Oliver's Black Eye

Oliver's right eye is swollen practically shut and is bruised. Eye itself--what can be seen of it is a grisly red color, presumably from broken blood vessel. Have thought that it might be funny if ignored eye and pretended like all was normal--Oliver has taken small mirror out of his desk and is examining his eye, looking pretty pleased with himself and also shooting side-long glances at me. Feel that ignoring the eye will involve battle of wills which do not have the energy for, so ask, How did that happen? Oliver puts down his mirror. He replies, How did what happen? He looks even more pleased than before. Half an hour later, wish had paid attention to original impulse to ignore wound, as have been treated to convoluted and self-aggrandizing tale, the gist of which is that he was punched in the face by a friend on a dare. Do not understand and do not approve and when free self from story, go into office, shut door, and call up the Contessa, who says firmly that if any so-called friend ever punched her in the face, That Would be That. And, she adds, she would be shocked if Drugs and Alcohol weren't involved and then just as we are going down the road of our own previous shocking behavior, she says, The New Man says he wants to talk to me. Let me call you back.