“You should tell him to go to hell.”
“Oh, my, such language from one so young.”
“I mean it.Doesn’t it bother you when he ignores you that way?”
She smiled.“Nah.That’s just John.”
Not for a minute, though, did Pam believe that Hillary wasn’t bothered.She could see it in the sadness in her smile.Wanting to cheer her up, she said, “But you have plans for later, so John’s the loser.Who are you seeing?”
Hillary collared her with a playful elbow and ushered her out the door before she handled that one.“A guy from school.Tom Rush is playing at a coffeehouse in the Square.”Side by side, they trotted down the stairs.
“Who’s Tom Rush?”
“A folksinger.”
“Who’s the guy?”
“No one special.”
“Why not?You should be meeting someone special.You’re at that age.”
Hillary laughed as they started up Mt.Vernon Street.“Who told you that?”
“Marcy.You’re a senior.You’re supposed to get married soon.”
“Not me.I’m not getting married.”
“Never?”
“I wouldn’t say that.Just not real soon.”
“Because John won’t get married?What’s wrong with him, Hillary?Everyone he knows is gettingmarried.He goes to weddings all the time, and if it isn’t weddings, it’s christenings.So what’s wrong with him?”
Hillary shrugged.
“Can’t he at least find his own place to live?”
“Is he still giving you a hard time?”
“Yes.Why don’t you propose to him?Maybe he needs a little push.Tell him that you’re graduating and that it’s time for you two to get married.Tell him that you’re madly in love—”
“I will not.I don’t want to get married.I have other plans.”
“What are they?”
“I’m going to New York.”She half-turned as they walked so that she faced Pam.“And don’t breathe a word of this to John, because it isn’t definite.I still have to find a job, but whether it’s this year or the next or the next, I’m going to New York.”Facing front again, she linked arms with Pam.“John doesn’t know.I’ll tell him when I’m sure.”
“Why do you want to go to New York?”
“Because that’s where big things happen.”
“But you’re a writer.You can write anywhere.”
“I want to do it in New York.”
“Then I won’t see you.ThenJohnwon’t see you.Then you won’t seehim.”When Hillary didn’t answer, she said, “That’s a lousy idea, Hillary.”
“That’s what John will say.He’ll say that I’ll never make it in New York and that I’m silly to try.But he’s not offering me anything better, is he?”
