Cathy has never once said what she means. She says 'no, it's fine' in the tone of a counseling statement, compliments your lawn by asking who you pay to do it, and ends every text with 'just a thought.' Nothing is ever stated, so nothing can ever be answered. The veteran wearing this spent years where orders came plain and the counseling came in writing, dated and signed. Out here he does the paperwork himself. Three incidents, each with a date, one card dealt. Category of offense: tone. Card: ace of spades.

THE DEBRIEF

Five spades, ten through ace, fanned on worn cream stock. In the ace's big spade: a skeleton with a tall curled beehive, white cat-eye sunglasses, hoop earrings, a beaded necklace and a polka-dot top, one hand turned palm-up. "CATHY" PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE BEE-OTCH beneath her. I DON'T HOLD GRUDGES across the top, I MAINTAIN A TARGET DECK across the bottom.