“That won’t happen,” Anna said. “You’re too lovely.”
James breathed out a laugh. He rolled his eyes. “I’m lucky you found me in the park. I’d still be wandering around like a lunatic.”
“Someone else would have helped you. Everyone here is pretty helpful. Even the ones who don’t have faces.”
The next day, they were walking in the fields, and the snake was there. How had Anna forgotten the snake?
She froze. Just like she always did. Every time, no matter how old she was.
“What the fuck,” James whispered.
The snake rattled its tail. It wound its way closer.
“Don’t move,” Anna said through her teeth. “It won’t hurt us.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
The snake slid closer. It wouldn’t hurt them. It would brush over her foot and against her ankle. She just had to stand still.
It got closer. Anna was just as afraid as she’d ever been. She’d never acclimate.
The snake was close to her shoe.
James lifted up his boot—he had boots now—and stomped on it.
“Motherfucker,” James said, rubbing both hands through his hair.
Anna took a shuddering breath. “You killed it … You killed it! How did you do that?”
“Fuck,” James said. “Was that a rattlesnake?”
“Yeah. You killed it. I didn’t know—”
“Anna, that wasn’t a setting—that was a scene. Do you havescenes?”
“A few.”
“Jesus.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Does it usually bite you?”
“No, it just touches me.”
“Fuck.” He pulled her into a hug. “I’m still glad that I killed it.”
Anna leaned against his chest. He had a distinct smell. Like soap and antiperspirant and beer. (Why did James have asmell?Was he a character or a fantasy?)
He squeezed her. “I hope it never comes back.”
“Me, too,” she said.
“Christ.”
She laughed. She pulled away. “Let’s get out of here.”
They went back to her house and ate Banquet TV dinners out on the porch.
