



I/ppss don't/do* really/rb believe/vb in/in intuition/nn ./.
But/cc I/ppss swear/vb to/in you/ppo from/in the/at moment/nn I/ppss opened/vbd my/pp$ eyes/nns ,/, I/ppss knew/vbd it/pps was/bedz going/vbg to/to be/be a/at bad/jj day/nn ./.
Part/nn of/in it/ppo was/bedz the/at weather/nn ,/, so/ql foggy/jj it/pps would/md take/vb me/ppo twice/rb as/ql long/jj to/to get/vb to/in the/at hospital/nn ./.
Part/nn of/in it/ppo was/bedz being/beg so/ql tired/vbn --/-- I'd/ppss+hvd not/* only/rb had/hvn my/pp$ usual/jj full/jj day/nn yesterday/nr ,/, but/cc a/at dinner/nn meeting/nn as/ql well/rb ,/, that/wps kept/vbd me/ppo up/rp late/rb ./.
But/cc the/at rest/nn of/in it/ppo ,/, the/at main/jjs part/nn ,/, wasn't/bedz* based/vbn on/in logic/nn at/in all/abn ./.
It/pps was/bedz just/rb going/vbg to/to be/be one/pn of/in those/dts days/nns ./.


	For/in the/at thousandth/od time/nn ,/, I/ppss wished/vbd I'd/ppss+hvd chosen/vbn some/dti nice/jj ,/, nine-to-five/jj ,/, five-days-a-week/jj profession/nn ./.
And/cc for/in the/at thousandth/od time/nn ,/, I/ppss answered/vbd myself/ppl ./.
I/ppss hadn't/hvd* chosen/vbn medicine/nn --/-- it/pps had/hvd chosen/vbn me/ppo ./.


	Actually/rb ,/, I/ppss shouldn't/md* complain/vb ,/, I/ppss told/vbd myself/ppl in/in the/at shaving/vbg mirror/nn ./.
I/ppss had/hvd a/at lot/nn to/to be/be thankful/jj for/in ./.
A/at profession/nn that/wps brought/vbd me/ppo as/ql good/jj an/at income/nn as/cs mine/pp$$ wasn't/bedz* to/to be/be sneezed/vbn at/in ./.
Maybe/rb I/ppss didn't/dod* see/vb as/ql much/ap of/in Gladdy/np as/cs I'd/ppss+md like/vb ,/, but/cc how/wrb much/ql worse/jjr it/pps would/md have/hv been/ben if/cs I'd/ppss+hvd had/hvn to/to board/vb her/ppo out/rp somewhere/rb after/in Alice/np went/vbd --/-- send/vb my/pp$ daughter/nn to/in an/at orphanage/nn or/cc a/at boarding-home/nn ./.
At/in least/ap ,/, we/ppss were/bed together/rb and/cc we/ppss had/hvd Mrs./np Hodges/np ,/, bless/vb her/ppo ,/, to/to look/vb after/in us/ppo --/-- no/at mother/nn could/md be/be fonder/jjr of/in Gladdy/np than/cs Mrs./np Hodges/np was/bedz ./.
I/ppss was/bedz lucky/jj in/in lots/nns of/in ways/nns ,/, no/at doubt/nn about/in it/ppo ./.


	Especially/rb in/in the/at way/nn Gladdy/np had/hvd turned/vbn out/rp ./.
Growing/vbg up/rp without/in a/at mother/nn from/in the/at time/nn she/pps was/bedz three/cd --/-- it/pps wasn't/bedz* a/at good/jj thing/nn for/in a/at child/nn ,/, even/rb knowing/vbg the/at kind/nn of/in mother/nn Alice/np had/hvd been/ben ./.
But/cc I/ppss mustn't/md* start/vb on/in Alice/np ./.
She/pps is/bez a/at closed/vbn book/nn ,/, a/at picture/nn I/ppss keep/vb on/in my/pp$ bureau/nn ,/, but/cc never/rb look/vb at/in ./.
If/cs she'd/pps+hvd kept/vbn on/rp as/cs she'd/pps+hvd been/ben going/vbg ,/, the/at story/nn I'd/ppss+hvd told/vbn Gladdy/np would/md probably/rb have/hv been/ben true/jj by/in now/rb ,/, anyhow/rb 

