After Life (10 page)

only on nice social occasions such as this.

Here, here, Henry Young said. Everyone drank, but Lee noticed that

Marjorie Young barely touched her lips to her glass.

Thank you, Lee said, and here's to very nice people who have made us

feel quite at home. They all drank again.

Are you enjoying the DeGroot house? Dr. Beezly asked.

Well Lee looked at Jessie.

We've had a few strange things occur, Jessie said.

Oh? The doctor, who was standing beside Bob Baker stepped forward. How

so?

The other night a drunken man fell out of his truck right in front of

the house, for one, Lee said.

Benson. Yes, I heard about that. Unfortunate man.

What else happened? Baker asked.

Living next to a cemetery with the caretaker upstairs hasn't been very

pleasant, Lee said. Especially for Jessie, who is home more than I am.

Carter. He's a character, Dr. Beezly said. Don't mind him. That

cemetery is his whole life. It always has been. At least as long as

I've known him, he added quickly. But if they're not happy in the

DeGroot house, Henry, we should put our heads together and find them

something else soon.

Of course.

I did sign a year's lease with DeGroot, Lee said.

Oh, I'm sure we can work something out. We'll look into it, won't we,

Henry?

Absolutely. I don't want one of my people unhappy for any reason.

There is never any reason for unhappiness, Dr. Beezly said. And no

reason to tolerate it. That has been my philosophy all my life, even

when I was just a boy. In fact, I'd venture to guess that I brought my

sense of pleasure and well-being out of my mother's womb with me. He

started to laugh, but Jessie spoke up.

Sometimes events take over and make happiness very difficult for you,

Doctor, she insisted.

Oh, events can discourage us and set us back, but the trick is to turn

every sadness into a happiness, every shadow into light, every burden

into an accomplishment.

I wasn't joking before. Your husband lost his job, but that loss made

it possible for him to get this job, and he's going to be far happier

here than he would have been there.

How can you be so sure? Jessie pursued.

Instinct. I have been created with a remarkable sense of what makes

people happy, he said. Somehow, he added, turning toward Lee, I think I

know what's going to make your husband happy here. It sounded as if he

knew of some sinful interest. Lee felt a tightening in his stomach, but

Jessie wouldn't let go.

To know what will make you happy and to achieve it are two entirely

different things, she said.

Good for you, Jessie, Baker said. Someone's finally challenging the

good doctor, eh, Henry?

Lee looked at Henry Young quickly. He didn't seem all that happy about

this development. Marjorie Young, on the other hand, had suddenly come

to life. Her eyes were filled with interest and her face took on a

flush of excitement.

Achieving happiness is only a matter of admitting to ourselves what we

are and what we want, and then discarding those things that stand in the

way, the doctor replied.

And what are we, Doctor? Jessie asked.

Men. Women. Nothing more, nothing less. The more we try to be gods,

the more unhappy we become. Our bodies tell us what is pleasurable,

what feels good. Why deny it or try for something else'

But what about our souls?

That's where you have me, my dear. I'm a doctor of the body. But those

who doctor the souls never seem very happy in their work, he added.

Baker laughed loudly. Besides, there's enough time to worry about that

afterward.

That all sounds rather selfish, Jessie said. And from what we've heard

about you, you don't sound like a selfish man.

She's got you there, Dr. Beezly, Baker said.

My pleasure comes from seeing that others enjoy their lives to the

fullest limits.

Then you contradict yourself, Jessie said. There was a moment of

silence. It was as if everyone, including Lee, was holding his breath.

How so?

You just said when we try to be more than men and women, we make

ourselves unhappy. But you're trying to be God.

The silence grew deeper for a moment.

And then Dr. Beezly laughed.

Of all the things I'd never want to be, he said, that would top my list.

I'm afraid I'm just a country doctor, my dear.

Well, I don't know about anyone else, Bob Baker said, but that was a

most stimulating exchange, which I'm afraid has made me very hungry.

Following Dr. Beezly's advice, therefore, I suggest we all adjourn to

the dining room and pleasure our palates.

Everyone rose.

What the hell got into you? Lee whispered into Jessie's ear. He didn't

sound critical, however; he sounded proud.

I don't know. It just seemed the right thing to do and say, she

replied.

Lee, Dr. Beezly said, might I have the honor of escorting Jessie? After

all, she just gave me a run for my money.

Jess?

Why yes, Doctor, if that makes you happy, she said, and everyone laughed

again.

Except Marjorie Young. Lee thought she looked fascinated

. It was as if she had never met a woman who could think for herself or

had the nerve to voice an opinion.

The dinner was spectacular. The Bakers had caterers who prepared and

served the meal: Peking duck. The wine flowed, and expensive wine, too.

For dessert they were served baked Alaska. They sat at an enormous oval

glass table with a marble base. The chairs were antique French

Provincial and the china was Wedgwood

. Everyone, even Marjorie Young now, participated in describing things

to Jessie. Lee was very pleased at how quickly Jessie had become the

center of attention, and how quickly she had won everyone's respect.

Then Dr. Beezly, who sat on her left, asked her about her blindness.

Unless you mind talking about it, he added quickly No, I don't mind.

So it was the result of a head injury in a car accident Yes.

