Respite/remorse

Yeah, Ecuador defeated Paraguay, yeah, yeah, yeah. The hero was Jefferson Montero. We are good. We are very, very good.

Six more games. The arithmeticians say that in order to qualify for the World Cup, we need just 5 more points (5 draws, or else 2 draws + 1 victory, or else 2 victories (which’d give us 6 points)). I can’t get my own calculations to agree with the arithmeticians’, but OK.

I liked how savagely you blasted George Saunders, my friend said. (My friend had given me George Saunders’s book.)

I felt badly about that, I said.

(We were at Popeyes.)

Why? said my friend, with the kindest expression.

You know, I said. I’m biting the hand that feeds me.