	As/ql usual/jj ,/, Gladdy's/np$ bright/jj smile/nn greeted/vbd me/ppo at/in the/at breakfast/nn table/nn ./.
Her/pp$ first/od class/nn wasn't/bedz* until/in ten/cd ,/, but/cc she/pps always/rb got/vbd up/rp to/to have/hv breakfast/nn with/in me/ppo ./.
It/pps made/vbd me/ppo feel/vb good/rb and/cc knowing/vbg that/cs she'd/pps+hvd decided/vbn ,/, all/abn on/in her/pp$ own/jj ,/, to/to go/vb to/in college/nn right/ql here/rb in/in town/nn made/vbd me/ppo feel/vb good/rb ,/, too/rb ./.
Oh/uh ,/, I/ppss knew/vbd that/cs I/ppss couldn't/md* give/vb myself/ppl all/abn the/at credit/nn for/in her/pp$ decision/nn ./.
I/ppss had/hvd a/at feeling/nn that/ql young/jj Pete/np Michelson/np ,/, the/at most/ql promising/jj intern/nn at/in Fairview/np ,/, had/hvd something/pn to/to do/do with/in it/ppo ,/, too/rb ./.


	She'd/pps+hvd been/ben out/rp with/in Pete/np the/at night/nn before/rb and/cc her/pp$ gay/jj chatter/nn about/in their/pp$ date/nn lightened/vbd my/pp$ mood/nn a/at little/ap ./.
But/cc once/cs I/ppss was/bedz alone/rb again/rb ,/, driving/vbg to/in the/at hospital/nn ,/, the/at heaviness/nn returned/vbd ./.
If/cs she/pps and/cc Pete/np were/bed really/rb getting/vbg serious/jj ,/, I'd/ppss+md have/hv to/to do/do some/dti hard/jj thinking/nn ./.
Should/md I/ppss tell/vb him/ppo the/at truth/nn about/in Alice/np ?/. ?/.
Did/dod he/pps have/hv a/at right/nn to/to know/vb the/at secret/nn I'd/ppss+hvd kept/vbn from/in Gladdy/np all/abn these/dts years/nns ?/. ?/.


	The/at boys/nns were/bed already/rb waiting/vbg in/in the/at corridor/nn outside/in my/pp$ office/nn when/wrb I/ppss got/vbd to/in Fairview/np ./.
Two/cd interns/nns and/cc Dick/np Ishii/np ,/, the/at other/ap resident/nn ./.
I'm/ppss+bem Chief/nn-tl of/in-tl Medicine/nn-tl here/rb and/cc this/dt morning/nn would/md start/vb like/cs all/abn others/nns ,/, with/in me/ppo taking/vbg the/at boys/nns on/in the/at rounds/nns ./.
Pete/np was/bedz down/rp on/in Seven/cd-tl ,/, Dick/np told/vbd me/ppo ,/, and/cc he'd/pps+md meet/vb us/ppo there/rb ./.


	There/ex wasn't/bedz* anything/pn of/in special/jj interest/nn that/dt morning/nn ,/, no/at one/pn sicker/jjr than/cs they/ppss should/md have/hv been/ben ./.
Pete/np came/vbd to/to meet/vb us/ppo when/wrb we/ppss stepped/vbd out/in of/in the/at elevator/nn on/in Seven/cd-tl --/-- he'd/pps+hvd had/hvn a/at case/nn of/in post-operative/jj shock/nn ,/, but/cc it/pps was/bedz all/ql taken/vbn care/nn of/in now/rb ./.
Seven/cd-tl is/bez a/at women's/nns$ floor/nn and/cc ,/, as/cs it/pps happened/vbd ,/, not/* very/ql busy/jj right/ql then/rb ./.
When/wrb we'd/ppss+hvd finished/vbn our/pp$ regular/jj rounds/nns ,/, Pete/np pointed/vbd me/ppo toward/in the/at small/jj ward/nn at/in the/at end/nn of/in the/at floor/nn ./.


