15MILL CREEK FALLS, 1 February 1971—The dawn is winter gray, muted, as if everyone and everything has entered the first stage of a cryonics experiment to suspend animation until a cure is found. Uncle James, Aunt Isabella, Nonna all wear black coats over dark suits, dresses. Annalisa’s coat is deep beige but in the winter light inside St. Ignatius’ main hall it looks as gray to him as this new layer enwrapping his core, coating all previous layers, his new grayness.
Tony hangs on to Linda’s arm, his hand and wrist through her crooked elbow while Linda sits holding Gina, looking forward, listening to the young priest, rapt, attentive to his every word. Twice she has taken Tony to Rock Ridge Veterans Medical Center, twice she has tried to find out what is the matter, what is the illness, th
