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Living their life on a small island on the Penobscot Bay, Robin and Ethel do everything together. Although he still repairs boats and floats, he always comes home for lunch, and spends most of the afternoon napping on the couch or reading magazines. After all, it’s island time.
One day Jack sees Robin working in his boatshed, and stops by for a visit. He’s working on a punt. “Guy brought this in ‘bout 10 years ago. Almost got it fixed. Hope he’s still alive.”
Jack and Robin stand outside Robin’s shed talking for about an hour. Every 15 minutes or so, Ethel comes out from the house to tell Robin that his lunch is ready.
“Your soup is hot.” She goes back inside the house, and when Robin fails to appear, she reheats the soup and goes back outside to bring him home. But she can’t peel him away from Jack. They are having too much fun talking about ancient times on the island.
Finally, she comes out with the kitten and asks Jack to take their picture. Notice the serene way she holds Robin’s arm, in a formal posture, as if being escorted to a country club dance. It is unmistakable that she is “with him.” You can almost see the white glove on her hand.
A few years after this picture was taken, Robin and Ethel celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Not too much later Robin feels poorly and dies. And a few days later, Ethel dies as well. No one is that surprised. |
