Bathwater Blues: A Novel by Moss Abe

Author:Moss, Abe [Moss, Abe]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2019-06-05T06:00:00+00:00

Of course he must have expected them to badger him about it, but it was Addie who went to him first. She thought she’d be more likely to coerce something out of him than the others, given that they’d spoken of personal matters before. But he only grinned at her bitterly.

“And what’s it to you?”

“I’m just curious.”

He was laid back on his bed with a book on his chest. Addie stood in his doorway. When he didn’t respond she entered his room and sat at the end of his bed. He looked her up and down as she sat.

“And what’s this?”

“I want you to tell me what you saw.”

“You heard Nuala. That’s my personal business. It’ll be between me and the doctor. Besides, you’ve got yourself to worry about.”

“Do you even know what happened while you were in the bathtub?”

“Joanna said nothing happened. Close to what I expected. I knew I wouldn’t fall apart like they did.”

“You didn’t fall apart, but I could still tell there was something going on in there.”

Lyle laughed. “Sounds like I didn’t give too much away.”

“So you won’t tell anyone?”

“I don’t hear Bud or Joanna divulging their experiences with the rest of us. There’s no reason I need to.” His accusing eyes narrowed. “Why do you want to know so badly?”

“I just…”

In reality she wanted to know if he’d done anything special to dull the bathtub’s power so that perhaps she could do the same. It was only her turn left, after all. The closer the time drew upon her, the more nauseous she felt, like electric wires buzzing to life one by one each time she thought about it. More and more she wanted to avoid it at all cost.

“I’ll make you a deal,” he said. His face was drawn and cold.

“What?”

“I’ll tell you what I saw under one condition.”

Addie fidgeted. “What?”

“Come to my room tonight. After everyone else is asleep. Come see me and I’ll tell you everything.”

✽✽✽

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