Douglas Kennedy - Five Days

‘Funny you say that. When I was thirteen my dad mentioned to me that I almost ended up with another first name, but “Mother hated the name Sandra”. And when I asked her why she was so against that name, Mom said that Sandy would have made me sound like “a surfer girl”.’

‘Spoken like a true Maine mother.’

‘Oh, Mom would have been very much at home in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.’

He looked a little surprised by that last comment — almost flinching a bit.

‘Have I said the wrong thing?’ I asked.

‘Hardly,’ he said. ‘It’s just that it’s not every day you hear someone make reference to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.’

‘Most of us read The Scarlet Letter at some point in school.’

‘And most of us have forgotten all about it.’

‘Well, I can’t say I’ve downloaded it onto my Kindle. not that I have one.’

‘You prefer paper?’

‘I prefer real books. And you?’

‘I’m afraid I’ve crossed over to the dark side.’

‘It’s not a mortal sin.’

‘I do have twenty books in my in-box right now.’

‘And what are you reading right now?’

‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.’

‘Let me decide that. What’s the book?’

I could see him blush. And stare down at his well-polished black cordovans.

‘Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.’

‘That is a coincidence,’ I said.

‘But the truth.’

‘I’m sure.’

‘I could show you my Kindle if you don’t believe me. ’

‘No need, no need.’

‘Now I’m sure you think I’m weird.’

‘Or just weirdly literate. Anyway, The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne and all that.’

‘It remains a great novel.’

‘And rather prescient, given the current wave of religiosity sweeping the country.’

‘“Prescient”,’ he said, phonetically sounding it out as if it was the first time he’d ever spoken it. ‘Nice word.’

‘That it is.’

‘And even if I don’t agree with a lot of what the Christian Right bangs on about, don’t you think there are certain things about which they have a point?’

Oh, no. A serious Republican.

‘Such as?’ I asked.

‘Well, such as the need to maintain family values.’

‘Most people with families believe in family values.’

‘I wouldn’t totally agree with that. I mean, look at the divorce rate—’

‘But look at the time before divorce, when people were trapped in marriages they loathed, when there was absolutely no latitude for anyone, when women were expected to give up careers the moment they got pregnant, when if you dared turn your back on a husband and children you were considered a social outcast.’

I realized I had raised my voice a decibel or so. Just as I also saw Richard Copeland a little taken aback by the vehemence with which I had rendered that homily.

‘I didn’t mean to upset you,’ he said.

‘I’m not usually so fierce.’

‘That wasn’t fierce. That was impressive. Even if I disagree with much of what you said.’

He delivered that last line with his chin pointed down at his tie, as if to dodge the heated exchange he was nonetheless courting. I didn’t like this. It struck me as timid-arrogant. Say the controversial thing — but do it in such a way where you don’t bury its import by speaking it into your damn shirt.

‘Well, I’m hardly surprised to hear that,’ I said.

‘What I meant to say was—’

‘You know what? I think this is a good moment to draw a line in the sand and simply say: Have a nice weekend.’

‘Now I feel bad. I really didn’t mean—’

‘I’m sure you’ll get over it.’

At the reception desk there was a young woman in a maroon suit with a yellow shirt and a name tag that let it be known she was called Laura.

‘Hey, Laura, say hello to Laura,’ she said after perusing my driver’s license.

‘Hi, Laura,’ I said, hoping I didn’t sound too dry.

‘And how’s your day been so far?’

‘Curious.’

This caught her by surprise.

‘I guess curious is better than boring, right?’

‘That is a very good point.’

‘Let me see if I can turn your “curious” day into a better day — by offering you a complimentary upgrade. Top floor, king bed, view of the pool. How does that sound?’

‘Just fine,’ I said. ‘Thank you.’

The pool view was only possible if you opened the window, stuck your head out and engaged in some serious vertigo as you looked straight down onto the cinder-block patio below. The problem was, when you opened the window you were hit with an interesting amalgamation of traffic noise and traffic fumes — and this was clearly the quiet side of the hotel with the preferred view. So after a quick look down and into the near distance — more gas stations and parking lots — I closed the window, shutting out the outside world.

I sat down on the bed and wondered why I was feeling so cheerless just now. Maybe it was something to do with the less than inviting nature of this room, with decor that hadn’t been updated in over twenty years. A floral carpet with faded coffee stains. A floral bedspread and matching floral drapes that all looked like they belonged in a home for the aged. The bathroom had a tub in molded plastic and a shower curtain that had begun to mildew. Oh, well, you’re only sleeping here this weekend — and it is just for two nights. But these were the only two nights I would be away from home this year. Had I the money I would have checked myself out of this sad place immediately, grabbed a taxi into Boston, and checked myself into something nice overlooking the common. But that was so out of my financial league, so beyond anything I could afford. Make the best of it. enjoy the freedom of being away from everything for a few days.

And, of course, before I heeded that advice (could I heed that advice?) I popped open my phone and began to text my son:

Sorry we didn’t connect last night. In Boston now. Please send update on life and art when you have a moment. Or if you feel like calling, even when I am in conference about lymphatic dyes (yes, there is one!) my cell will buzz silently. Will also do me a huge favor by getting me out of ‘The Case for Fewer Colonoscopies’. not that I will be at that one! Miss you. Love — Mom

Then I sent a fast text to Sally:

I know things can get difficult between you and your father. Just as sometimes we get up each other’s noses (excuse the metaphor!). Please know I am always here for you, always in your corner. If you need me this weekend just pick up the phone day or night. Love you — Mom

Once the text was sent, I had two more duties. The first was a call to Dan — but I got his voicemail, making me think he might have headed to the gym or the beach. He started work again at four a.m. Monday morning — and though I was certain he was already dreading the job I hoped that, at least, he was finding a way of relaxing for these three final days before he was back in the workaday world. I also hoped that he was taking a long view when it came to the job and saw it as a way back into the company which had tossed him away like an ill-fitting shoe twenty-one months earlier; a stepping stone to better things.

You really do try to see the best in everything, don’t you?

But is there anything truly wrong with that? What else can any of us do except travel hopefully?

‘Hi, hon,’ I said, speaking after the beep commanded me to leave him a message. ‘In Boston. The hotel could be better. And it would be lovely if you were here to share the city with me. I hope to go there sometime tomorrow. Anyway, just wanted to say hi, hope you’re having a lovely day. Miss you. ’