Cuts Read Free Page A

register. Then the woman’s total came up.
    Munching a cookie, Albert watched her unsnap a checkbook and flatten it out on the counter close to him.
    The check had a snowcapped-mountain design.
    Against the rich blue sky to the left of the mountain peak, Albert saw a block of letters and numbers:
    Arnold Broxton
    Rita M. Broxton
    3214 Jeffers Lane
    North Glen, IL
    Was this woman Hank Broxton’s mother?
    No, she looked too young to have a kid in high school.
    Albert was prying open a cookie when he saw Rita make out a check for thirty-two dollars.
    The cookie parted cleanly, leaving all the vanilla filling on one side. With his upper teeth, Albert scraped an uneven furrow
     through the whiteness.
    He tried to take a closer look at the checkbook, but Rita was already folding it shut.
    What was her last name? Jeffers? No, that was the street.
    Broxton! That’s it! Same as Hank. Remember Hank.
    Albert paid for his cookies, then watched Rita walk toward the exit.
    She looked nice in those tight slacks. Smooth and curved without any seams showing through.
    Maybe she’s got nothing on underneath!
    Following her outside, Albert wondered if he should offer to carry her shopping bag to her car.
    No, don’t.
    Don’t want anybody seeing me with her.

FOUR
    GRAND BEACH
    Janet tucked her purse under the front seat of her car, locked the door and put the key chain into a pocket of her corduroy
     trousers. Hands free, she walked half a block to the beach.
    The breeze was stronger there, and cooler, and had a sea taste that made her breathe deeply and feel good. She bent down to
     roll up her cuffs, and the breeze filled the front of her loose sweatshirt.
    She glanced ahead. Nobody seemed positioned for a good look down the neck hole of her sweatshirt so she stayed low, letting
     the breeze roam around inside, drifting over the hot skin of breasts and belly, while she rolled up both the cuffs of her
     corduroys.
    Then she straightened up and strolled down to the shore. The breakers were rolling in, one after another, their bellies translucent
     green with the sun behind them, their heads glinting and frothing as they fell.
    The first cold lick of water made Janet flinch. Then she stepped out farther and let the water climb her ankles.
    With a lifeguard tower as her landmark, she started strolling south.
    Each time a wave retreated, it sucked sand out from under her feet.
    The water slipped back into the ocean, leaving the hard-packed sand bare for a few seconds before it came swirling back, curling
     between her toes, rising and soaking the rolled legs of her trousers, then sliding away again.
    Sometimes, she watched how the water played around her legs and feet. Other times, she watched the surfers, the sailboats
     far out, or the diving, squealing gulls. Much of the time, she watched what was happening to her left where the beach was
     dry.
    Lots of joggers, both men and women. Children digging in the sand. Dogs chasing each other and sticks of driftwood. Lone sunbathers.
     And couples.
    Couples running together, walking, sitting or lying close to each other in the sand. Many held hands. Some embraced as if
     they were alone.
    She was glad she’d never been to the beach with Dave. The one time she’d suggested it, he had said, “The beach? My God, you’ve
     gotta be kidding.”
    If he’d come to the beach with her, it wouldn’t be the same now. It wouldn’t be so totally her own. It would’ve been ruined
     for her.
    It’s all mine, she thought. Completely mine.
    The water felt so good.
    She wished she were wearing a swimsuit under her heavy sweatshirt and cords.
    Her only swimsuit, a blue bikini, was back at Dave’s apartment.
    That gonna stop ya?
    Letting out a soft, quiet laugh, Janet waded out. The water climbed her trousers, making the fabric cling to her legs and
     groin and buttocks. When it reached her waist, she dived beneath a wave. The cold water washed over her, soaked and pulled
     at her sweatshirt, pushed her,