessie doesn't
    know we're practically on top of a cemetery. I left out that detail
    when I described the surroundings. I'll break it to her slowly, he
    added.
     
    Understandable, Baker said. He slapped his hands together and leaned
    forward. Well, you've come from a rather big school system. It's going
    to be a lot different here, but I think you will like it. We have a
    fairly intelligent faculty and the board of education isn't bad if you
    look at them relatively. It' s nothing like some of the outlying
    communities with schools governed by crewcut conservatives who think the
    blackboard is a frill.
     
    And, Tracy added, you'll find the community very sports minded,
    especially when it comes to the basketball team.
     
    Yeah, I know. I've already been told about two hundred times how well
    liked Mr. Andersen was and how important it is to the school to have a
    good basketball team. I think the reason I was hired was because of my
    record as a basketball coach and my own achievements as an
    undergraduate.
     
    Very astute of you, Baker said. You're in your element, buddy.
     
    Now, Bob, don't say