The Second Coming

finding him asleep in a car and looking like Ben Gunn. “I was called away suddenly,” he said. “I only just got back.”
    â€œSo I notice,” said Kitty absently, gazing at him. How, in what manner, was she gazing at him?
    â€œCome around to the other side so I can see you.”
    Instead, Kitty got in the front seat and turned around to face him. The sun shone on the tiny beads of sweat on the down of her upper lip. She smelled of “prespiration,” which is the name we used to give lady sweat, which is a good name for it because it smells like prespiration, which smells more Presbyterian than perspiration. He smiled: I’m beginning to think like Allie.
    â€œWho are you going to play golf with? Walter?”
    â€œI already played eighteen holes, and not with Walter.” Her strong brown arm hugged the leather seat. The hand swung free just above his belt buckle.
    Then it was afternoon. The sun had not cleared the cart shed rising; it had cleared the Mercedes roof setting.
    It was odd seeing Allie in her, not just the upper lip drawn short by its double tendon but the quick economical stooping movements, the bowing of neck which caused the vertebra to surface in the smooth flesh, the risible watchfulness of the eyes searching his face. Yet somehow the liveliness which in Allie was graceful and shy became in Kitty rowdy and jostling. The hand in its pendulum arc touched his belt. The same become opposites in mother and daughter yet still remain the same. Chromosomes cast inverted but recognizable shadows of themselves
    â€œHow do you feel, Will?”
    â€œFine. I slept all day.”
    â€œLewis is here. Do you want to see him?”
    â€œLewis Peckham?”
    She nodded. He wondered if when the fingers touched him it would leave a welt like a pendulum. “He was in the foursome.”
    â€œWith Walter and—?”
    â€œNot with Walter. Walter is long gone.”
    â€œGone?”
    â€œI mean he’s gone. Took off. All we have in common now is this business with Allie.”
    â€œI see. How did you find me?”
    â€œThat’s my car. I parked next to you this morning.”
    â€œYou mean you saw me this morning?”
    â€œYes.”
    He pondered the fact that Kitty had seen him, recognized him, and played eighteen holes of golf.
    â€œWhy didn’t you wake me up?”
    â€œYou were sleeping very soundly and dreaming. Your lips and eyes were moving.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œI did call your daughter Leslie, though. She’s been terribly concerned about you.”
    â€œWhat did you tell her?”
    â€œOnly that you’d be coming home when you woke up. Will you?”
    â€œYes. You mean she’s back from her honeymoon?”
    â€œShe doesn’t believe in honeymoons. She and Jason stayed here. She’s discovered backwoods churches where people speak in tongues. She and Jack Curl have gotten very close.”
    â€œJack Curl?”
    â€œYes. It seems they have great plans for the Peabody Foundation.” She looked at him.
    â€œThere is no Peabody Foundation—yet.”
    â€œWell, they are planning one.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œAre you sure you feel well?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWe missed you at the wedding.”
    â€œWedding. Oh yes.”
    â€œSame old Will. Same old Huck Finn lighting out for the territory. You know we’ve always been two of a kind.”
    â€œWe have? How?”
    â€œBoth of us can only stand the rat race for so long. Then bye-bye, folks.”
    â€œWas Leslie’s wedding all right?”
    â€œSure. Leslie read from the Bible and Jason read from The Prophet. It was very casual. Nobody blamed you for ducking out. Leslie and Jason said they would do the same in your place. In fact, both of them think you’re like them. Unstructured.”
    â€œI am?”
    â€œLeslie understands you better than you think, Will.”
    â€œShe does?”
    â€œPlease try to understand her.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œPoor Will.” She clucked and shook her head.
    â€œWhy poor Will?”
    â€œWhat are you going to do now, Will?”
    â€œGo home. I want to see Leslie.”
    â€œShe’s not there.”
    â€œWhere is she?”
    â€œShe and Jason have moved into a community down in the cove.”
    â€œA community?”
    â€œA love-and-faith community. That’s what she and Jack want to use the Peabody Foundation for,