Sadie didnt call.
3
On the third of August, a 58 Bel Air sedan pulled into 2703s excuse for a driveway. It was followed by a gleaming Chrysler. The Oswald brothers got out of the Bel Air and stood side by side, not talking.
I reached through the drapes long enough to run up my front window, letting in the street noise and a lackluster puff of hot, humid air. Then I ran for the bedroom and brought my new piece of equipment out from under the bed. Silent Mike had cut a hole in the bottom of a Tupperware bowl and taped the omnidirectional mikewhich he assured me was top-of-the-lineinto it, so it stuck up like a finger. I attached the microphone leads to the connecting points on the back of the tape recorder. There was a plug-in for headphones, which my electronics pal had also claimed were top-of-the-line.
I peered out and saw the Oswalds talking to the guy from the Chrysler. He was wearing a Stetson, a ranchers tie, and gaudy stitched boots. Better dressed than my landlord, but of the same tribe. I didnt have to hear the conversation; the mans gestures were textbook. I know it aint much, but then, you aint got much. Do you, podna? It had to be a hard scripture for a world traveler like Lee, who believed he was destined for fame, if not necessarily fortune.
There was an electrical socket in the baseboard. I plugged in the tape recorder, hoping I wouldnt give myself a shock or blow a fuse. The tape recorders little red light went on. I donned the earphones and slipped the Tupperware bowl into the gap between the curtains. If they looked over here theyd be squinting into the sun, and thanks to the shadow cast by the eave above the window, they would see either nothing or an unremarkable white blur that might be anything. I reminded myself to cover the bowl with black friction tape, nevertheless. Always safe, never sorry.
And in any case, I could hear nothing.
Even the street sounds had become muffled.
Oh yeah, this is great, I thought. This is just fucking brilliant. Thanks a pantload, Silent Mi
Then I noticed the VOL control on the tape recorder was sitting at zero. I twisted it all the way to the + mark, and was blasted by voices. I tore the earphones off my head with a curse, turned the VOL knob to the halfway point, and tried again. The result was remarkable. Like binoculars for the ears.
Sixty a month strikes me as a little bit steep, sir, Lee Oswald was saying (considering the Templetons had been paying ten dollars a month less, it struck me that way, too). His voice was respectful, tinged by just a trace of Southern accent. If we could agree on fifty-five
I can respect a man who wants to dicker, but dont even bother trine, Snakeskin Boots said. He rocked back and forth on his stacked heels like a man whos anxious to be gone. I gotta git what I gotta git. If I dont git it from you, Im goan git it from someone else.
Lee and Robert glanced at each other.
Might as well go in and have a look around, Lee said.
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This a good place on a famly street, Snakeskin Boots said. Yall want to watch out for that first porch step, though, it needs a smidge of carpenterin. I got smany of these places, and people is shard on them. That last bunch, law.
Watch it, asshole, I thought. Thats Ivys people youre talking about.
They went inside. I lost the voices, then got them againfaintlywhen Snakeskin Boots ran up the front room window. It was the one Ivy had said the neighbors across the way could see into, and she was a hundred percent correct on that score.
Lee asked what his prospective landlord intended to do about the holes in the walls. There was no indignation in the query, no sarcasm, but no subservience, either, in spite of the sir appended to every sentence. It was a respectful yet flat mode of address he had probably learned in the Marines. Colorless was the best word for him. He had the face and voice of a man who was good at sliding through the cracks. In public, at least. It was Marina who saw his other face and heard his other voice.
Snakeskin Boots made vague promises, and absolutely guaranteed a new mattress for the big bedroom, on account of how that last bunch had gone and stole the one that had been in there. He reiterated that if Lee didnt want the place someone else would (as if it hadnt been standing vacant all year), then invited the brothers to inspect the bedrooms. I wondered how they would enjoy Rosettes artistic efforts.
I lost their voices, then got them again as they toured the kitchen area. I was happy to see them pass the Leaning Lamp of Pisa without a glance.
basement? Robert asked.
No basement! Snakeskin Boots replied, booming it, as if the lack of a basement were an advantage. Apparently he thought it was. Neighborhood like this, all they do is ship water. And the damp, law! Here I lost the vocal track again as he opened the rear door to show them the backyard. Which was not a yard at all but an empty field.