	``/`` Got/vbd a/at new/jj one/pn in/in last/ap night/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss haven't/hv* seen/vbn her/ppo yet/rb ,/, but/cc I/ppss hear/vb she's/pps+bez a/at lulu/nn ''/'' !/. !/.


	I/ppss wasn't/bedz* surprised/vbn ./.
The/at ward/nn was/bedz a/at small/jj one/pn ,/, four/cd beds/nns ,/, kept/vbn reserved/vbn for/in female/nn alcoholics/nns ./.
We/ppss didn't/dod* get/vb many/ap at/in Fairview/np and/cc they/ppss were/bed never/rb pretty/jj sights/nns ./.
It/pps was/bedz thought/vbn wiser/jjr to/to keep/vb them/ppo segregated/vbn from/in the/at patients/nns in/in the/at regular/jj charity/nn ward/nn ./.


	The/at moment/nn I/ppss walked/vbd in/rp ,/, the/at whole/jj miserable/jj feeling/nn of/in the/at day/nn seemed/vbd to/to focus/vb on/in the/at woman/nn in/in the/at bed/nn ./.
They'd/ppss+hvd cleaned/vbn her/ppo up/rp some/dti ,/, of/in course/nn ,/, and/cc she'd/pps+hvd pretty/ql much/rb slept/vbn off/rp her/pp$ drunk/nn ./.
But/cc there/ex was/bedz something/pn about/in her/ppo --/-- and/cc I/ppss felt/vbd my/pp$ lips/nns forming/vbg a/at name/nn ./.
Alice/np But/cc this/dt woman's/nn$ name/nn was/bedz Rose/np Bancroft/np !/. !/.


	I/ppss looked/vbd at/in the/at chart/nn for/in reassurance/nn ./.
Yes/rb ,/, Rose/np Bancroft/np ,/, diagnosis/nn :/: acute/jj alcoholism/nn ./.
She/pps looked/vbd about/rb sixty/cd ,/, though/cs I/ppss recalled/vbd that/cs the/at chart/nn gave/vbd her/pp$ age/nn as/cs forty-four/cd ./.
An/at ugly/jj scar/nn disfigured/vbd the/at somewhat/ql familiar/jj puffy/jj face/nn ,/, already/rb marred/vbn by/in the/at tell-tale/jj network/nn of/in broken/vbn red/jj veins/nns that/wps heavy/jj drinkers/nns carry/vb ./.
Her/pp$ coarse/jj hair/nn was/bedz two-colored/jj --/-- bleached/vbn blonde/jj and/cc its/pp$ real/jj ,/, dirty/jj gray/jj ./.


	Oh/uh ,/, could/md it/ppo be/be ?/. ?/.
No/rb ,/, no/rb it/pps was/bedz an/at unfortunate/jj resemblance/nn ,/, that/dt was/bedz all/abn it/pps was/bedz ,/, and/cc I/ppss turned/vbd to/in Dick/np ,/, forcing/vbg myself/ppl to/to put/vb my/pp$ disquiet/nn out/in of/in my/pp$ mind/nn ./.


	In/in a/at low/jj voice/nn ,/, Dick/np filled/vbd us/ppo in/rp 



she'd/pps+hvd been/ben picked/vbn up/rp downtown/nr ,/, passed/vbn out/rp in/in the/at doorway/nn ./.
Although/cs quiet/jj when/wrb they/ppss brought/vbd her/ppo in/rp ,/, she'd/pps+hvd suddenly/rb turned/vbn violent/jj and/cc had/hvd to/to be/be knocked/vbn out/rp ./.
It/pps was/bedz the/at old/jj story/nn ./.
We'd/ppss+md keep/vb her/ppo a/at day/nn or/cc two/cd ,/, and/cc the/at AA/np-tl people/nns would/md talk/vb to/in her/ppo ./.
But/cc if/cs she/pps wasn't/bedz* interested/vbn ,/, she'd/pps+md just/rb go/vb back/rb to/in the/at same/ap life/nn she'd/pps+hvd left/vbn ./.


