Schooling

Schooling Read Online Free PDF Page A

Book: Schooling Read Online Free PDF
Author: Heather McGowan
Tags: Fiction, Literary
just thinking I ought really run you back you ought really go to the San it could be something serious . . . but all the while hefting up the mattress to tuck under the sheet running out to take a pillow from his own bed . . . I will get around to tidying one of these days it’s not often I have visitors . . . unfolding blankets drawing the shade. A moment by the window . . . How dark . . . then back to fussing as he did by the fire wiping the bedside table with the sleeve of a robe hanging from the door . . . You’ll call for me when you awake, if you need anything. Do you think—should I take you back?
    I don’t feel well enough . . . kicking off one shoe . . . I mean I just need to sleep I’m homesick I’ll be . . . now the other . . . Alright after a nap I’ll call you if I need anything besides . . . a small yawn . . . It’s snowing your car could get stuck.
    Something about homesick, that was the trick, because he softens . . . Some sleep will do wonders.
    And she sits on the bed because to get under the covers she might take off her skirt but should she do it here in front of him will her shirt reach down to cover enough.
    I’ll get you some water . . . Gilbert slips from the room.
    Pull the skirt around so the zipper faces front unzip step out. Sweater too why not. Sliding under the covers in stockings and shirt head down on the pillow no surprising pencils. Gilbert’s pillow smells of Thursday mornings ten to eleven twenty smells of Argon potassium smells of too much bed and not enough sleep.
    Here we are.
    Back with a glass of water placing it carefully on the robe-shined table next to her judging the distance. Supine, can she reach it easily if she wakes suddenly dry or parched or needing to quench because she doesn’t know what else to do in this Gilbert house in this Gilbert bed.
    Don’t be homesick . . . looking down at her that noble crease that scar . . . We’ll take care of you here.
    Suddenly he is stooping is placing hands either side of her shoulders is leaning down is moving toward her so that the smell of him rising from the pillow and the smell of him floating down compresses her as he kisses.
    Under striped sheets behind the wardrobe she finds the paintings. She can’t sleep how could she. Leaning. Four of them. She knows they will be of the woman and they are.
    It was only a kiss on the cheek but he should have known she wouldn’t sleep if he was going to kiss her on the cheek.
    She’s naked of course. Sprawled, unburdened by covers. Foot hooked by sheet. Body an undulation against the background’s creamy hillocks. Demented. No, badly executed shadow by the mouth. Poor lady, lonely without a bottle or bread. Not even a pear for company. And cold, skin an experiment of blues. Gilbert’s love of litmus. Portrait of the Acidic Woman. Mixing his palette, Gilbert making light, hummingly debating valency, hum might these democratic blues dance together, how exactly does matter matter. Amsterdam was better. He should stick to naked cities. The hungry woman with her flesh and bottom and breasts and all of that. Flesh. Staring, mouth caustic. Lying on her side, forehead melting into a fleshy arm. Moaning. Please don’t paint me blue again.
    Downstairs in adjusted stockings loosened blouse yes and skirt. It happened that she could sleep an hour or so even after being kissed and ferreting out the blue woman. After thinking too much she could still sleep some. Down the stairs hair a thicket the clock chiming it must tell the half hour too it tolls all the God damned time.
    Outside the day stays dark, in the kitchen Gilbert folds down a corner of his paper to locate her. At the bottom of the stairs. Pulling hair behind one ear. That’s new hair behind the ear where did that come from.
    The snow gets on her hair and the coat he has lent. Not his duffel but a wool suit jacket because
I have nothing better
. How soft the notsheep how cold his car how quiet the white around them. In the parking lot
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