Reprisal

"I don't think about it," Bill said.

And that was almost the truth. Bill rarely allowed himself to think about Jim, because that brought on thoughts of Jim's wife, Carol. Bill knew where Jim was—under a plaque at Tall Oaks—but where was Carol? The last time he'd seen her was at LaGuardia in 1968. She'd called him once after flying off with Jonah, to tell him she was all right, but that had been it. She might as well have fallen off the face of the earth.

During the nearly two decades since she'd disappeared he'd learned how to avoid thinking about her. And he'd become pretty damn good at it.

But now Nick had gone and stirred up those old memories again… especially of the time when she had taken her clothes off and tried to—

"It's too bad—" Nick began, but was cut off by the arrival of a pajama-clad whirlwind.

Little seven-year-old Da

"Da

"Sorry, Father," the boy said with a dazzling smile.

He was small for his age, with a sinewy little body, pale blond hair, and a perfect, rosy-cheeked complexion. A regular Campbell's soup kid. He still had his milk teeth, so when he smiled the effect of those tiny, perfectly aligned white squares was completely disarming. At least to most people. Bill was used to it, almost totally inured to it. Almost.

"What are you doing up?" he said. "You're supposed to be in the dorm. It's"—he glanced at his watch—"almost midnight! Now get back to bed this instant."

"But there's monsters back there, Father!"

"There are no monsters in St. Francis."

"But there are! In the closets!"

This was old territory. They'd been over it a hundred times at least. He motioned Da

"Hi, Nick," Da

"How y'doing, Da

"Fine. Were there monsters here when you were a kid, Nick?"

Bill answered for him. No telling what Nick might say.

"Come on now, Da

"But the monsters come after you close the doors!"

"No they don't. And especially not tonight. Father Cullen is staying here tonight." Bill knew most of the kids at St. F.'s were in awe of the old priest's stern visage and no-nonsense ma

Da

"Right. So you get back to the dorm and into your bed. Now!"

"'Kay." Da

"You got here all by yourself."

"Yeah, but it's dark and…" Da

Bill had to smile. What a manipulator. He knew that only a small part of Da

"Okay. Stay put for a minute or two while I talk to Nick here and I'll walk you back."

"'Kay."

Bill watched as Da

"I can't imagine why no one has adopted him yet," Nick said. "If I were married I'd think of taking him in myself."

"You wouldn't get him," Bill said. When he saw Nick's shocked face he realized he'd been more abrupt than he'd intended. "I mean, Da

"Oh, really?"

He could tell Nick was a little miffed, maybe even hurt. He hurried to explain.

"Yes. I'm holding out for an older couple who've already raised a couple of kids. A young childless couple is definitely out."

"I don't get it."

"How many times have you seen Da

Bill was keeping a close eye on Da

"At least a dozen, I'd say."

"And how long were you with him each time?"

Mimicking the sound of an explosion, Da

"I don't know. A few minutes I guess."

"Most of which time he was either on his way in and out, or sitting on my knee, right?"

Nick nodded slowly. "I guess so."

Bill leaned back in his chair and pointed to Da

"Watch."

In a matter of a minute, certainly no more than two, Da

"Stay away from the electricity, Da

Without a word Da

Nick reached it first and snatched it off the floor and onto his lap.

"Sorry, Da

Da

"See what I mean?" Bill said.

"You mean he's like this all day?"

"And most of the night. Nonstop. From the crack of dawn till he collapses from sheer exhaustion."

"No nap?"

"Never."

"Oy vey. Was I ever like that?"

"You had your own unique set of problems, but your hyperac-tivity was exclusively mental."

"I get pooped just watching him."

"Right. So you see why I need a pair of experienced parents for Da

"No takers?"

Bill shrugged and put a finger to his lips. He didn't like to discuss the children's adoption prospects in front of them—no matter how preoccupied they seemed, their ears were usually wide open.

He clapped his hands once and got to his feet.

"Come on, Da

Nick rose with him, yawning. "I think I'll be getting on my way too. I've still got to drive out to the Island."

They shook hands.

"Next Saturday?" Bill said.

Nick waved. "Same time, same station."

"Bye, Nick!" Da

"Bye, kid," he said to Da

"Thanks," Bill said. "See you next week."

Bill held out "üs hand to Da