Chapter 44

A woman asks Roger if he’d like a travel poster. She offers him one. He takes it and walks away.

“What do you say, Roger?” Felicia glares at him.

He unrolls the poster. “This is black and white. I wanted one like that.” He points to a colorful Costa Rican beach scene taped to the wall.

“Roger!” Felicia’s face reddens.

“That’s all right,” the woman says, “we only have one in color.” Then to Roger, “Sometimes black and white is more interesting, don’t you think?”

“Not to me.” Roger hands the poster back to the woman who makes the corners of her mouth go down and turns her attention to the display table.

Felicia considers the colorful poster. She pictures her son in the bright blue shirt, herself wearing a red beach hat and an orange and yellow striped poncho. She remembers reading how inexpensive Central America is. Maybe, one day…She doesn’t finish the thought. Roger is heading for the exit, and she has to run to catch up with him.