Clifford's Spiral: Chapter 15

Chapters are serialized here for paid subscribers.About This Novel

In Clifford's Spiral, the stroke survivor’s past is blurry, and his memories are in pieces. He asks himself:

Who was Clifford Olmstead Klovis?

Stroke sufferer Clifford Klovis tries to piece together the colorful fragments of his memories. He resolved to do better, but could he manage at all?

Chapter 15

It was time he had it out with Eleanor. He’d hoped she’d visit him, as Jeremy had. Jeremy’s side of the conversation had seemed very real. But Jesus, when he was posing as Christiansen, had been telepathic, possibly but not necessarily imaginary. The historical personages who had visited Clifford were surely projections from his own mind. But when Eleanor suddenly appeared in his room, he could not be sure whether her presence was physical. He didn’t know whether she was alive or dead, here or there (wherever there might be). In any case, the conversation might have been the same.

“I never imagined you’d go and have a stroke,” she complained.

“It’s not like I planned it,” he said.

“Do you even know where I am now?” she asked.

“No fucking clue,” he said.

“I’m working with orphans in Africa,” she said. He noted a tone of self-righteousness in her voice. But he judged it was forgivable. She had a right to be proud of what she was doing, and she didn’t need to be defensive about it, especially around him.

“Are you spending my money?”

“Our money?”

“Who is underwriting your mission is all I’m asking,” he said.

“You. And the Pan African Beneficent Alliance,” she said.

“Oh,” he said. “David Rockefeller or David Koch?”

“Don’t be snarky,” she said. “Who cares where the funding comes from if it’s doing good?”

“Point taken,” he said. “How are you personally? Are you getting three squares a day?”

“I get by,” she said. “Seems like you’re managing, as well.”

“I do all right,” he replied. “I have the hots for the day-duty nurse.”

“It’s good to have a goal,” she said, and her presence either evaporated or he fell off to sleep.

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