Thousand: Four Hundred Twenty-Three

cozier. Bernie lets his head fall on the man’s chest and gets a squeeze and tut-tut. “Come along, come along. We have a room for you. Sir has it all arranged. He will meet you in the morning.” “Sir?” “Sir. Yes. Your tour guide.” “The dog? That’s the dog’s name? Sir?” Bernie has let himself be led by the hand from the warm building back onto the porch. He watches the man’s carpet slippers kick through weeds and gravel as they leave the yellow light behind. “Why is the dog called ‘Sir’?” Bernie almost adds, “sir,” but closes his mouth