completely so. Shelleyworked as a personalassistant.
Tomhad justspentayearandhalfunemployedaftera
layoff.Nowheworkedforatravelcompanyforlessthan
heusedtoearn.Withtwoteenagechildreninthehouse,
therewasnoobviousspaceforLou.ButShelleyandTom
convertedtheirlivingroomintoabedroom,movingina
bed, an easy chair, Lou’s armoire, and a flat-screen
television.Therestofhisfurniturewassoldofforputin
storage.
Cohabitation required adjustment. Everyone soon
discovered the reasons that generations prefer living
apart.Parentandchildtradedroles,andLoudidn’tlike
notbeingthemasterofhishome.Healsofoundhimself
lonelierthanheexpected.Ontheirsuburbancul-de-sac,
he had no company for long stretchesof the day and
nowherenearbytowalkto—nolibraryorvideostoreor
supermarket.
Shelleytriedtogethiminvolvedinadayprogramfor
seniorcitizens.Shetookhimtoabreakfasttheyhad.He
didn’t like it one bit. She discovered they made
occasionaltripsto Foxwoods,acasinotwohoursfrom
Boston.Itwasn’thisfavorite,buthe agreedtogo.She
was thrilled. She hoped he’d make friends.
Shetoldme,“ItfeltlikeIwasputtingmychildonthe
bus”—which was probably exactly what he disliked
aboutit.“Iremembersaying,‘Hi,everyone.ThisisLou.
ThisishisfirsttimesoIhopeyouwillallbefriendswith
him.’”Whenhecameback,sheaskedhimifhe’dmade
any friends. No, he said. He just gambled by himself.