Chapter 4

They drank their coffee. David turned on the TV. Channel 4 was showing Bugs Bunny cartoons.

“Won’t that wake up Philip?”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t Philip still asleep? Downstairs?”

“Shit for brains? He’s not here. He goes home with Bruce on Thursday nights.”

“They have sex?”

David leaned out from the bed he’d returned to. He looked at Bill on the divan. Bill was wrapped up in the same floral sheet he’d used a decade ago.

“Well, you know. After the surgery the hospital taught him how to do it. I found a pamphlet once under that eternal mess downstairs.”

Bill shifted on the divan and half-raised his torso. This was a reference to Philip’s colostomy two years ago.

“Does he unhook the bag?”

“I’m not sure of that. I’m not sure he everunhooks it.” David reached over to the bedside table to retrieve his coffee mug.

“Unless it’s to empty it.”

“Yes, unless to empty it. But you remember, Bill, you’re not supposed to know anything about that.” He put the mug back on the table.