Orrie's Story by Thomas Berger

Author:Thomas Berger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Orrie’s Story
ISBN: 9781937854713
Publisher: Dzanc Books
Published: 1990-10-22T16:00:00+00:00

12

Coming back from the crematorium, E.G. had dropped Esther off at home and then gone on a few errands (picking up some meat, collecting rents). He had regretted killing Augie since the moment the deed was done, and could not now remember quite how she had talked him into participating in it. After all, at stake was only ten grand in insurance money, and all of it would have gone only for her upkeep, unless he wanted to provide more from his own pocket. Augie’s monthly allotment checks had run through her fingers like sand, and what did she spend it on? She fed the kids on cold cuts and canned junk. When he took her to the track, she expected him to finance her bets and then let her keep the rare winnings. The truth was, he had never really liked Esther. As a kid she had been an easy lay, had practically ripped his fly open the first time he found himself alone with her. She had always been addicted to him, and it was hard to avoid someone who thought so highly of you: even when you cannot return the favor, you must recognize the good taste of such an addiction.

Esther had always been crazy about him while having nothing but contempt for Augie, which if you thought about it was the goddamnedest thing imaginable, the way it all eventually worked out, and it was not over yet. E.G. never had anything against Augie. If he ever pretended to have, it was Esther who provoked him. Throughout all the years he had maintained a connection with her for one reason alone: his son. That he had never yet been able to establish much rapport with the boy was disappointing, but the situation was not hopeless. After all, they had never, he and Orrie, yet lived „ under the same roof—Esther had even insisted he go home early on those evenings he came to dinner (bringing the steak), or if he and she went out to eat, to return her at a reasonable hour and then leave. Furthermore, on the latter occasions, by always inviting both Orrie and Ellie to come along in the family unit, such events could not be defined as “dates.” For a long time now the children could be counted on to decline the invitation and dine from cans at home, leaving Esther and him to get takeout, or maybe eat nothing at all, and go to a tourist cabin. He could still service her effectively after all those years, even though she was not his type and maybe never had been.

Gena on the other hand, when she reached puberty, embodied his ideal: blonde, blue-eyed, and with flesh so young and radiant that it glowed in the dark, yet he could never begin to arouse her. His money bought him nothing but a negative: she would not stop him from doing what he wanted. It was as if she left her body with him, as she might rent out a piece of clothing, and went away somewhere until he was done with it.

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