I WATCH THE BEACH FROM THE LIFEGUARD CHAIR I HAD installed in front of my beach house. I watch to see if I can find Dolores among the beach people. Even if she were there, I wouldn’t be able to tell her apart from all the others. All the sweet, chubby girls with round shoulders and bad dye jobs.
I picture her walking slowly, her feet splayed, sleep still clouding her lovely eyes, her cheeks getting red from the effort. Thighs rubbing against each other. There are many Doloreses on the beach today.
Later on, at the beach house, as I set the table, I see the actual Dolores. It’s her and the other two girls walking by, looking in. I back away from the window even though there’s no way they can see me with the light reflecting off the glass. Dolores’ mouth is slightly open. Eyes scanning the
