Now

What is Gabriel's new book about, says Joe. It is about families. Big families? Frail families, the knots that skip between parents and children, between husbands and wives, between lovers, says Freddy. Lovers aren't part of families, Dad. Sometimes they are. Sometimes they're what keep families together. Like grandparents? Like Uncle Simon? Not like grandparents. Certainly not like Uncle Simon. Like who, then? Listen to what they say and what they don't say. They go to work, they face the weekend, an afternoon of furtive sex, an art exhibition. Daily situations. It's now, just like our now. Like our now? Yes, says Freddy. Will you read it to me? Tomorrow. It's late now, Freddy says. We'll start it tomorrow. Turn off the light.