Five minutes later they were out front again. This time it was Robert, the elder brother, who tried to dicker. He had no more success than Lee had.
Will you give us a minute? Robert asked.
Snakeskin Boots looked at his clunky chromed-up watch, and allowed as how he could do that. But I got a pointment over on Church Street, so you fellas need to hurry on n make up your minds.
Robert and Lee walked to the rear of Roberts Bel Air, and although they pitched their voices low to keep Snakeskin Boots from hearing, when I tilted the bowl in their direction, I got most of it. Robert was in favor of looking at some more places. Lee said he wanted this one. It would do fine for a start.
Lee, its a hole, Robert said. Its throwin your Money away, probably.
Lee said something I couldnt make out. Robert sighed and raised his hands in surrender. They went back to Snakeskin Boots, who gave Lees hand a brief pump and praised the wisdom of his choice. He launched into the Landlord Scripture: first month, last month, damage deposit. Robert stepped in then, saying there would be no damage deposit until the walls were fixed and the new mattress was installed.
New mattress, sure, Snakeskin Boots said. And Ill see that step fixed so the little woman dont turn her ankle. But ifn I fix them walls right off, Id have to boost the rent by five a month.
I knew from Als notes that Lee was going to take the place, and still I expected him to walk away from this outrage. Instead, he took a limp wallet out of his back pocket and removed a thin sheaf of bills. He counted most of them into his new landlords outstretched hand while Robert walked back to his car, shaking his head in disgust. His eyes turned briefly to my house across the street, then passed on, disinterested.
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Snakeskin Boots flogged Lees hand again, then jumped into his Chrysler and drove off fast, leaving a scrunch of dust behind.
One of the jump-rope girls came barreling up on a rusty scooter. You movin into Rosettes house, mister? she asked Robert.
No, he is, Robert said, and cocked a thumb at his brother.
She pushed her scooter to Lee and asked the man who was going to blow off the right side of Jack Kennedys head if he had any kids.
Ive got a little girl, Lee said. He put his hands on his knees so he could get down to her level.
She purty?
Not as pretty as you, nor as big.
Can she jump rope?
Honey, she cant even walk yet. Cant came out caint.
Well bullpucky on her. She scooted away in the direction of Winscott Road.
The two brothers turned toward the house. This muffled them a little, but when I cranked the volume, I could still make out most of what they were saying.
This pig in a poke, Robert told him. When Marina sees it, shell be on you like flies on a dog-turd.
Ill Rina, Lee said. But brother, if I dont from Ma and out of that little apartment, Im apt to kill her.
She can be a but loves you, Lee. Robert walked a few steps toward the street. Lee joined him, and their voices came through clear as a bell.
I know it, but she cant help herself. The other night when me n Rinas goin at it, she hollers at us from the foldout. Shes sleeping in the livin room, you know. Take it easy on that, you two, she hollers, its too soon for another one. Wait until you can pay for the one youve got.
I know it. She can be hard.
She keeps buyin things, brother. Says theyre for Rina, but shoves em up into my face. Lee laughed and walked back to the Bel Air. This time it was his eyes that skated across 2706, and it took all I had to hold still behind the drapes. And to hold the bowl still, too.
Robert joined him. They leaned on the back bumper, two men in clean blue shirts and workingmens pants. Lee wore a tie, which he now pulled down.
Listen to this. Ma goes to Leonard Brothers and comes back with all these clothes for Rina. She drags out a pair of shorts that are as long as bloomers, only paisley. Look, Reenie, arent they purty? she says. Lees imitation of his mothers accent was savage.
Whatd Rina say? Robert was smiling.
She says, No, Mamochka, no, I thank but I no like, I no like. I like this way. Then she puts her hand on her leg. Lee put the side of his hand on his own, about halfway up the thigh.
Roberts smile widened to a grin. Bet Ma liked that.
She says, Marina, shorts like that are for young girls who parade themselves on the streets looking for boyfriends, not for married women. Youre not to tell her where we are, brother. You are not. We got that straight?