	Turning/vbg toward/in the/at patient/nn again/rb ,/, I/ppss --/-- I/ppss can't/md* describe/vb what/wdt happened/vbd to/in me/ppo then/rb ,/, except/in to/to say/vb that/cs I/ppss felt/vbd sick/jj ./.
I/ppss tell/vb you/ppo ,/, it/pps took/vbd every/at ounce/nn of/in control/nn I/ppss had/hvd to/to be/be able/jj to/to speak/vb ./.
``/`` Now/rb ,/, Miss/np --/-- or/cc is/bez it/pps Mrs./np Bancroft/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	I/ppss never/rb liked/vbd going/vbg straight/rb into/in an/at examination/nn with/in patients/nns --/-- it/pps relaxes/vbz them/ppo ,/, I've/ppss+hv always/rb thought/vbn ,/, to/to chat/vb first/rb ./.
This/dt was/bedz one/cd time/nn I'd/ppss+md have/hv gladly/rb broken/vbn my/pp$ own/jj rule/nn ,/, but/cc habit/nn was/bedz too/ql strong/jj ./.


	``/`` Hey/uh ''/'' !/. !/.
Her/pp$ voice/nn was/bedz flat/jj and/cc dull/jj ./.
But/cc those/dts penetrating/jj eyes/nns --/-- I/ppss had/hvd to/to turn/vb my/pp$ head/nn away/rb ./.
It/pps was/bedz then/rb that/cs I/ppss saw/vbd what/wdt the/at drawn-back/jj covers/nns revealed/vbd ./.
There/ex were/bed bloodspots/nns on/in the/at sheet/nn ./.


	``/`` What's/wdt+bez this/dt ''/'' ?/. ?/.
I/ppss asked/vbd ./.
``/`` Your/pp$ period/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	She/pps shook/vbd her/pp$ head/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss been/ben spotting/vbg a/at little/ap now/rb and/cc then/rb ''/'' ,/, she/pps said/vbd quietly/rb ,/, no/at emotion/nn in/in her/pp$ voice/nn ./.


	``/`` Have/hv you/ppss spoken/vbn to/in a/at doctor/nn about/in it/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Once/rb again/rb ,/, there/ex was/bedz a/at negative/jj shake/nn ./.
I/ppss told/vbd Miss/np Groggins/np to/to move/vb her/ppo down/in the/at hall/nn where/wrb we/ppss had/hvd an/at examining/vbg table/nn ./.
``/`` Better/rbr do/do a/at Papanicolaou/np ''/'' ,/, I/ppss told/vbd Pete/np ./.
It/pps was/bedz only/rb a/at few/ap moments/nns before/cs Miss/np Groggins/np had/hvd her/ppo in/in the/at proper/jj position/nn for/in a/at vaginal/nn ,/, but/cc I/ppss couldn't/md* see/vb anything/pn wrong/jj on/in gross/jj examination/nn ./.
Pete/np stood/vbd by/rb with/in a/at slide/nn and/cc took/vbd the/at smear/nn ,/, sent/vbd it/ppo down/rp to/in the/at lab/nn with/in a/at request/nn for/in the/at test/nn ./.
That/dt done/vbn ,/, I/ppss told/vbd Miss/np Groggins/np to/to take/vb her/pp$ patient/nn back/rb to/in bed/nn and/cc again/rb put/vb her/ppo out/in of/in my/pp$ mind/nn ./.


