The Dead Father talking to Emma. Pink hazes of the early m. Vegetation failures visible, blasted sumac, iris, phlox. Dim low hills beyond. The Dead Father in his golden robes. Emma in her green fatigue pants, green fatigue shirt.
Looking very beautiful this m, the Dead Father said.
Oh am I, said Emma.
You are a very handsome woman, the Dead Father said.
No no, said Emma, just ordinary. Just an ordinary woman. Another among thousands.
Not at all, not at all. Now I have seen in my time many a one.
Yes, Emma said, I believe it.
Some stunniies. Some extraordinary ladies. I distinguish I thiween what is ordinary and what is not. You are sui generis one might say.
Hardly that, Emma said. Just another sand dollar on the beach.
No no no, said the Dead Father, really quite remarkable. The bosom, for example.
Yes, said Emma, there are some whove found it adequate.
Adequate! What a word. Why Ive not seen its like iy years.
Yes, said Emma, there are some whove found it passable.
I would pare it to that of the Aphrodite of Gyrene if you would take off your shirt so I could see it better.
No, said Emma, I do not think that would be right. You will have to tent yourself with the rough approximation of the exterior. The shirt trick is Julies.
I remember a bosom, the Dead Father said. Might be a better bosom than your own. Might be a worse bosom than your own. Although they are all beautiful, bosoms, all beautiful, ea its own way, foolish to talk of "better" and "worse," its apples and es, really.
What bosom is that that you remember?
The lady was a lawyer. Appeared before me in a matter. I residing. Case had to do with a homosexual admiral whod been caught buggering a black gang. A whole black gang. Down there in the engine room midst the steam and grease. Some suggestion of coer. Some suggestion of abuse of rank. And so on and so on. She was representing the admiral, in her robes. I noticed the robes. There is something very sensual about robes. I was transfixed, couldnt keep my eyes off her. There is a certain line, bosom under robe, I t describe it. Makes one light-headed. She argued very capably, probably the most thhly researched brief Ive ever read. The govers case oher hand very sloppily prepared. I found for her. Strictly on the merits. Merits piled os. Afterward, a brandy together in my chambers. She said I wasnt as bad as Id been painted. I said, Oh yes I was. We had a week together on the island of Ahura. The Bee and the Thistle, as I recall. Inparable. Taught me a lot of law, she did, and I thought I k all. Claudia. Married a sky diver, as I recall. One of those people who fall out of airplanes and drop for thousands and thousands of feet waiting for the umbrella to open. Finally it didnt. A Wednesday, as I recall. I gave her a judgeship and she has twice been cited by the Bar Association for excellence beyond the believable. That was Claudia.
And the bosom? What has happeo it?
Growing in wisdom ay, still beating with the vi that the world be made equitable, I would suppose. One of my best appois, irospect.
Fretfulness of Emma. Adjustment of shirt, etc. Pulling up of pants. Nervous play of fingers about the throat.
I am old, said the Dead Father, old, old, old. That is; why you dont want to show me what is under your shirt.
Thats not it, said Emma. Then she ged her mind.
That is it, she said.