“Did something happen?” “A fire, is all.” “I had a nice evening,” she said, in the bathroom. “What doing?” “The parlor.” “What was on?” “Programs.” “What programs?” “Some of the best ever.” “Who?” “Oh, you know, the bunch.” “Yes, the bunch, the bunch, the bunch.” He pressed at the pain in his eyes and suddenly the odor of kerosene made him vomit. Mildred came in, humming. She was surprised. “Why’d you do that?” He looked with dismay at the floor. “We burned an old woman with her books.” “It’s a good thing the rug’s washable.” She fetched a mop and worked on it.
