Hand in Hand

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—Originally publshed in The Roanoke Review, Fall 1996

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    “The Highlands, I hope. Sounds better than the jungle, from what I’ve read. It’s a high plateau with mountains.”
    Grace nodded at the chevron on his sleeve. “What’s that?”
    “Private first class.”
    “You were promoted?”
    “Passed the endurance test. If you don’t screw up, they promote you.”
    “Endurance,” Clarissa said. “We always said we would not so much live as endure. We’d get by, not necessarily make any progress.”
    “How stupid,” Grace said. She rose from her chair with dignity.
    “Ethel Barrymore,” Sam said.
    “I mean it, Sam,” Grace said. “That’s the trouble with you two. You want to hunker down, grit your teeth, and endure. You can’t live that way. You have to take life by the shoulders and shake it. Otherwise, you’ll just die off.”
    “I’ll remember that,” Sam said.
    “Tell Clarissa to remember it, too.”
    Then abruptly she relaxed and yawned.
    “Well, kiddlies, I’m taking me to bed. Big day tomorrow. For once, don’t stay up all night talking. Please, Sam. Sissy has to look fresh for the wedding. Promise?”
    “Promise, Ma,” Sam said.
    “Sissy, don’t forget to check your clothes before you go to bed. You won’t have time for emergencies in the morning.” She left the room as she spoke, carrying her high heels in one hand. Her voice trailed after her like perfume as she climbed the stairs. “Set the clock early. If I don’t see you before seven I’ll come a-pounding. Sam, you look marvelous. The Army is good for you. I always said it would be.” She was still talking when she closed her bedroom door.

    When the last sounds from Grace’s bedroom ceased, Sissy switched off the lights, brought the bottle of Chateau d’Yquem from the bar to the hearth, and spread cushions before the fire.
    Sam watched the sea from the glass doors. Fog had gathered beyond the Golden Gate. It flowed between the palisades toward the bay like water crashing in slow motion from a breaking dam. Take life by the shoulders and shake it. Always better to do something, even if it’s wrong. They’d taught him that in basic. Was that what Sissy was doing?

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