Book of Mary XII: Finale

Dinner with the Don—

cut short by the arrival

of Sir William.

After kissing Delaney

he asked, “Will you excuse us?”

Parsley grabbed his plate

and Sage reached for Mary’s hand,

who refused to move.

Don Yoji pushed his chair back,

but William said, “Please, sit.”

Mary spoke boldly,

“Whatever this is about,

I want to hear it.”

Sage said to William, “Dad,

they're the innocent party.”

William answered,

“My peers are in a frenzy

about our house guests.

Mary, your aunt dried up

my international minutes.”

Delaney asked Sage,

“Will you follow me outside?”

Don kept his silence

as the three of them engaged

in a standoff without words.

William spoke first,

“I need to report the truth.

New York. What happened?”

Mary answered, “He was robbed.”

William replied, “What for?”

Don Yoji answered,

“The man wanted my straw hat

and when I refused,

he threatened me with a gun.

Then, Mary got in the way.

The rest is a blur.”

And William believed them.

Delaney returned.

Don said, “Now my hat is gone.”

Then, Sage placed one on his head.

R.L.P. Auriga

Hempstead, New York