Robert didnt say anything for a few seconds. Perhaps he was remembering a cold day in November of 1960. His mama trotting after him along West Seventh, calling out, Stop, Robert, dont walk so fast, Im not done with you! And although Als notes said nothing on the subject, I doubted if she was done with Lee, either. After all, Lee was the son she really cared about. The baby of the family. The one who slept in the same bed with her until he was eleven. The one who needed regular checking to see if hed started getting hair around his balls yet. Those things were in Als notes. Next to them, in the margin, were two words youd not ordinarily expect from a short-order cook: hysterical fixation.
We got it straight, Lee, but this aint a big town. Shell find you.
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Ill send her packing if she does. You can count on that.
They got into the Bel Air and drove away. The FOR RENT sign was gone from the porch railing. Lee and Marinas new landlord had taken it with him when he went.
I walked to the hardware store, bought a roll of friction tape, and covered the Tupperware bowl with it, outside and inside. On the whole, I thought it had been a good day, but I had entered the danger zone. And I knew it.
4
On August 10, around five in the afternoon, the Bel Air reappeared, this time pulling a small wooden trailer. It took Lee and Robert less than ten minutes to carry all of the Oswalds worldly goods into the new manse (being careful to avoid the loose porch board, which had still not been fixed). During the moving-in process, Marina stood on the crabgrassy lawn with June in her arms, looking at her new home with an expression of dismay that needed no translation.
This time all three of the jump-rope girls appeared, two walking, the other pushing her scooter. They demanded to see the baby, and Marina complied with a smile.
Whats her name? one of the girls asked.
June, Marina said.
Then they all jumped in. How old is she? Can she talk? Why dont she laugh? Does she have a dolly?
Marina shook her head. She was still smiling. Sorry, I no spik.
The three girls pelted off, yelling I no spik, I no spik! One of the surviving Mercedes Street chickens flew out of their way, squawking. Marina watched them go, her smile fading.
Lee came out on the lawn to join her. He was stripped to the waist, sweating hard. His skin was fishbelly white. His arms were thin and slack. He put an arm around her waist, then bent and kissed June. I thought Marina might point at the house and say no like, I no likeshe had that much English downbut she only handed Lee the baby and climbed to the porch, tottering for a moment on the loose step, then catching her balance. It occurred to me that Sadie probably would have gone sprawling, then limped on a swollen ankle for the next ten days.
It also occurred to me that Marina was as anxious to get away from Marguerite as her husband was.
5
The tenth was a Friday. On Monday, about two hours after Lee had left for another day of putting together aluminum screen doors, a mud-colored station wagon pulled up to the curb in front of 2703. Marguerite Oswald was out on the passenger side almost before it stopped rolling. Today the red kerchief had been replaced by a white one with black polka dots, but the nurses shoes were the same, and so was the look of dissatisfied pugnacity. She had found them, just as Robert had said she would.
Hound of heaven, I thought. Hound of heaven.
I was looking out through the crack between the drapes, but saw no point in powering up the mike. This was a story that needed no soundtrack.
The friend who had driven hera portly galstruggled out from behind the wheel and fanned the neck of her dress. The day was already another scorcher, but Marguerite cared nothing for that. She hustled her chauffeur around to the trunk of the station wagon. Inside was a high chair and a bag of groceries. Marguerite took the former; her friend hoisted the latter.
The jump-rope girl with the scooter came riding up, but Marguerite gave her short shrift. I heard Scat, child! and the jump-rope girl rode away with her lower lip pooched out.
Marguerite marched up the bald rut that served as a front walk. While she was eyeing the loose step, Marina came out. She was wearing a smock top and the kind of shorts Mrs. Oswald didnt approve of for married women. I wasnt surprised that Marina liked them. She had terrific legs. Her expression was one of startled alarm, and I didnt need my makeshift amplifier to hear her.
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No, MamochkaMamochka, no! Lee say no! Lee say no! Lee say Then a quick rattle of Russian as Marina expressed what her husband had said in the only way she could.
Marguerite Oswald was one of those Americans who believe foreigners are sure to understand you if you just speak slowly and very LOUDLY.
Yes Lee has his PRIDE! she bugled. She climbed to the porch (deftly avoiding the bad step) and spoke directly into her daughter-in-laws startled face. Nothing wrong with that but he cant let my GRANDDAUGHTER pay the PRICE!
