Chapter 9

Helene complains about newly having to lock her door. Hettie sees this as a significant change between them. She reports conversation with Bruce Wright, an NYC judge. Helene recalls years of early rising in dark cold, now is absorbed in computer, her “new labyrinth.” Hettie’s Bedford students have poetry published in the New Yorker. Helene mentions making book from ’60s letters, never does. Allen Ginsberg dies, Hettie reports funeral service. Ed Dorn is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Helene worries about memories, says she’ll die before he does, which Hettie says is scaring her, but confesses at sixty-two to a desire to sit back and reflect. Nevertheless, Helene is getting work done in studio. Hettie travels to New Haven to see Bill T. Jones dance; Helene reads Gates, Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Man, notices chapter on Bill T. Jones. Helene gets new hearing aids; Hettie threatens email, gets visiting writer Penn State job.