Summary

In "Anton," on Reconciliation Day, the power goes off at Anton's house. He stumbles around the house drunk. He berates himself for and excuses himself from his recent mistakes. Feeling "alone with his thoughts," Anton decides to go out for a drink (220). At the bar, he runs into Payne, a soldier he served with. Anton tells him about his life and his novel, all "of it true, all false" (222). Payne tells Anton about his wife, insisting that he stop over. Anton agrees, but while Payne is in the bathroom, he flees.

On the way home, Anton gets pulled over. He takes a breathalyzer, but pays the cop to escape punishment. At home, "a Volkswagen Beetle is parked next to his wife's car" (225). The car belongs to Desirée's meditation guide, Moti. Anton verbally attacks Moti. Desirée says to ignore him because he is...