She was beefy. Marina was willowy. Mamochka steamed inside without a second look. This was followed by a moment of silence, then a longshoremans bellow.
Wheres that little CUTIE of mine?
Deep in the house, probably in Rosettes old bedroom, June began to wail.
The woman who had driven Marguerite gave Marina a tentative smile, then went inside with the bag of groceries.
6
Lee came walking down Mercedes Street from the bus stop at five-thirty, banging a black dinnerbucket against one thigh. He mounted the steps, forgetting the bad one. It shifted; he tottered, dropped his dinnerbucket, then bent to pick it up.
Thatll improve his mood, I thought.
He went in. I watched him cross the living room and put his dinnerbucket on the kitchen counter. He turned and saw the new high chair. He obviously knew his mas modus operandi, because next he opened the rusty refrigerator. He was still peering into it when Marina came out of the babys room. She had a diaper over her shoulder, and the binocs were good enough for me to see there was some spit-up on it.
She spoke to him, smiling, and he turned to her. He had the fair skin thats every easy blushers bane, and his scowling face was bright red all the way to his thinning hair. He started shouting at her, pointing a finger at the refrigerator (the door still stood open, exhaling vapor). She turned to go back into the babys room. He caught her by the shoulder, spun her around, and began to shake her. Her head snapped back and forth.
I didnt want to watch this, and there was no reason I should; it added nothing to what I needed to know. He was a beater, yes, but she was going to survive him, which was more than John F. Kennedy could say or Officer Tippit, for that matter. So no, I didnt need to see. But sometimes you cant look away.
They argued it back and forth, Marina no doubt trying to explain that she didnt know how Marguerite had found them and that shed been unable to keep Mamochka out of the house. And of course Lee finally hit her in the face, because he couldnt hit his ma. Even if shed been there, he wouldnt have been able to raise a fist against her.
Marina cried out. He let her go. She spoke to him passionately, her hands held out. He tried to take one of them and she slapped it away. Then she raised those hands to the ceiling, dropped them, and walked out the front door. Lee started to follow her, then thought better of it. The brothers had put two ratty old lawn chairs on the porch. Marina sank into one of them. There was a scrape below her left eye, and her cheek was already starting to swell. She stared out into the street, and across it. I felt a stab of guilty fear even though my living room lights were out and I knew she couldnt see me. I was careful to remain still, though, with the binoculars frozen to my face.
Lee sat down at the kitchen table and propped his forehead on the heels of his palms. He remained that way for awhile, then heard something and went into the smaller of the bedrooms. He came out with June in his arms and began to walk her around the living room, rubbing her back, soothing her. Marina went inside. June saw her and held out her chubby arms. Marina went to them and Lee gave her the baby. Then, before she could walk away, he hugged her. She stood silently inside his arms for a moment, then shifted the baby so she could hug him back with one arm. His mouth was buried in her hair, and I was pretty sure I knew what he was saying: the Russian words for Im sorry. I had no doubt that he was. He would be sorry next time, too. And the time after that.
Marina took June back into what had been Rosettes bedroom. Lee stood where he was for a moment, then went to the fridge, took something out, and began to eat it.
7
Late the following day, just as Lee and Marina were sitting down to supper (June lay on the living room floor, kicking her legs on a blanket), Marguerite came puffing down the street from the Winscott Road bus stop. This evening she was wearing blue slacks that were unfortunate, considering the generous spread of her butt. She was toting a large cloth bag. Poking out of the top was the red plastic roof of a childs playhouse. She walked up the porch steps (once more deftly avoiding the bad one) and marched in without knocking.
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I fought against the temptation to get my directional mikethis was another scene I did not need to be privy toand lost. Theres nothing so fascinating as a family argument, I think Leo Tolstoy said that. Or maybe it was Jonathan Franzen. By the time I got it plugged in and aimed through my open window at the open window across the street, the rhubarb was in full swing.
wanted you to know where we were, I would have damn well told you!
Vada told me, shes a good girl, Marguerite said placidly. Lees rage washed over her like a light summer shower. She was unloading mismatched dishes onto the counter with the speed of a blackjack dealer. Marina was looking at her with outright amazement. The playhouse sat on the floor, next to Junes baby blanket. June kicked her legs and ignored it. Of course she ignored it. Whats a four-month-old going to do with a playhouse?
