Gino remembered: brother Nick summoning him back for Dad’s funeral, twenty years ago. The mute, familiar streets he had so eagerly abandoned. The stately, polished funeral home where the family lodged through the generations. Acquaintances unseen since college, older, stooped, shuffled forward, uttered the comforting, meaningless things he knew they would, receded.
Last night distraught sister-in-law Mimi called. Nick, out late drinking again, piled into a bridge abutment at speed, was airlifted to ICU. She feared the worst.
Suitcase open, staring at the ceiling, apprehensive, Gino foresaw his last trip to see the living and the dead, the last call.
Last night distraught sister-in-law Mimi called. Nick, out late drinking again, piled into a bridge abutment at speed, was airlifted to ICU. She feared the worst.
Suitcase open, staring at the ceiling, apprehensive, Gino foresaw his last trip to see the living and the dead, the last call.
