compatible

George stood by the fireplace,his features twisted into a grimace."It's hell, I tell you. A living hell."

I sipped my drink and tried tothink of a subtle way to change thesubject. I didn't like to hear a person'spersonal problems and everytime I visited George, he invariablycomplained about Helen. If ithad been anyone else, I might havethought it wasn't entirely Helen'sfault, but George and I had beenroommates in college and I knewhim like a brother. He was a personwho got along with almost everyone.Intelligent, easy-going andlikeable.

He lifted his glass and glaredat me as if I were the guilty party."She's a worry-wart," he continued."A hypochondriac, a neurotic, anescapist, and a communist." Hestudied the ceiling thoughtfully."And sometimes I think she's alittle crazy."

I tried to calm him, "Don'tworry about it. If things get worse,get a divorce."

"Divorce, ha! She wouldn't giveme a divorce if—"

The door opened.

Helen smiled half-heartedly, herpale face quickly resuming its unhappyexpression as if it tired herfacial muscles when she smiled."Hello, Ed. Nice to see you again."

"Hello, Helen." I glanced atGeorge and noticed he had closedhis eyes as if the sight of his wifewas unbearable. His lower lip waswhite where he gripped it with histeeth and I silently hoped hewouldn't draw blood.

Helen sank into a chair andraised her skirt to reveal her rightleg. "Did George tell you aboutmy legs?" she inquired. She strokedthe leg affectionately. "Arthritis.George grafted a new one on forme. Feels ten times better."

My face blanched. The idea ofreplacing body parts from Banksdidn't nauseate me. If a man is inan automobile accident and losesan arm, and that arm can be replaced,I think that's marvelous.What sickened me were the peoplewho actually enjoyed having a partof their body replaced with a partfrom a criminal or corpse.

"No." I sat down. My kneeswere weak. I felt short of breath."George didn't tell me. I—"

She interrupted with details ofthe operation. The details and listof her other ailments lasted half anhour, during which George dranksteadily and I waited for a lull soI could glance at my watch and saysomething about being late for anappointment.

I saw George several times duringthe next few weeks. Never athis house. I didn't visit him on myown initiative because Helen, as Ihad seen during my last visit, hadpassed from the stage of being unpleasantand reached the stage ofbeing unbearable. I didn't want tobe around her or listen to her, andGeorge must have realized my feelingsbecause he didn't invite meto his house for some time.

But both of us had a habit ofstopping at a club on the outskirtsof town and we met there often.Each time we met, George complained.Each time, he seemed todrink more and complain more.

I worried about his job. He wasa surgeon—one of the best—and asurgeon needs good nerves andsteady hands when he performsdelicate operations.

I urged him to get a divorce, buthe said he didn't want one. "I loveHelen," he said one time. "Well,I don't exactly love He