Going Out in Style by Gloria Dank

him warmly.
    Albert came around the corner and started nervously at seeing them together. He beat a hasty retreat toward the kitchen, where Mrs. MacGregor simpered at him and offered him a plate of frosted cakes. Albert looked around doubtfully at the party preparations.
    “It doesn’t seem right, does it, Mrs. MacGregor? So soon after … well, you know.”
    Mrs. MacGregor was, surprisingly, not sympathetic. She clucked her tongue and said that she didn’t know whether it was or not. It was more important to celebrate than to grieve, she added, rather poetically.
    “Speaking of that night, though,” she said, “the night It happened … you know, there’s something I just realized … something that I saw, or rather,
didn’t
see, if you take my meaning—”
    “No, I don’t, Mrs. MacGregor. What do you mean?”
    Mrs. MacGregor sidled closer to him and said that it was just something she should have seen that she didn’t … something that should have been there, but wasn’t.…
    Albert said sharply, “What are you talking about, Mrs. MacGregor?”
    There was laughter from the hallway and Susan and George came into the room together. Mrs. MacGregor was covered with confusion. Blushing, she retired to the counter near the oven and busied herself with the cakes.
    “No, Georgie, I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to play that three-hour piece you wrote for solo viola,” Susan was saying. “And I
do
think we need to move some of the chairs closer together in the living room. We’ll put Etta in the middle. Hello, Albert, when did you get home?”
    Mrs. MacGregor mumbled an excuse and left the room. “Just a few minutes ago,” Albert said, gazing worriedly after her.
    “What is it?”
    “I don’t know, Susie. Something Mrs. MacGregor saw … or didn’t see.… I don’t know. You know how she loves to hint about things.”
    “The woman lives for gossip,” Susan said acidly. She bent to examine the champagne. “Oh, yes, this will be terrific.”
    Albert was still looking pensively out the kitchen door. “You know, I wonder if she really does know something. Maybe I should call the police and let them talk to her. What do you think, Susie?”
    “Oh, it’s nothing, Albert. It’s nothing at all. You know how she is.”
    “Yes,” said Albert slowly. “Yes, I’m sure you’re right.”
    “So you’re off to your little party?” Maya said as Snooky came downstairs. He was wearing a dark jacket and a pearl gray tie which belonged to Bernard.
    “I’m off.”
    “Isn’t that jacket a little too big for you?”
    “I think it looks stylish, My.” Snooky paused in front of the hallway mirror and adjusted his tie.
    “Don’t you ever get tired of borrowing Bernard’s clothes? They don’t really fit you, you know.”
    “No, Maya. I love Bernard’s wardrobe. He has two identical ties and two identical jackets. I’ve never seen anything like it. Doesn’t he ever go out?”
    “You know he doesn’t, Snooky.”
    “Well, at least his clothes should. And it allows me to travel light when I’m coming here.”
    Bernard came into the hallway and glanced at his brother-in-law. “Nice jacket,” he said sadly.
    “Thank you, Bernard.”
    “That tie also looks familiar.”
    “That’s not surprising. You have two of them.”
    “Please have them home by midnight.”
    “I’ll do my best. Well, so long. Don’t wait up for me. You know these eightieth birthday parties can get pretty wild.”
    “So long, Snooks.” Maya opened the door for him. “Have a good time. And Snooky—”
    “Yes?”
    “Try not to get murdered.”
    Aunt Etta sat proudly, her legs dangling, in a big armchair in the middle of the living room. All around her people were talking, laughing, and drinking punch or champagne. George, in the corner, was playing an impromptu variation and fugue on the theme from ‘Happy Birthday.’
    Susan said, “Here you are, Aunt Etta. This is from Harold and me.”
    Etta eagerly