	I/ppss was/bedz busy/jj the/at rest/nn of/in the/at day/nn ./.
Late/jj in/in the/at afternoon/nn ,/, I/ppss was/bedz up/rp on/in Seven/cd-tl again/rb ./.
One/pn of/in my/pp$ private/jj patients/nns was/bedz being/beg admitted/vbn and/cc I/ppss went/vbd in/rp to/to see/vb her/ppo settled/vbn ./.
On/in my/pp$ way/nn to/in the/at elevator/nn ,/, I/ppss ran/vbd into/in Pete/np ./.
``/`` I've/ppss+hv got/vbn the/at results/nns on/in the/at Bancroft/np smear/nn test/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ./.
``/`` There's/ex+bez something/pn there/rb ,/, all/ql right/rb ./.
Class/nn-tl Three/cd-tl ,/, they/ppss said/vbd ./.
Do/do you/ppss want/vb to/to talk/vb to/in her/ppo ,/, Doctor/nn-tl ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Well/uh ''/'' --/-- I/ppss didn't/dod* --/-- I/ppss didn't/dod* ever/rb want/vb to/to see/vb that/dt woman/nn again/rb ./.
But/cc that/dt was/bedz ridiculous/jj ,/, of/in course/nn ./.
``/`` All/ql right/rb ./.
We'll/ppss+md do/do a/at D./np-tl and/cc-tl C./np-tl and/cc get/vb her/pp$ permission/nn for/in a/at hysterectomy/nn ./.
Maybe/rb it's/pps+bez nothing/pn ,/, maybe/rb it's/pps+bez intraepithelial/jj or/cc in/fw-in situ/fw-nn --/-- can't/md* take/vb any/dti chances/nns ''/'' ./.


	``/`` If/cs you/ppss can/md keep/vb her/ppo here/rb that/dt long/jj ''/'' ,/, Pete/np said/vbd wryly/rb ./.
``/`` Groggins/np tells/vbz me/ppo she's/pps+hvz started/vbn badgering/vbg already/rb ,/, wants/vbz to/to get/vb out/rp ./.
Wants/nns to/to get/vb to/in her/pp$ booze/nn ,/, I/ppss guess/vb ''/'' ./.


	I/ppss grimaced/vbd in/in distaste/nn ./.
``/`` Well/uh ,/, better/rbr see/vb what/wdt I/ppss can/md do/do ''/'' ./.


	We'd/ppss+hvd been/ben standing/vbg right/ql outside/in Miss/np Bancroft's/np$ door/nn and/cc as/cs I/ppss went/vbd to/to turn/vb the/at knob/nn to/to enter/vb ,/, I/ppss was/bedz surprised/vbn to/to find/vb that/cs the/at door/nn was/bedz slightly/ql ajar/rb ./.
But/cc she/pps seemed/vbd to/to be/be dozing/vbg and/cc in/in any/dti case/nn ,/, we'd/ppss+hvd been/ben talking/vbg in/in low/jj tones/nns ./.


	Her/pp$ eyes/nns opened/vbd as/ql soon/rb as/cs she/pps heard/vbd me/ppo ,/, though/cs ,/, and/cc once/rb again/rb ,/, I/ppss felt/vbd an/at inward/jj shiver/nn ./.
``/`` I/ppss sure/rb can't/md* complain/vb about/in the/at service/nn in/in this/dt place/nn ''/'' ,/, she/pps said/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss just/rb got/vbd through/in seeing/vbg one/cd of/in you/ppo guys/nns ./.
What/wdt do/do you/ppss want/vb ''/'' ?/. ?/.
There/ex was/bedz something/pn almost/rb insulting/jj in/in her/pp$ tone/nn ,/, but/cc I/ppss disregarded/vbd it/ppo ./.


	``/`` I've/ppss+hv just/rb been/ben talking/vbg to/in Dr./nn-tl Michelson/np ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd ./.
``/`` We'd/ppss+md like/vb you/ppo to/to have/hv a/at dilatation/nn and/cc curettage/nn ./.
That's/dt+bez quite/ql minor/jj ,/, nothing/pn to/to worry/vb about/rb ./.
But/cc we/ppss would/md like/vb your/pp$ permission/nn to/to do/do --/-- that/dt is/bez ,/, to/to go/vb further/rbr if/cs it/pps proves/vbz necessary/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` No/rb ''/'' ./.
It/pps was/bedz flat/jj ,/, definite/jj ./.


	``/`` Suppose/vb you/ppo let/vb me/ppo explain/vb ./.
Actually/rb ,/, I/ppss rather/ql doubt/vb that/cs we'll/ppss+md have/hv to/to do/do this/dt ./.
Even/rb if/cs we/ppss do/do ,/, you'll/ppss+md be/be out/in of/in here/rb in/in a/at week/nn ,/, probably/rb ''/'' ./.


