We went, as predicted to the hardware store, Maria said if we got the paint today for the living room walls, she could get started early, when I went off to teach my writing class. The staff at Ace Hardware knows the drill, Red has seen this so many times he went to sleep, just looking over his should a few times at the biscuit jar by the cash register.

As we looked at the paint, Maria wavered. It looks “pukey,” she said, “does it look “pukey” to you?,” she asked. I mumbled inaudibly. “I’m not sure what “pukey” looks like,” I answered. But by that time, she seemed okay with it.

We took a gallon home. Maria spent some time staring at the living room walls, muttering to herself tonight. I hope it doesn’t look pukey.