Housekeeping Page #5

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I don't even know her.

This is how we used to kept warm

when I sold Xmas trees in Denver.

We'd take these big hot rocks

and put them in our pockets.

Everybody but Alma.

She wore two shirts and three coats.

She was always trying to impress people.

- Was that your real job?

- One of 'em.

Oh, boy.

I haven't been in here in years.

- Was this your room?

- Uh-huh. And your Mom's.

Sylvie and Helen.

We had both the beds

by the window.

Oh, it's so funny being in here.

Uh-oh! There it is.

"Helen Foster ten years' old,

10-10-28."

She wrote it so tiny

because of Grandma.

We were frightened for weeks

that she'd find it.

God, it still gives me a shiver to see it.

And Grandpa's mountains.

- I like them.

- Yeah.

He grew up in the plains,

where everything was flat.

Then Sylvie told us the old story

about Grandpa and his mountains.

We wanted to hear

more about Mother,

but we listened politely

and smiled in the right places.

After all,

there was plenty of time.

Already we had

great plans for Sylvie.

How did he get here?

Well, when he was sixteen,

he walked to the railroad,

he jumped on a train and he said,

"Just let me off at the mountains."

That's how we all ended up

in Fingerbone.

Then he married Grandma

and he built her this house.

He was always restless, though...

Oh, my...

Oh!

I've never seen such a thing!

He must've been such a strange boy.

It sounds like the bridge is breaking up.

It's just the ice.

The Simmonds' house

isn't where it used to be.

Oh, it's so hard to tell.

Those bushes used to be on the other side.

Maybe the bushes have moved.

It is a shame.

Well, he's mixed up, anyway.

So, what do you say

to a game of crazy eights? Hm?

No, I don't really want to.

Okay, well, what do you want to do?

I want to find some other people.

Now?

Well, tomorrow.

We could wade up

to the higher ground.

There must be lots of people

camping up there.

Well, we're fine here.

I mean, we can cook our own food

and sleep in our own beds.

What could be better?

I'm tired of it.

Oh, it's the loneliness.

Yeah, it bothers a lot of people.

You know, I once knew this woman

who was so lonely,

she married an old man with a limp

and had four children in five years

and none of it helped at all.

She was still lonely.

Why didn't you have children?

Well, I dunno.

I guess it just wasn't in the cards.

Did you want them?

Well, I always liked 'em.

But, did you want to have them?

You must know, Lucille,

that some questions aren't polite.

I'm sure my mother must have told you that.

She's sorry.

It doesn't matter.

Let's just get some warm bricks

and then play some crazy eights, okay?

Hi, Mr. Wallace.

I'm looking for Moses,

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