performances, and he did talk at length about them,
the places he had visited and the friends he had made. "But these are temporary friendships," he
added, "The ship moves on after you disembark, and unless you get back on that ship soon afterward, the
names and faces dissipate like smoke in a short time." It occurred to me that he really didn't have any
close friends. When I asked him about it, he nodded
and admitted that was one terrible disadvantage to
being on the road and being a performer.
"The only people I stay in contact with these
days are my booking agent, my lawyer, my
accountant, and some theater owners I know and will
see from time to time. I don't really speak to anyone
from my past. Destiny," he said. "She's the closest
person to me now, now that your mother is gone." "You have me. too. Uncle Palaver," I reminded
him, and he smiled.
"Yes. I have you, too. But you can't stay with
me forever and ever. April. After this performing
season, you have to think about your own future.
College maybe. huh?"
"Maybe," I said.
Even the idea of thinking about a future
frightened me. What would I do? Where would I go?
Why couldn't I do this forever?
As time passed. I realized Uncle Palaver was
drinking more and more. His complexion took on a
pale yellow glow, and he was not eating well, either. Even though his face was gaunt, his stomach seemed to swell. He complained about his pants not fitting him, as if it were the fault of his pants and not his fault. but I noticed his arms and legs were swelling as well. For hours during the days now, he would retreat to the bedroom and sleep beside his Destiny. I would peer in and see him lying there, his arm embracing the
doll.
Once, I was embarrassed and shocked to
discover him totally naked beside it. It actually
frightened me more than shocked me. I closed the
door as quickly as I could and made up my mind