	I/ppss was/bedz sure/jj that/dt was/bedz the/at difficulty/nn --/-- she/pps just/rb didn't/dod* want/vb to/to stay/vb here/rb ,/, where/wrb she/pps couldn't/md* get/vb to/in the/at liquor/nn ./.


	``/`` No/rb ''/'' ./.


	I/ppss looked/vbd at/in her/ppo in/in amazement/nn ./.
I'd/ppss+hvd had/hvn patients/nns who'd/wps+hvd refused/vbn surgery/nn before/rb ,/, of/in course/nn ,/, but/cc never/rb one/pn who/wps didn't/dod* show/vb ,/, in/in one/cd way/nn or/cc another/dt ,/, the/at reason/nn why/wrb ./.
Mostly/rb ,/, it/pps was/bedz fear/nn ,/, but/cc this/dt woman's/nn$ voice/nn didn't/dod* tremble/vb and/cc her/pp$ hands/nns were/bed still/rb on/in the/at coverlet/nn ./.


	``/`` Will/md you/ppss tell/vb me/ppo why/wrb ''/'' ?/. ?/.
I/ppss asked/vbd ./.


	She/pps smiled/vbd ,/, a/at smile/nn without/in humor/nn ./.
``/`` You/ppss shouldn't/md* tell/vb your/pp$ little/ap secrets/nns outside/in of/in the/at patient's/nn$ door/nn ''/'' ,/, she/pps said/vbd ./.
``/`` I've/ppss+hv got/vbn cancer/nn ,/, haven't/hv* I/ppss ''/'' ?/. ?/.
She/pps went/vbd on/rp ,/, disregarding/vbg my/pp$ protests/nns ./.
``/`` I'm/ppss+bem not/* going/vbg to/to be/be one/pn of/in your/pp$ guinea/nn pigs/nns ./.
Let/vb your/pp$ pupils/nns learn/vb on/in someone/pn else/rb ,/, Doctor/nn-tl ./.
Just/rb let/vb me/ppo die/vb in/in peace/nn ''/'' ./.




I/ppss stared/vbd at/in her/ppo ,/, almost/ql speechless/jj ./.
Her/pp$ little/ap speech/nn was/bedz totally/rb out/in of/in character/nn with/in the/at sort/nn of/in person/nn I/ppss thought/vbd she/pps was/bedz ./.
Even/rb her/pp$ voice/nn had/hvd taken/vbn on/rp a/at more/ql cultivated/vbn tone/nn ./.
This/dt was/bedz someone/pn who'd/wps+hvd come/vbn down/rp in/in the/at world/nn ,/, I/ppss thought/vbd ./.
A/at long/jj ,/, long/jj way/nn down/rp ./.
Again/rb there/ex was/bedz something/pn familiar/jj about/in her/ppo ,/, something/pn --/-- 

	``/`` You/ppss haven't/hv* got/vbn cancer/nn ''/'' ,/, I/ppss said/vbd as/ql strongly/rb as/cs I/ppss could/md ./.
``/`` I/ppss don't/do* know/vb what/wdt you/ppss heard/vbd that/dt would/md make/vb you/ppo think/vb so/rb ,/, but/cc I/ppss assure/vb you/ppo I/ppss don't/do* even/vb know/vb myself/ppl ,/, so/cs how/wrb can/md you/ppss be/be so/ql sure/jj ?/. ?/.
And/cc even/rb if/cs ''/'' --/-- 

	``/`` Don't/do* give/vb me/ppo a/at lot/nn of/in talk/nn ,/, Joe/np ''/'' ./.


	I/ppss gaped/vbd at/in her/ppo ./.
She/pps could/md have/hv found/vbn out/rp my/pp$ first/od name/nn ,/, of/in course/nn --/-- that/dt wouldn't/md* be/be difficult/jj ./.
But/cc there/ex was/bedz that/dt something/pn ,/, some/dti echo/nn in/in the/at way/nn she/pps spoke/vbd ./.


