Yeah. Morning.
I’m just going to tell you right out. I’m lost. All that construction turned me in the wrong direction. I’m trying to get downtown.
Lady, he said, you don’t ever want to tell people you’re lost. You don’t know what they might do to you.
Oh, I don’t think people would do anything to me. Look at me here. I’m an old woman. She stood in the middle of the little room watching him.
You never know, he said. You can’t tell.
All right, I won’t say it again. But can you help me or not, do you think?
Yeah. I can help you.
He got up and went over to the rack on the wall next to the entrance and took down a map of Denver.
Oh, she said. Do you have to do all that?
What else am I going to do?
He went around to his side of the counter and opened the map and showed her where she was and pointed out the streets to take downtown.
But I can’t drive according to maps, she said.
He looked at her. Why not?
I don’t know. I just can’t. It’s the way I look at things and the way my mind works.
Well, can you just remember, if I tell you?
No. Not like I used to.
I don’t know what I’m going to do then. What do you want me to do?
I want you to tell me slowly and I’ll write it down. I’ll take the turns you say, left or right, from off the paper.
But I got this map here for you. It’d be the same thing.
No, a map wouldn’t do any good.
Well, he said. If that’s what you want.
Then he told her very patiently and she wrote on the blank side of a flyer for a car auction all the directions he gave her, and folded the paper and put it in her purse.
How’s the gas in your car? he said. You don’t want to take any chances.
Thank you for asking. I’m all right that way. But I wonder if I could use your restroom.
Go ahead. It’s right there.
The restroom wasn’t very clean. She put paper down on the toilet and afterward washed her hands thoroughly, and looking in the mirror she applied some new lipstick, and she thought her red mouth and her white hair looked striking together, then she came back out to the office where the man was. Thank you, she said. I feel like I ought to buy something, for all your trouble.
Is there something you need in here?
No. I don’t think so.
Then you don’t need to buy anything. It’s no trouble. Just don’t tell nobody else you’re lost.
I’m not lost now, she said. Aren’t these directions good?
Yeah, they’ll get you there.
Thank you, she said. You’re a good man.
No, he said. He looked out toward the gas pumps. I don’t know if my wife would agree with you.
Why not?
All the water under the bridge.
You mean something happened.
Yeah.
But you’re still together.
As of this morning we are.
Do you still want to stay with her?
She’s the one I want. Always has been. There’s no mix-up in that direction.
Then you’ve got to make her see it that way.
Doing what?
I don’t know. That’s for you to know.
I’m pretty sure she’s give up on me.
No, she hasn’t. I doubt if she has. You wouldn’t still be in the house.
No. I think she has. She’s give up. It’s over for her. She don’t feel the same way no more.
But you’re a good man, I can see that. I could write her a note as a testimony.
Oh lord, wouldn’t that be something.
Do you want me to?
Yeah. Sure. Why not? Hell, what harm’s it going to do?
You have any more paper to write on?
Sure. Write on this.
He gave her another flyer with a blank back.
What’s your name? she said.
Ed.
She started to write, then stopped. Your wife’s name?
Mary.