Ma, you have to leave us alone! You have to stop bringing things! I can take care of my family!
Marina added her two cents worth: Mamochka, Lee say no.
Marguerite laughed merrily. Lee say no, Lee say no. Honey, Lee always say no, this little man been doin it all his life and it doesnt mean a thing. Ma takes care of him. She pinched his cheek, the way a mother would pinch the cheek of a six-year-old after he has done something naughty but undeniably cute. If Marina had tried that, Im sure Lee would have knocked her block off.
At some point the jump-rope girls had drifted onto the bald excuse for a lawn. They watched the argument as attentively as Globe groundlings checking out the newest Shakespeare offering in the standing-room section. Only in the play we were watching, the shrew was going to come out on top.
What did she make you for dinner, honey? Was it something good?
We had stew. Zharkoye. That guy Gregory sent some coupons for the ShopRite. His mouth worked. Marguerite waited. Did you want some, Ma?
Zharkoye pretty okay, Mamochka, Marina said with a hopeful smile.
No, I couldnt eat anything like that, Marguerite said.
Hell, Ma, you dont even know what it is!
It was as if he hadnt spoken. It would upset my stomach. Besides, I dont want to be on a city bus after eight oclock. There are too many drunk men on them after eight oclock. Lee, honey, you need to fix that step before someone breaks a leg.
He muttered something, but Marguerites attention had moved elsewhere. She swooped down like a hawk on a fieldmouse and grabbed June. With my binoculars, the babys startled expression was unmistakable.
Hows my little CUTIE tonight? Hows my DEAR ONE? Hows my little DEVUSHKA?
Her little devushka, scared shitless, began to scream her head off.
Lee made a move to take the baby. Marguerites red lips peeled back from her teeth in what could have been a grin, but only if you wanted to be charitable. It looked more like a snarl to me. It must have to her son, too, because he stepped back. Marina was biting her lip, her eyes wide with dismay.
Oooo, Junie! Junie-Moonie-SPOONIE!
Marguerite marched back and forth across the threadbare green carpet, ignoring Junes increasingly distressed wails just as she had ignored Lees anger. Was she actually feeding on those wails? It looked that way to me. After awhile, Marina could bear it no longer. She got up and went to Marguerite, who steamed away from her, holding the baby to her breasts. Even from across the street I could imagine the sound of her big white nurses shoes: clud-clump-clud. Marina followed her. Marguerite, perhaps feeling her point was made, at last surrendered the baby. She pointed at Lee, then spoke to Marina in her loud English instructors voice.
He gained weight when you were staying with me because I fixed him all the things he LIKES but hes still TOO DAMN SKINNY!
Marina was looking at her over the top of the babys head, her pretty eyes wide. Marguerite rolled her own, either in impatience or outright disgust, and put her face down to Marinas. The Leaning Lamp of Pisa was turned on, and the light skated across the lenses of Marguerites cats-eye glasses.
FIX HIM WHAT HELL EAT! NO SOURED CREAM! NO YOGRIT! HES TOO SKINNY!
Skeeny, Marina said doubtfully. Safe in her mothers arms, Junes weeping was winding down to watery hiccups.
Yes! Marguerite said. Then she whirled to Lee. Fix that step!
With that she left, only pausing to put a large smack on her granddaughters head. When she walked back toward the bus stop, she was smiling. She looked younger.
8
On the morning after Marguerite brought the playhouse, I was up at six. I went to the drawn drapes and peeked out through the crack without even thinking about itspying on the house across the street had become a habit. Marina was sitting in one of the lawn chairs, smoking a cigarette. She was wearing pink rayon pajamas that were far too big for her. She had a new black eye, and there were spots of blood on the pajama shirt. She smoked slowly, inhaling deeply and staring out at nothing.
After awhile she went back inside and made breakfast. Pretty soon Lee came out and ate it. He didnt look at her. He read a book.
