They sell all kinds of doodads and whatnots.
they said, so I did.”
Judith was puzzled. Until she suddenly became worried. “Where did you get that credit card?”
“I don’t remember,” Gertrude said, her voice an octave higher than usual. “Maybe I found it.”
“Have you got it there on your card table?” Judith
asked, sounding stern.
“Maybe. Maybe not. I’m old. I forget.”
“That’s
on the kitchen counter Sunday night because I remembered to pay the cable bill by phone before I
went into the hospital. I was distracted, I didn’t put it
away. Mother, promise you won’t use the card
again?”
on TV.”
“Mother . . .”
“What did you say you were selling? Elixirs? Snake
oil?”
SUTURE SELF
197
“I didn’t say . . .”
“Speaking of which, I’m seeing snakes. One just ate
my sandwich. Where did he go? He’s kind of cute.
Oof!” It sounded as if Gertrude had dropped the
phone.
“Are you there, Mother?” Judith asked, growing
anxious.
There was a rustling noise before Gertrude spoke
again. “I’m here. Not all there, maybe, but I’m here.
Now where’d that snake go? He’d better not eat my
custard pudding. I’m hanging up now.”
Gertrude did just that.
“Honestly,” Judith groaned, “I don’t know when
Mother is putting me on and when she really doesn’t
know what’s going on. You wouldn’t figure she’d fool
around when I’m laid up in the hospital, would you?”
“Sure I would,” Renie said. “She’s jealous. You’re
too young to be in the hospital, that’s how she thinks.
Or she’s into denial. If anything happens to you, your
mother is sunk.”
“If I stick around here long enough, I’m going to end
up as depressed as Margie Randall,” Judith asserted.
“How many more days? Three, four, even more?”
“For you, maybe,” Renie responded, using a
Kleenex to wipe off her hands. “I’m out of here day
after tomorrow.”
“Don’t remind me,” Judith said. “When you leave,
I’ll be in despair.”
“Despair?” Father McConnaught was standing in
the door, his old face evincing disbelief. “Not that, my
