What We Learned from This Morning’s Newspaper

7.

Thanksgiving Day. We went to the Nesbits in the afternoon. It used to be that people spent Thanksgiving with their own kin their aunts uncles grandparents cousins et cetera but you can’t do that out here in a new suburb where everybody comes from someplace far away so we eat the turkey with neighbors instead. The Nesbits invited the Fischers the Harrises the Thomasons and us with all the kids of course too. A big noisy gathering. The Fischers came very late so late that we were worried and thinking of sending someone over to find out what was the matter. It was practically time for the turkey when they showed up and Edith Fischer’s eyes were red and puffy from crying.

My God my God she said I just found out my older sister is dead.

We started to ask the usual meaningless consoling questions like was she a sick woman and where did she live and what did she die of? And Edith sobbed and said I don’t mean she’s dead yet I mean she’s going to die next Tuesday.

Next Tuesday Tammy Nesbit asked? What do you mean I don’t understand how you can know that now. And then she thought a moment and she did understand and so did all the rest of us. Oh Tammy said the newspaper.

The newspaper yes Edith said. Sobbing harder.

Edith was reading the death notices Sid Fischer explained God knows why she was bothering to look at them just curiosity I guess and all of a sudden she lets out this terrible cry and says she sees her sister’s name. Sudden passing, a heart attack.

Her heart is weak Edith told us. She’s had two or three bad attacks this year.

Lois Thomason went to Edith and put her arms around her the way Lois does so well and said there there Edith it’s a terrible shock to you naturally but you know it must have been inevitable sooner or later and at least the poor woman isn’t suffering any more.

But don’t you see Edith cried. She’s still alive right now maybe if I phone and say go to the hospital right away they can save her? They might put her under intensive care and get ready for the attack before it even comes. Only I can’t say that can I? Because what can I tell her? That I read about her death in next week’s newspaper? She’ll think I’m crazy and she’ll laugh and she won’t pay any attention to me. Or maybe she’ll get very upset and drop dead right on the spot all on account of me. What can I do oh God what can I do?

You could say it was a premonition my wife suggested. A very vivid dream that had the ring of truth to you. If your sister puts any faith at all in things like that maybe she’ll decide it can’t hurt to see her doctor and then—

No Mike Nesbit broke in you mustn’t do any such thing Edith. Because they can’t save her. No way. They didn’t save her when the time came.

The time hasn’t come yet said Edith.

So far as we’re concerned said Mike the time has already come because we have the newspapers that describe the events of November 30 in the past tense. So we know your sister is going to die and to all intents and purposes is already dead. It’s absolutely certain because it’s in the newspaper and if we accept the newspaper as authentic then it’s a record of actual events beyond any hope of changing.

But my sister Edith said.

Your sister’s name is already on the roll of the dead. If you interfere now it’ll only bring unnecessary aggravation to her family and it won’t change a thing.

How do you know it won’t Mike?

The future mustn’t be changed Mike said. For us the events of that one day in the future are as permanent as any event in the past. We don’t dare play around with changing the future not when it’s already signed sealed and delivered in that newspaper. For all we know the future’s like a house of cards. If we pull one card out say your sister’s life we might bring the whole house tumbling down. You’ve got to accept the decree of fate Edith. You’ve got to. Otherwise there’s no telling what might happen.

My sister Edith said. My sister’s going to die and you won’t let me do anything to save her.