I dont remember her very well, said the Dead Father. What was her name?

It is that one who has been following us, said Julie.

What purpose? What entelechy? What will you do with yourselves when it is all over?

My keys?

That is the case, said Julie.

Thank you, Mother.

Thats it.

I need my keys.

Both good choices, said the Dead Father. Also their congruence or non-congruence would be of interest.

I havent an answer.

Id rather not answer that question if you dont mind, she said.

A ten-pound bag 九-九-藏-书-网of flour. The unbleached.

Her name was Mother, Thomas said, let me have your keys, please.

The Dead Father gave Thomas his keys.

Ugh! said Julie.

We need cigarettes, chili powder, silver polish, mayonnaise, Lysol, croutons, and chutney.

Let me have them, please.

I feel very uncomfortable without my keys! the Dead Father said.

Yes, Mother said.

Thomas shook his head.

Id say you rather have.

Very well, Mother said.

Older people dont really like younger people, the Dead Father sai藏书网d.

Scouring powder, hand soap, lighter fluid, Fig Newtons, tennis balls. Is that it?

You two children have walked me many kilometers, said the Dead Father.

I know that, the Dead Father said.

Mother produced a pencil and an envelope.

Could be answered possibly in terms of the kind of life one has imagined for oneself. Or in terms of what one is actually doing.

Garlic, bacon, tonic water, horseradish, cloves, chives, chicory.

In what sense, what?

Ten-pound bag of the unbleached, she said.

Wh藏书网at will we do with ourselves when it is all over?

I will keep them safe for you.

There are things I need my keys for, the Dead Father said. Things I need to open and close. Lock and unlock. Shut and unshut. Start and stop.

I wonder who it is, said Emma.

We need scouring powder, hand soap, lighter fluid, Fig Newtons, and tennis balls.

Eggs, butter, peanut oil, vermouth, beef bouillon, barbecue sauce.

Why not?

With scant regard for your own comfort. Your own projects. Of which you doubtless hav９9lib•ｎｅｔe a great many. You have labored on and on and on and on. For me.

The horse halted. Mother sitting on the horse.

I will keep them safe for you.

Disagreeable not to have a ready and persuasive answer intelligible to all. I can imagine.

One would.

One would think one would be able to answer a question of that kind wouldnt one.

Mother reined her horse about and rode away.

Cigarettes, chili powder, silver polish, mayonnaise, Lysol, croutons, chutney.

We need garlic, bacon, tonic water, horseradish, c9９lib•netloves, chives, and chicory.

So we have, said Julie.

What of yourselves? Your two lives?

Without my keys I cant open anything.

I know who it is, Thomas said. It is Mother.

Mother, Thomas said, we need some things from the store.

They call it stormy Monday but Tuesdays just as bad, Thomas said, your keys.

A person on horseback approaching the group.

Yes let me have your keys.

I hope I havent spooked you.

We need eggs, butter, peanut oil, vermouth, beef bouillon, and barbecue sauce.

Julie looked at Thomas.