@@@@@Lots of people don't read on the beach; the
@@@@@Lots of people don't read on the beach;
the glare gives them headachesI sympathized with
people who got headaches
He began to laugh againHe covered his mouth with
both hands - like a child - but the laughter burst
throughI feel like I
sprung every muscle in my stomach
For a moment we said nothing moreThe breeze off
the Gulf was cool and fresh that day, with a
rueful salt tangThe rip in the umbrella flapped
The dark spot on the sand where the iced tea
pitcher had spilled was already almost dry"Did you see the table trying to
escape? The fucking table?"
I also snickeredMy hip hurt and my stomachmuscles
ached, but I felt pretty good for a man
who had almost laughed himself unconscious
"'Alabama Getaway,'" I said
221
He nodded, still wiping sand from his faceNineteen seventy-nine He giggled, the giggle broadened
into a chuckle, and the chuckle became another
bellow of full-throated laughterHe held his
belly and groaned"I can't, I have to stop, but
Bride of the Godfather! Jesus!" And he was off
again
"Don't you ever tell her I said that," I said
He quit laughing, but not smiling"I ain't that
indiscreet, muchachoit was the hat, right?
That big straw hat she wearsLike Marlon Brando
in the garden, playing with the little kid
It had actually been as much the sneakers, but I
nodded and we laughed some more
"If we crack up when I introduce you," he said
(cracking up again, probably at the idea of
cracking up; it goes that way when the fit is on
you), "we're gonna say it's because I broke my
chair, right?"
"Right," I sa