The Hanging Garden Page #2

but you've got all kinds of stuff

in the basement.

Just take what you want.

Great, I can use my old T-shirts

as bed sheets.

I've been taking care of your things

for 10 years.

I just want you to look around,

and if there's anything that you want...

I want you to take it with you.

That's why I kept your things

in the first place.

Otherwise, I could have got rid of them.

Can he even see?

Sometimes.

Why don't you have him put down?

I've been trying

to have him put down for a year.

Your father won't do it.

All it is to me is suffering.

All those years he knew not to sh*t the floor.

Now, he can't help it.

But he knows he's not supposed to.

He feels bad about it, you can tell.

The expression on his face when

you come home and he's sh*t the floor.

No one punishes him anymore.

He just feels bad.

What about Nana?

They don't let you put down old people.

I don't think she's got dying on her mind.

Known that woman for 30 years.

Never seen her happier.

- Alzheimer's?

- Yeah. About five years ago...

caught her in the middle of the night

taking the stove apart...

trying to put out the pilot light.

Convinced we were all

going to burn in our sleep...

if she didn't put out the pilot light.

Ruined the stove.

Took her to the doctor's.

Said she was in the middle stage of it.

I felt bad.

Should've had her in there years ago.

But who could tell?

I thought she was just getting old.

You didn't have any cake.

I didn't have any because I don't want any.

Milk?

No.

- Sugar?

- No.

Do you have to starve yourself?

No more than I had to gorge myself, before.

You were never fat when you were little.

And you never ate that much.

That was the weird thing.

Not when you could see me.

There was nothing you could do about it.

Nobody could make me be skinny.

It was one thing you couldn't make me be.

Felt good.

- That felt good, looking like that?

- I didn't care how I looked.

I wasn't going anywhere.

Nothing fit me, anyway.

Being fat meant

I didn't have to play any sports.

I didn't have to have any fights.

I didn't have to have a girlfriend.

So, you were fat because of me.

No, if you'd had a different son,

he would have been skinny.

I am skinny.

You have a friend now?

Yes.

What's his name?

Dick.

His name is Dick.

What does your Dick do?

Computers.

Do you love him?

Funny, that's what he says.

Yes...

I love Dick.

And you're not unhappy anymore?

I'm very happy.

Happy enough.

I thought I would never see you again.

I thought you hated me.

I love you.

Of course I love you.

I've never heard you tell Poppy

you love him, but I know you do.

Don't tell me that I love him,

because you know I don't.

Then why do you stay here?

This was our house, goddamn it,

yours and mine.

And your sister's, and now Violet's.

If I could have given you this on my own,

I would have.

How am I supposed to pay the rent?

If I didn't have you kids, I'd be...

I'd be somewhere warm, at least.

Sorry to have been a burden.

Your father used to cry

every year on your birthday.

Poor guy!

He blames me for you. Me and Laurel.

He'd have let the garden die

if I hadn't tended...

You think everything would die

if you didn't take care of it.

I'm sorry.

The place looks very nice.

It's like I never left.

All you gotta do is back up.

Blessings, all summer.

- How much for this sea gull?

- You can have that.

- Really? How about these two blue jays?

- Those would be $2.

Those belong to my daughter.

- How much for the doll?

- $2.80.

Grow.

Why can't she eat with the rest of us?

- I didn't ask her why.

- That's bullshit.

- Did you water the garden yet?

- Not yet.

Get your fat ass out there

and water it before you sit at the table.

She's 68. She can eat where she wants.

Don't bring her another plate upstairs.

- Gonna get goddamn mice in the house.

- Give me a break.

If she wants to eat,

she can come to the table like the rest of us.

- This isn't a nursing home.

- She doesn't like to climb the stairs.

Why not give her our room?

We'll sleep upstairs.

- No! Goddamn it.

- Why not?

I want my privacy!

Listen to yourself. She's your mother.

That's right. I used to follow her rules.

Now she follows mine.

Then you can help her down the stairs.

Too goddamn bad, isn't it?

- Too bad for everyone but you.

- Too bad.

- I thought I told you to water the garden.

- I just did.

Jesus Christ.

How did you water the garden

in 30 seconds?

I just did.

Say something.

Don't you goddamn lie to me.

Go on upstairs and wash.

Water the garden right after supper.

- Quiet!

- Why, you gonna hit me?

Kids, supper's ready!

Is there gravy or something?

I've got something for you, Nana.

- You've been crying.

- No, I was watering the plants.

The big jerk.

I brought you a present.

It's a little beat up, though.

What's that? My back.

It's a sea gull!

My goodness, I didn't know what it was!

- Where'd you get it?

- MacDougal had another yard sale.

He gave it to me. Do you like it?

He just wants to talk to people.

Have you seen my porcelain penguin

that was here?

- No.

- Who would've taken it?

- Maybe you put it down somewhere else.

- I know where my things belong.

Somebody took that penguin.

And that's not all.

I had a whole set of these ducks.

Four of them.

Now I've only got one.

Rosemary gave me these ducks

one Christmas...

when you was just little kids.

You was just a baby.

Damn it.

How am I going to remember

that Christmas?

My first Christmas in this house.

How am I supposed to remember that?

I lose things in this house all the time.

Maybe Mom knows where it is.

I'm going to have to hide my things

in my own room.

My good things.

I'll put it in this drawer.

Laurel was here...

your Aunt Laurel.

That's when the ducks disappeared.

What is Aunt Laurel going to do

with your freaking ducks?

Get dressed, I wanna get out of here.

- Where you going?

- There's a stupid dance at school.

You're going to a dance?

Dear God in Heaven.

- Now, you know how to count to six?

- What?

If you're going to kiss a boy, you got to

count to six while you're doing it.

And then stop. After six, it's a sin.

- You got pockets?

- Yeah.

- You carrying your protection with you?

- What?

Started when your father was young.

Every party dress had to have pockets.

Your hands.

These'll keep you safe.

You feel some of that...

hocus-pocus coming into your body...

you don't have to worry.

I'll finish before I go.

That's okay.

I'll do it.

You go out...

and have fun.

Here.

Have a good time.

Thanks. I still have $20 from last time.

F*** off!

Shut up!

- Wait!

- Shut up!

Come on, you guys, I want to go dance.

I need more drugs in me

before I go into that place at night.

Christ! What the f*** are they thinking?

It's like loitering around goddamn Alcatraz

while you're out on parole.

Willy, why don't you go dance with Susan?

- I don't dance. I just jiggle.

- I don't want to go in with just him.

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