Chapter 11

It was a tropical winter. Baby Adrienne, born February 13 1968, was the joy of the family. Louise was 44 years old, and Michael was 55.

Everyone knew El Imperio, the most magnificent store in Viejo San Juan. And they knew Don Miguel, the important proprietor.

At the university, Louise found herself among twelve students unjustly and illegally suspended for participating in a protest march. The regulations used against the UPR twelve were found to be unconstitutional in a Puerto Rican court several years prior. The San Juan Star depicted the episode in menacing terms.

“Can you mop floors?” asked the department chair at the University of Puerto Rico when Louise offered herself as a teaching assistant, having finally received her Bachelor’s degree and moved on to graduate studies. At home, Louise sat at the piano and played Jalousie, then poured herself a cognac and lit a cigarette.

“Anarchy seemed loosed upon their private world. It was unclear if the center would hold or be enough. They loved each other but there was innocence no more. Too much had happened in the intervening years.

MW=Michael Waterston, LW=Louise Waterston”