n has a Resource Center … the brochure says so。 The folks who have to live here （the brochure doesn't call us 〃inmates；〃 but sometimes I do） just call it the TV room。
Folks think I'm stand…offy because I don't go down to the TV room much in the day； but it's the programs I can't stand； not the folks。 Oprah； Ricki Lake； Carnie Wilson； Rolanda … the world is falling down around our ears； and all these people care for is talking about fucking to women in short skirts and men with their shirts hanging open。 Well； hell … judge not； lest ye be judged； the Bible says； so I'll get down off my soapbox。 It's just that if I wanted to spend time with trailer trash； I'd move two miles down to the Happy Wheels Motor Court； where the police cars always seem to be headed on Friday and Saturday nights with their sirens screaming and their blue lights flashing。 My special friend； Elaine Connelly； feels the same way。 Elaine is eighty； tall and slim； still erect and clear…eyed； very intelligent and refined。 She walks very slowly because there's something wrong with her hips； and I know that the arthritis in her hands gives her terrible misery； but she has a beautiful long neck … a swan neck； almost … and long； pretty hair that falls to her shoulders when she lets it down。
Best of all； she doesn't think I'm peculiar； or stand…offy。 We spend a lot of time together； Elaine and I。 If I hadn't reached such a grotesque age； I suppose I might speak of her as my ladyfriend。 Still； having a special friend … just that … is not so bad； and in some ways； it's even better。 A lot of the problems and heartaches that go with being boyfriend and girlfriend have simply burned out of us。 And although I know that no one under the age of； say； fifty would believe this； sometimes the embers are be