9
That guy Gregory sent some coupons for the ShopRite, Lee had told his mother, perhaps to explain the meat in the stew, maybe just to inform her that he and Marina werent alone and friendless in Fort Worth. That appeared to have passed unnoticed by Mamochka, but it didnt pass unnoticed by me. Peter Gregory was the first link in the chain that would lead George de Mohrenschildt to Mercedes Street.
Like de Mohrenschildt, Gregory was a Russian expat in the petroleum biz. He was originally from Siberia, and taught Russian one night a week at the Fort Worth Library. Lee discovered this and called for an appointment to ask if he, Lee, could possibly get work as a translator. Gregory gave him a test and found his Russian passable. What Gregory was really interested inwhat all the expats were interested in, Lee must have feltwas the former Marina Prusakova, a young girl from Minsk who had somehow managed to escape the clutches of the Russian bear only to wind up in those of an American boor.
Lee didnt get the job; Gregory hired Marina insteadto give his son Paul Russian lessons. It was money the Oswalds desperately needed. It was also something else for Lee to resent. She was tutoring a rich kid twice a week while he was stuck putting together screen doors.
The morning I observed Marina smoking on the porch, Paul Gregory, good-looking and about Marinas age, pulled up in a brand-new Buick. He knocked, and Marinawearing heavy makeup that made me think of Bobbi Jillopened the door. Either mindful of Lees possessiveness or because of rules of propriety she had learned back home, she gave him his lesson on the porch. It lasted an hour and a half. June lay between them on her blanket, and when she cried, the two of them took turns holding her. It was a nice little scene, although Mr. Oswald would probably not have thought so.
Around noon, Pauls father pulled up behind the Buick. There were two men and two women with him. They brought groceries. The elder Gregory hugged his son, then kissed Marina on the cheek (the one that wasnt swollen). There was a lot of talk in Russian. The younger Gregory was lost, but Marina was found: she lit up like a neon sign. She invited them in. Soon they were sitting in the living room, drinking iced tea and talking. Marinas hands flew like excited birds. June went from hand to hand and lap to lap.
I was fascinated. The Russian émigré community had found the girl-woman who would become their darling. How could she be anything else? She was young, she was a stranger in a strange land, she was beautiful. Of course, beauty happened to be married to the beasta surly young American who hit her (bad), and who believed passionately in a system these upper-middle-class folks had just as passionately rejected (far worse).
Yet Lee would accept their groceries with only occasional outbursts of temper, and when they came with furnishingsa new bed, a bright pink crib for the babyhe accepted these, too. He hoped the Russians would get him out of the hole he was in. But he didnt like them, and by the time he moved his family to Dallas in November of 62, he must have known his feelings were heartily reciprocated. Why would they like him, he must have thought. He was ideologically pure. They were cowards who had abandoned Mother Russia when she was on her knees in 43, who had licked the Germans jackboots and then fled to the United States when the war was over, quickly embracing the American Way which to Oswald meant saber-rattling, minority-oppressing, worker-exploiting crypto-fascism.
Some of this I knew from Als notes. Most of it I saw played out on the stage across the street, or deduced from the only important conversation my lamp-bug picked up and recorded.
10
On the evening of August twenty-fifth, a Saturday, Marina dolled up in a pretty blue dress and popped June into a corduroy romper with appliquéd flowers on the front. Lee, looking sour, emerged from the bedroom in what had to be his only suit. It was a moderately hilarious wool box that could only have been made in Russia. It was a hot night, and I imagined he would be wringing with sweat before it was over. They walked carefully down the porch steps (the bad one still hadnt been fixed) and set off for the bus stop. I got into my car and drove up to the corner of Mercedes Street and Winscott Road. I could see them standing by the telephone pole with its white-painted stripe, arguing. Big surprise there. The bus came. The Oswalds got on. I followed, just as I had followed Frank Dunning in Derry.
History repeats itself is another way of saying the past harmonizes.
They got off the bus in a residential neighborhood on the north side of Dallas. I parked and watched them walk down to a small but handsome fieldstone-and-timber Tudor house. The carriage lamps at the end of the walk glowed softly in the dusk. There was no crabgrass on this lawn. Everything about the place shouted America works! Marina led the way to the house with the baby in her arms, Lee lagging slightly behind, looking lost in his double-breasted jacket, which swung almost to the backs of his knees.
