Night of the Ice Storm
Page 34
“Jenifer, you have a lot of talent and you’ll do well there. The Los Angeles Times has a reputation of letting its writers, especially its best ones, have a pretty free rein.”
“I’ve heard that. I’ve learned to rein in myself a little, working with you. And to think more about the consequences of stories.”
“Listen, you’re a terrific reporter. Go get ’em. You get the stories, get the truth, and then worry about what happens. It’s best that way.”
“I’ll try to remember that. We’ll talk some more before I go. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Will walked her to the door and put his arm over her shoulders, briefly. Then he went back to his desk, spun his chair around and blinked hard as he looked out the window. He allowed himself a minute or so of daydreams before spinning his chair around again and picking up the phone.
“Karen? Listen, check our beer supply, will you?”
He heard the footsteps behind him. He was not afraid, because he knew they were coming to wheel him in from the porch. It was getting dark.
Big strong hands took the rubber wheels of his chair and turned him around, pushed him inside and down the shiny hall into his room. He was not afraid of the dark anymore. When the window was open, he could hear the friendly noises in the grass. It was bad luck to kill a cricket. He never had.
Women who wore white and smelled nice put hands on his shoulders and talked to him as they changed his bandage. It didn’t hurt much, and he was not afraid. They tucked him in and put his teddy bear in with him. The bear’s name was Gary.
He was in the dark now, but he was not afraid of the dark. Now I lay me down to sleep …
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1991 by David Stout
Cover design by Michael Slavin
ISBN: 978-1-4976-6323-7
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