Paradise 精彩片段：
10
When Simon wonders what kind of ani?mal he is, he identifies with the giraffe. An improbable design, a weird ensemble overall, no special reputation for wisdom, an uncle-figure at best. Neglected by the auto industry: no Ford Giraffes on the highways. Simon too has a long neck, often commented upon, and a pe?culiar gait, sort of a shamble.
He gets a call from his wife, Carol, in Philadelphia.
"You havent paid the car insurance," she says. "On either car. I got stopped by a cop yesterday and he jacked me up about the insurance."
"Whatd you get stopped for?"
"Taillight."
"Call Bud at the office and tell him to take care of it," Simon says. "Hes got all the paperwork on the in?surance. How are you?"
"Considering what our mayor is up to, Im rea?sonably sane. This thing is really working out much better than I thought it would. Your being gone, I mean."
"The absence of a plan is itself a plan," Simon says. "Heard from Sarah?"
"She called a day or so ago. Shes dropped German and history."
"Oh Lord. Why history?"
"They had to write papers."
"She can hardly avoid writing papers."
"She needs a typewriter."
"Buy her a typewriter."