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 licked 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 mornings Macon started fixing breakfast for Alexander, eggs and hot milk. Alexander then walked to school with Buddy and Sissy Ebberts, two tough-looking older children from across the street. Muriel left for one or other of her jobs, depending on what 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 wondered about Muriel, feeling a strong curiosity about her inner thoughts, she never attempted to hide her true nature from him, which was certainly far from perfect. She had a nasty temper, a sharp tongue, and could fall into deep depressions for hours. She was obviously intelligent, but at the same time she firmly believed that you could tell the future from dreams. She also believed in fortune telling, knew that her magic number was seventeen, and in a previous life had been a fashion designer.
At three o'clock Alexander got home from school, letting himself in with a key tied on a string around his neck.
How was your day?' Macon always asked
'Oh, okay.
But on had the feeling that school never went very well for Alexander. His glasses were always covered in fingerprint and his face seemed paler than ever, Sometimes Macon helped him with his schoolwork, simple questions about his reading. "Why did Joe need five dollars? Where was Joe's daddy?'
Umm...' Alexander said, staring anxiously at the page.
"Take your time," Macon told him, 'There's no hurry.
"But I can't! I don't know! I don't know!"
Macon felt tied to Alexander in all sorts of complicated ways, but he could still draw back from him, he was not responsible for him. It was a comfort to know that.
When Muriel came home, she brought fresh air and action and excitement. 'Is it ever cold! Is it ever windy! Radio says three below zero tonight. Edward, down, this minute. Who wants lemon cake tonight? Here's what happened in my day…
As she talked, she moved around the kitchen getting supper Later, she talked to her mother on the phone or, more usually to her sister Claire, who was apparently having troubles at home.