Atanyrate,,shewentontocollege,,,andherletterswerethehighlightofthosegrinding,,,andalmostimmediatelyherrepliesbecamelessfrequent,lesspersonal.
’dmetincollege.“Ithoughtshewroteyou.”hermothersaid.
Her“DearJohn”,Imusthaverecoveredratherquickly,althoughforthefirstfewmonthsIbelievedIdidn’,Ifoundsomeoneelse,,recently,afteranintervalofmorethan40years,,Ihadn’tthoughtabouther,-hairedmatronattherestauranttablewastheRachelofmydreamsanddesires,thesupplemermaidofthatsnapshot?,andquicklydiscoveredwewerebothgrandparents.“Doyourememberthis?”’,shesnatchedthepoemfrommeandreturnedittoherpurse,,howI’dcarrieditallthroughthewar.
“Itwouldn’thaveworkedout,youknow.”shesaid.“Howcanyoubesure?”Icountered.“Ah,colleen,itmighthavebeengrandindeed—myIrishconscienceandyourJewishguilt!”,ourglanceswerefurtive,’doncebeentoourselves,,sheturnedtome.“.”Hereyesmetmine.“Iwantedtothankyouforhavinglovedmeasyoudid.”Wekissed,,anagingman,,,,aseverythingmust,andpresentlyIwasabletostandandstartforhome.