	She/pps was/bedz watching/vbg me/ppo intently/rb ,/, a/at funny/jj little/ap half-smile/nn on/in her/pp$ lips/nns ./.
``/`` Surprised/vbn ,/, baby/nn ?/. ?/.
Guess/vb I've/ppss+hv changed/vbn ,/, haven't/hv* I/ppss ?/. ?/.
But/cc you/ppss haven't/hv* changed/vbn much/rb ,/, Joe/np ''/'' ./.


	I/ppss knew/vbd then/rb ,/, knew/vbd with/in a/at heart-stopping/jj shock/nn ./.
``/`` Alice/np ''/'' --/-- I/ppss stammered/vbd through/in dry/jj lips/nns ./.
``/`` Alice/np ,/, for/in goodness/nn sake/nn ''/'' --/-- 

	``/`` Alice/np ''/'' ,/, she/pps echoed/vbd mockingly/rb ./.
``/`` What's/wdt+bez the/at matter/nn ,/, Joe/np ,/, you/ppss scared/vbd of/in me/ppo ?/. ?/.
Think/vb I'm/ppss+bem going/vbg to/to make/vb you/ppss introduce/vb a/at drunk/nn as/cs your/pp$ wife/nn ?/. ?/.
Well/uh ,/, don't/do* worry/vb ./.
Just/rb let/vb me/ppo outta/rp+in here/rn ''/'' --/-- 

	``/`` But/cc why/wrb did/dod you/ppss come/vb back/rb ''/'' ?/. ?/.
I'd/ppss+hvd found/vbn my/pp$ voice/nn ./.
``/`` Where/wrb have/hv you/ppss been/ben all/abn these/dts years/nns ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	She/pps shrugged/vbd ./.
``/`` Here/rb and/cc there/rb ./.
As/in for/in coming/vbg back/rb here/rb --/-- well/uh ,/, I'll/ppss+md tell/vb you/ppo the/at truth/nn ,/, I/ppss didn't/dod* even/rb know/vb where/wrb I/ppss was/bedz when/wrb I/ppss came/vbd to/in ./.
The/at last/ap thing/nn I/ppss remember/vb is/bez a/at bar/nn in/in San/np Diego/np ''/'' --/-- 

	The/at way/nn she/pps spoke/vbd ,/, her/pp$ flat/jj acceptance/nn of/in her/pp$ alcoholic/jj blackout/nn ,/, made/vbd me/ppo shudder/vb ./.
And/cc this/dt was/bedz Gladdy's/np$ mother/nn !/. !/.


	``/`` I/ppss never/rb asked/vbd you/ppo for/in any/dti favors/nns ,/, Joe/np ''/'' ,/, she/pps went/vbd on/rp ,/, ``/`` but/cc I'm/ppss+bem asking/vbg one/pn now/rb ./.
Let/vb me/ppo outta/rp+in here/rn !/. !/.
You/ppss doctors/nns are/ber all/abn alike/jj --/-- all/abn you/ppss want/nn is/bez to/to cut/vb up/rp people/nns and/cc what's/wdt+bez the/at good/nn ?/. ?/.
No/rb ,/, I/ppss want/vb out/rp ,/, Joe/np ''/'' !/. !/.


	I/ppss looked/vbd at/in the/at pathetic/jj wreck/nn of/in a/at woman/nn before/in me/ppo ./.
Let/vb her/ppo out/rp ,/, let/vb her/ppo out/rp --/-- that/dt would/md be/be the/at solution/nn ,/, wouldn't/md* it/ppo ?/. ?/.
What/wdt she'd/pps+hvd said/vbn was/bedz true/jj --/-- in/in all/abn these/dts years/nns ,/, she'd/pps+hvd never/rb asked/vbn for/in anything/pn from/in me/ppo ./.
If/cs I/ppss let/vb her/ppo go/vb ,/, she'd/pps+md disappear/vb once/rb more/rbr ./.
And/cc Gladdy/np would/md be/be safe/jj !/. !/.

