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38。 FRIENDS
We often refer to civilization as a thin veneer； but the constant violence in our country suggests it might be better characterized as a net； with great gaping holes that people are constantly falling through。 As the net fills with population growth； the net stretches； making the holes bigger and more people slip out of civilization's control。 God help us if the net should ever tear open。
…Dr。 Chorlene Hall； The Violent Society
New York City
POSTQUILT： TUESDAY； 7：30 A。M。 EST
The sounds of Mrs。 Weatherby in her kitchen brought Luis back to consciousness。 He was feeling better。 The headache was finally gone。 The lump on his scalp was still there； but the swelling in his lip was down noticeably。 He sniffed the aroma from the kitchen and realized with a start he had slept through the night。 Mrs。 Weatherby was fixing breakfast。 Luis could pick out the smells of coffee and frying bacon； they reminded him of his family； Melinda must be out of her mind with worry； Luis knew he had to go and he wanted Mrs。 Weatherby to e with him。
Luis sat up slowly。 When he was sure he wasn't going to faint he walked to the kitchen and leaned against the door frame。 Mrs。 Weatherby； wearing a red and white checked apron； was cooking a pan of eggs and bacon over a propane stove。 When she saw him she flashed him a grandmother's smile and motioned to the table。
〃Sit down； Luis。 You're just in time。 I'm afraid there's no toast this morning。 The toaster is out； you see。 I do hope the electricity es on again soon。 I know； I'll toast a piece of bread over the flames of the stove。 That just might work you know。〃
〃No； Mrs； Weatherby。 This is fine。 More than I ever hoped for。〃
〃I'd be happy to try toasting the bread。〃
〃I'm fine； really。〃
Luis sat down at the table and ate greedily。 When he was about halfway through； Mrs。 Weatherby clucked her tongue and began frying the last two eggs in the carton。 He felt guilty。 〃Mrs。 Weatherby； you're feeding me the last of your eggs。 There won't be anymore； you know。 At least not for a while。 There's no law out there。 Take a look at my face if you don't believe me。 Let me take you to Melinda's brother's place。 The kids are there。 You could really help us out。 You know； you watch the kids while Melinda and I look for a new place。 The kids would love it。 Especially Katrina。 You know she loves you。〃
〃Katrina is a dear； Luis； and you give her a hug from me。 But this is my home and I see no reason to leave it； I can do without a few eggs。 As for food； I have everything I need to last me a month right here in this apartment； and when that runs out I've got lots of neighbors to borrow from。 I've been through blackouts before； Luis； and they're no problem if you're prepared。〃
〃But； Mrs。 Weatherby； there's a dinosaur out there。〃
〃Many dinosaurs； Luis。 It's been a constant parade。 Some of them I haven't learned the names for yet； but I know I saw a polacanthus and a pachycephalosaurus and those awful deinonychus。 They're terrible killers！ And。of course there's my iguanodon friend。 A vegetarian； you know。 He has a sweet tooth。〃
She scooped the eggs onto Luis's plate； then took apple juice from the refrigerator and filled a glass for Luis。 〃I don't know why I keep the apple juice in the refrigerator。 It isn't working； of course。 I guess it's just habit。〃
Luis sighed。 〃That big dinosaur； he doesn't have to eat you； you know。 Stepping on you would turn you into a pancake。〃
〃He's really quite careful。〃 Then Mrs。 Weatherby looked thoughtful。 〃Would you like some pancakes； Luis？ I could whip them up real easy。 I've got lots of syrup。 I've got one of those mixes that doesn't use any eggs。 Of course…〃
〃No； please no。 This is fine。 I'm already full。 I said that dinosaur will turn you into a pancake； I didn't mean I wanted any。 He's not smart enough to be careful。 He's going to hurt you。 He won't mean it but it will happen。〃
〃He is so smart；〃 Mrs。 Weatherby replied defensively。 〃You should see how quickly he learned that sugar trick。 Now I'm teaching him to stay away from my garden。 Why I think I could…〃
Mrs。 Weatherby was interrupted by the now familiar 〃aaaah〃 sound drifting in from the living room window。 She immediately took two paper bags from the kitchen counter and walked through the door； calling back over her shoulder as she left； 〃Finish your eggs； Luis。 I've got to see to the iguanodon's sweet tooth or he'll never leave us alone。〃
When she walked out the apartment door； he realized she was going down to feed her dinosaur by hand。 She was impossible。 Luis had nearly lost his life trying to rescue her from something she didn't want to be rescued from。 He couldn't drag her all the way back to Steve and Tanya's apartment。 He was going to have to leave her here； and if that dinosaur got her it wouldn't be his fault。 He had tried。
When he looked out the living room window； the dinosaur was there with Mrs。 Weatherby。 He was down on all fours getting seconds； his massive mouth wide open as little Mrs； Weatherby poured sugar inside。 It was a strange and wonderful relationship； but Luis knew it couldn't last。 Mrs。 Weatherby would have to leave eventually。 The electricity wasn't ing back easily this time； and even if it did it wouldn't matter。 The police would evacuate these buildings when the looting ended； and they would seal off the dinosaur meadow。
Luis finally conceded defeat。 He had to leave。 He had a family worrying about him and he should have been home long ago。
Mrs。 Weatherby had finished feeding her dinosaur； who was walking off into the meadow chewing a mouthful of grass。
Luis called out the window to her。 〃Mrs。 Weatherby； I've got to go to my family。 Won't you e with me？〃
She smiled up at him。 〃Go take care of your babies； Luis。 Stop worrying about an old woman。 Please don't worry about me。 I haven't been this happy in years。〃
Luis nodded and waved good…bye。 She might die； he thought； but she would die happy。 Could anyone hope for more than a long life and to die happy？ Then he stepped out the door。
The streets were worse than Luis remembered。 He figured that earlier the pain in his head helped blank out his memory。 The area near the dinosaur field was nearly a total loss。 They hadn't burned the buildings yet； but every window was broken； and anything of value had been hauled away。 The leftovers from the looting filled the streets； which were haunted by the scavengers； who were mostly male。 The families were long gone and the elderly were holed up like Mrs。 Weatherby。
Luis stood in the doorway of his building studying the passersby…young and male； and a mixture of races。 The whites had been moving out of Luis's neighborhood for the last few years； but it wasn't clear yet whether the neighborhood would go Latino or black。 That was partly why the gang problems were worse here。 The white gang called Zombies was losing control over their turf and being increasingly violent。 The Zombies were on their way out； but they were taking some of the Diablos and Kimbos with them。 Still； Luis couldn't spot any gang colors among the crowd。 But something else about the crowd bothered him。 Why was the crowd still here？ Why weren't they w