And I'm sure you've been to the best doctors?

Of course. Lee sounded more testy than he had intended.

Nevertheless I would like to be presumptuous and offer my own meager

medical powers to you, free of charge, anytime you want, Dr. Beezly

said.

Dr. Beezly is rather modest, Henry Young said. He is truly a gifted

healer. If I didn't know better, I'd say he has the power of the laying

on of hands. You know, like some of these evangelists claim to have.

Only difference is, I have seen him in action.

Why, when Marjorie has one of her terrible sinus headaches, he merely

has to touch her temples, massage them someway, and the headaches end,

right, Marge?

he said.

Marjorie Young shot a quick glance at Lee and then nodded.

Yes, Dr. Beezly is remarkable, she said, pronouncing the words in a

monotone, as if they had been memorized.

It's very nice of you to offer, Jessie said. I might just take you up

on it one day.

Anytime, the doctor said.

After dinner Tracy, along with Marjorie, took Jessie on a tour of the

house. They were gone for nearly an hour, during which time Lee, Baker,

Henry Young, and Dr. Beezly had an after-dinner drink in the den. They

talked politics for a while and then Dr. Beezly asked Lee about his

basketball team.

Lee eyed Henry Young before replying. He saw how interested the

principal was in what he would say, so he couched his words carefully.

Well, I found them somewhat undisciplined, which might be the result of

the traumatic events--their coach dying suddenly, a substitute, and then

a brand-new man.

Most of my time is spent on drilling them to be more of a team, working

together.

Their first game under your tutelage is tomorrow night, is it not? Dr.

Beezly asked.

Yes. A home game.

Don't be surprised if it's a packed house, Baker said.

I'm expecting it.

They'll do well for you, I'm sure, Henry Young promised. You've given

them some new plays Just stuck to what they know right now. You've got

to crawl before you walk.

Excellent philosophy, Lee, Dr. Beezly said. You've got a good man

here, Henry. Make sure you don't lose him to one of those fancy

outlying districts.'

I'll do my best, Henry said, smiling.

Yes. Well, we all will, Dr. Beezly said. We all will.

His smile gave Lee the chills again. Funny, he thought, how something

that should sound nice sounds threatening when the doctor said it.

The women returned. Bob offered everyone another round of after-dinner

drinks. The conversation shifted to lighter subjects--movies, books,

and television.

I'm afraid I'm at a disadvantage when we talk about movies and

television, Dr. Beezly confessed. I hardly watch television and I

think the last movie I saw was Rosemary's Baby. He laughed. Quite

amusing.

How do you spend your free time, then, Doctor?

Jessie inquired.

I read. A lot of boring medical magazines, I'm afraid.

But, he added quickly, I'd be more than happy to read any of your short

stories.

Oh, I'm not that good....

Now, now, all this modesty--first your husband, who we know was an

exceptional college athlete, and now you, who I am sure are just as

perceptive in your writing as you are in conversation.

Thank you, Jessie said, a slight blush coming into her face. She

reached for Lee's hand.

Well, Henry Young announced, I hate to be the one to say it, but I have

a big day tomorrow.

Yes, we better be going, too, Lee said.

Dr. Beezly said nothing. He sat back and watched everyone say their

thank-you's and good-byes. Then he rose and approached Jessie. She

sensed it and turned.

Her impulsive move brought a smile to his face.

I really enjoyed your company, Jessie, he said, taking her hand. Once

again she had that strange sensation, that feeling that she was touching

something unusual.

She pressed on and envisioned a tunnel of fire.

Thank you. I enjoyed yours, too, Doctor.

Then let's try to do it again, he said quickly.

perhaps I will have you all over to my house one night soon.

I'd like that, Jessie said politely. She tightened her hold on Lee. He

shook Dr. Beezly's hand and they started to follow the Youngs out.

As soon as they were out of the door, Marjorie Young let go of Henry's

arm and turned, smiling.

I'll help Jessie to the car, Lee, she offered. I'd like to say good

night.

Oh. For a moment Lee was confused. This lethargic woman had suddenly

come to life. It was awkward, but he released Jessie's arm and moved

ahead to join Henry Young, who put his arm around his shoulders and led

him down the walk, giving him advice about the crowd that would come to

see the game tomorrow night.

Jessie understood immediately that Marjorie Young had some ulterior

motive. She let her thread her arm through hers quickly and join hands.

Then the two of them began to follow their husbands, Marjorie

deliberately walking slowly.

You're a rather remarkable woman, Jessie, she said softly. Jessie could

feel Marjorie's pulse quickening, her palm pressed tightly to hers.

What is it, Marjorie? Jessie asked.

Marjorie Young hesitated so long, Jessie thought she wasn't going to

reply, wasn't going to say what she wanted so much to say. Jessie held

her breath and waited.

They were drawing closer to the cars. The voices of their husbands grew

louder.

Then Marjorie Young brought her lips close to Jessie's ear and

whispered.

When your husband dies, she said, don't let them bring him back.

Jessie sat quietly in the car, nervously running her fingers up and down

the seat belt across her bosom. Marjorie Young's warning had left her

stunned. Even though she couldn't see the woman's face, she envisioned

her vividly through her tone of voice. She saw the hysteria in her