. ." Silence. "That _was_ a long time ago."
"My middle name is Muni. My mother told me that Muni was my father and
that he had a brother named Ken. I think you are my uncle." Ken made a
sound deep in his throat.
"Mmmm . . . What year were you born? Do you have identification?"
"1958. Yes, I have I.D."
"Mmmm . . . Muni lives in Japan, but he is in California, now. I will
try and contact him. I will give him your number."
"Thank you." Oliver gave him the hotel and room number and the name of
the hotel in Eugene where he would be staying for a few days the
following week. "I live in Maine. He could reach me there, after that."
He gave Ken the address.
"I'll see what I can do," Ken said.
"Thank you."
"It may take a while. Muni unpredictable sometimes."
"I'll wait," Oliver said.
"O.K. . . . Maybe we get together sometime."
"I'd like that," Oliver said.
When Ken hung up, Oliver felt truly disconnected. Ken had sounded like
a decent guy. Made sense, with a wife like that. My coaches . . . He
must be a principal or a superintendent in the school system. Having
finally made contact, Oliver wanted more.
But no one called the next day.
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