you couldn't show up and usher at that wedding. And then there was Herb Baird and Ellen Singleton, when the temperature rose to one hundred and how I survived I'll never know. And then Leona Price and her beau from Richmond, and George Minor and that girl he courted at Mary Washington. Ch, we've been keeping our preachers busy this summer." She hesitated. "What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, just about Mahlon Phelps and Bob Lambert."

Mrs. Hartley nodded knowingly. "Yes, they've all gotten married, or soon will be. Your old gang."

"It makes me feel very... out of it."

"Speaking of your old friends, I saw Joe and Tessie Mallory. the other day with their little boy. Frankie?"

"Freddie"

"Yes, Freddie. He's such a darling thing, and so bright. Tessie's expecting another in a few months,, and they're both happier than a pair of clams. But here, I've been doing all the talking. You tell me some things. How is Rick? Is he staying in the old apartment, now that you've left, or what?"

"Rick is fine, said Glenn, looking out the window. "Apparently his new apartment has worked out very satisfactorily."

"Oh, he's moved already?" Mrs. Hartley asked, and when Glenn nodded, she continued: "I see. I had gotten the impression that you boys had left simultaneously."

"No. He left before I did. Several weeks ago.”

"Well, I certainly hope he didn't just leave you in the lurch, without paying his share of the rent."

"Now, mother, you know Rick better then that. Would he pull such a... ?? "No, no, Of course not. Where is he staying now?"

"He's got a nice four-roomer over on the East Side. Nicer than the one we had, although ours was a five-roomer."

"A four-roomer?" Her eyes narrowed. "Has he got another roommate?" "What?" he said, turning away from the window and facing her. "I'm sorry. I was looking at the new Sears building."

They struggled to hold their balance while the cab swerved around the corner and onto, Huntington Avenue. Then Ms. Hartley repeated her question:

"Has Rick got another roommate?"

"Oh yes, he's got another roommate."

"I hope there hasn't been any trouble. You did part good friends, didn't you?"

"Yes, mother, yes. Rick and I are still... on the best of terms. Yes.

mattachine REVIEW

The best of terms." With a shock, Mrs. Hartley noticed that her son was fighting back tears. Quickly, she changed the subject and told him about the new downtown Sears store, which they had just passed, and the new Hiddenwood shopping center, which was still under construction. She carried the bulk of the conversation until the cab brought them to their destination. Glenn parked his suitcase next to the stairwell and walked side by side with her into the living room. Mrs. Hartley tried to visualize in what ways the room had changed since he had last seen it. The main difference, she decided, was in the greater number of framed photographs. Her favorite was hung on the wall over the sideboard a color print of Glenn and Rick at age nineteen, standing before snow-covered Vermont hills; their arms on each other's shoulder, wearing knitted caps and blue ski-jackets with the round scarlet medallions earned at a recent ski-meet. Two smiling pictures of youthful health and foolishness.

"Why don't you fix us some drinks?" Mrs. Hartley said. “Gin and tonic for me. There's some bourbon too, if you'd prefer that."

"Gin's the thing for a day like this," Glenn said. They went out to the kitchen, and Mrs. Hartley watched him prepare the drinks. He brought the drinks over to the formica-topped kitchen table and sat down across from her.

"Well," said Mrs. Hartley, "this is just like old times, isn't it?" I don't mean our sitting and drinking, but just...well, just you and me, sitting and talking over the same old table. I eat all my meals in here now. Only when I have guests do I eat in the diningroom, which isn't often."

"It's time to change that," Glenn said. "We'll have some meals out in the diningroom, and we'll have some people over for dinner, too. You shouldn't be alone so much, mother."

"Oh, it isn't so bad. There's Mildred, and there's Mrs. Mackey. She's pretty much alone too, she and her husband, ever since Anna Louise got married."

"Anna Louise is married? Oh yes, I'd forgotten."

Mrs. Hartley took several refreshing swallows from the metal cup, studying her son all the while.

"Glenn, now that you've left New York, what are your plans, or haven't you decided? Do you wish to remain in Newport News?"

He nodded. "Yes, mother. I'm through with all those... carpetbaggers." He uttered a little laugh. "I'm home to stay.'

"Well then you might as well stay here. You'll have all the room in the world, it's economical, and it's a nice neighborhood. Unless, of course,

}