PART 20

The first time Willa visited Chicago was in early spring.

Elena came too, and they stayed in a small guest apartment near mine.

Willa arrived clutching Captain Buttons and announced that she intended to inspect the city for excessive wind.

By the end of the first day, she had concluded that Chicago needed more trees and fewer honking cars.

I showed her the aquarium, a quiet park near the lake, and my apartment.

She was less impressed by the view from the windows than by the moon-shaped lamp I had placed in the guest room for the day.