Page 12 - Contrast1958Springv2n2

blocks up. The driver said Doug ran right into him. Didn't even look.
When I saw him, he was still conscious." Douglas's voice broke. "He
said, 'Daddy, help me.' There was nothing I could do, Sheila." He
made a valiant effort to compose himself, then allowed the tears to fall
down his face.

"Nothing you could do," Sheila snorted. "You could have called
me. What right did you have to be with him when he died?"

"In heaven's name, Sheila. It isn't a question of right or wrong.
There wasn't time to call you." He stopped, remembering the scene.
He said quietly, "Even the doctor wasn't in time. Even the ambulance."

"The ambulance," she repeated. "That was for Dougie. I heard
it. I called the hospital. They said he wasn't there."

"There was no need to take him to the hospital. We used it to
take him to the funeral home."

Sheila threw back her head. "I still don't believe you," she said.
"For some insane reason you're making this up-to torture me-because
you hate me." She paced the floor.

"Look, Sheila, I'm not making this up. It's the truth. And I don't
hate you, and that's the truth, too." He went to her, hand extended.
He opened his fingers and there lay Dougie's watch, crystal smashed,
hands fixed permantly at five minutes after five. "He regained con-
sciousness, Sheila. He said, 'Tell Mommy I'm sorry it got broken.' "

Sheila stared at the shattered time-piece unbelievingly. She look-
ed from it to her husband's gray face. Her hand went out and her
fingers closed around the watch. She said dazcdly, "It really is
Dougie's watch, isn't it?" She ran her finger over the cracked glass.
"He wasn't ever going to let it get broken," she continued. "He said .
. . ." A great convulsive sob shook her body. "But he won't say any-
thing anymore, will he, Douglas?" Her eyes had a glazed, unseeing look.
Her fingers closed more tightly around the watch. "He's really gone."
She searched Douglas's face for an answer and found none. "I think
I'll go lie down," she said dully. "I feel so tired." She made a move
to leave the room.

I'mDouglas was beside her. "I'm sorry I didn't listen, Sheila.

sorry I didn't. ... " The arm he put around her shook.
"Please, Douglas," she said tonelessly. "I don't want to talk about

it." She moved and his arm fell helplessly to his side.
"Sheila," he pleaded, "you need me now. "Let me help."
She looked at him without seeing him. "I don't want to talk

about it," she repeated. She walked away from him.

10