Macon began to spend all his time at Muriel’s house, to pay his share toward her rent and her groceries. He kept his shaving things in her bathroom and hung his clothes in her closet. He fetched his typewriter and worked at the kitchen table so that he could be around when Alexander was home alone.
The final thing was Edward. Macon returned from a business trip, and Rose told him, ‘Edward spends all his time in the hall, staring at the door, waiting for you to come back.’
That did it. He brought Edward back with him when he returned to Singleton Street. There were worries that the dog hair would be bad for Alexander’s allergies, but in the end it didn’t seem to make any difference.
Edward was wildly happy. He rushed madly all over the house, enthusiastically liked Muriel’s hands, and developed an immediate interest in Alexander, inviting him to throw balls and lying next to him on the couch when Alexander watched TV.
In the morning Macon started fixing breakfast for Alexander, eggs and hot milk. Alexander then walked to school with Buddy and Sissy Ebbetts, two tough-looking older children from across the street. Muriel left for one or other of her jobs, depending on when day it was.
The days took on a regular pattern. Macon worked at his latest guidebook in the morning, writing and arranging future trips. Sometimes he did a few repairs around the house-there was so much that needed fixing! As he worked, he often