Miller Time

UNITED STATES—It was Summer Solstice when I arrived and enjoyed the first fruits of accidental tourism. I had been prepared to take my Euros and invest in a ride on the Metro, directly to Madrid, where there no concrete plans yet for a place to stay. But instead, at the last minute, a Spanish friend in Los Angeles arranged for...

UNITED STATES—I tried to prepare myself in the plane for the time change in order to hit the ground walking, if not running. I ate lightly and drowsed as we flew over the "pond" I wonder what wag in what century came up with that nomenclature for the Atlantic Ocean? I kept rehearsing the actions I needed to take...

UNITED STATES—This is a story about dogs. I was walking my two dogs on a Saturday evening in Hollywood. I was on my way to Yucca Supermarket and I remembered the teaching of one holy man--such as occasionally inhabit these streets--imparted when I was very new to having a dog. Seeing the tension produced when my chihuahua terrier tugged abruptly...

UNITED STATES—It is a new scene. There is darkness, closed shades. A huge Victorian bed against the wall, and all around there is stuff, dusty boxes, knicknacks, kewpie dolls and tennis rackets. A figure lies in bed--Davy. His left leg is propped under the covers in a leg cast. Mom trundles along on a rubber-socket reinforced cane. "The doctor says you'll...

UNITED STATES—"The silence filtered through charcoal silence. I want to let it all out..." "Well this forced the issue, something like the fall had to happen. And now it's bringing everything out into the open." "Like the fact that you're an embezzler...? Davy glares at her. "Can't you tell when I'm kidding?" "Freud said there are no jokes." "That may be true. Have you ever...

UNITED STATES—"You know I figure I owe mom about twenty thousand dollars over twelve years." "You carry that around?" Karen says. "I do," says Davy. "Somebody told me not to worry. That whenever a mother gives something, they never expect it to be paid back. It was comfort at the time." "You were comforted." "And it was the beginning in Los Angeles, my...

UNITED STATES—"Oh, look! She signed the check!" Davy says. "There's hope," Karen says. Hope that she gets on the anti-anxiety meds and it dissolves her resistance to therapy, and getting out of bed." "She's gotten out of bed already a lot. When you're 90." "You're such an apologist for her," Karen speaks. "You can't touch me with your evil, logical yet hopeful eye,...

UNITED STATES—"Hello, this is the son of Betty Bird, and we'd like Dr. O'Leary to prescribe anti-anxiety medication for our Mom, Betty Bird, here at Wastonville Manor." Davy hangs up his phone with a sigh. "They're out to lunch, I left a message." "Yeah, yeah, I could tell," says Karen. "I can tell when it's your message voice." "The doctor's are out for...

UNITED STATES—"What are you doing?" Davy asks Karen. "Prolonging the inevitable, that's what. "I can take over if you want." "She's getting to the point with Grandma. No more food and Ensure." Willow walks in and addresses Doris in the other bed. "Time for your rehab, darling." She swings her legs over the edge of the bed, she scowls and protests, then raises herself to...

UNITED STATES—Davy stands in the hallway, shoulder blades pressed to the wall. He gasps. "Relax, drink water," he says to himself. This place is hard work, draining, stressful, heart-warming. It's a crouching beast, even when all the lights are off at night, a vortex of love and suffering breathing slowly in a gargantuan ribcage. Slowly, slowly, Davy escapes the quicksand of...