As she rides by

Puccini, which is about all poets ever did as far as I could see. Fairness and stability—in this world? Don’t make me bust a gusset.
    Which is exactly what I would have done, if I’d been wearing one, when I arrived home a little later and heard the good news from Feeb. This time she didn’t let me escape up the stairs, but escorted me firmly into her living room, sat me down in the recliner, poured me out a glass of milk, put out some Oreo cookies on a plate, patted her (orange this month) hair nervously, then said, “Victor, dear, you remember my sister Marge?”
    “I do,” I said, munching away. “She came down for your birthday— would it be two years ago now? Afterwards, you and Mom took her to a hockey game, if I remember correctly.”
    ‘‘That’s right, dear,” she said. “Have another cookie, Victor,”
    “I’m already eating one, Feeb,” Victor said. “Now come on, darling, out with it. Whatever it is, it can’t be the end of the world.” I had a thought. “You’re not sick, are you, honey?”
    “Nothing like that, thank goodness,” she said. She took a deep breath. “The thing is, Marge’s been after me to move in with her ever since her Charley died, she’s got the cutest little bungalow just outside San Mateo .”
    “That’s nice,” I said, as chill fingers began inching up the back of my neck. “No steps to climb.”
    “And now your mother’s gone,” Feeb said, “my goodness, it’s almost two years already.”
    “Two years this Christmas,” I said. “I get it, Feeb. Don’t worry about me. You’re lonely here and so is Marge up there, so you’re thinking of selling out down here and moving up there, it must be a good idea for you both.”
    “Well, dear,” she said, “I’m not so much thinking about it as I’ve done it. I got a good offer last week and I took it, just like that.” Here she looked a little guilty. “I guess I should have asked you first, dear, but you wouldn’t want to buy an old dump like this one, would you?”
    “Perish the thought,” I said. “Let alone the money. And who’d give me a mortgage, anyway? No, you did right, honey.” I leaned over and kissed her plump and powdered cheek; she looked relieved. “When’s moving day?”
    She said she had to give vacant possession by the end of September, which was about five weeks away, would that give me enough time? More than enough, I said. Maybe I might move in with Evonne, she said archly, while I was looking for a place of my own. Maybe indeed, honey, I said. I ate the last cookie, patted her gently on the coif, and went upstairs to my half of the house, although not for much longer, it sadly appeared out of the blue. Shit. That was all I needed. First my office was being inundated by pervert flashers and raincoated wankers, then I get tossed out of my own house, practically without warning, tossed out like yesterday’s newspaper into the howling blizzard, and with a puppy yet. Maybe we could do a blind act together on the street. Maybe we could team up with Injun Joe and sleep rough and take freezing baths in the aptly named Tijunga fucking Wash , sharing a sliver of rock-hard, yellow laundry soap that gave up its last sud years ago, if it ever had one to begin with.
    Shit.
    It was not a happy man who showered, shaved, shampooed, and blow-dried, and then changed into clean leisure wear.
    It was not a happy man who locked up, then clomped down the stairs and out to his Nash Metropolitan.
    Nor was it a happy man who drove back into Studio City toward his woman and his dog. I didn’t know how I was going to break the news to King. Come to think of it, I didn’t know how I was going to break the news to one Evonne Louise Shirley, either. Maybe I wouldn’t tell ‘em right away, I decided. We’d get drunk first. I’d never seen King drunk, I was quite looking forward to it. I just hoped he wouldn’t ask for some sissy drink, like a flute of white wine with a slice of cucumber in it.

Chapter Ten

    I just know that lop-eared, bandy-legged son of a whiskey drinkin’ fool,
    I know my viejo compadre is gonna keep the faith with me.

    I T TURNED OUT to be a remarkably pleasant evening.
    Both beauty and beast were as glad to see me as I was delighted to be reunited with them, and, after a lengthy frolic in the backyard with King, the three of us adjourned happily to the kitchen to wine, dine, and giggle. I didn’t bother bringing up the subject of my soon-to-be-homeless state, why