September 17th, 1967

Met Tom walking up street walking the dog. His face is completely distorted now, large scars across the top of his neck, must've had operation through clinic (Grace was in hospital for 4 days having tests done on her feet).

Anyway Tom has surprised laugh when he meets me on the street. It's more of an animal sound than a laugh. Goes through a series of garbled syllables before he says, "Hey, hey, Peter!"

Tom upset. Something wrong with Grace. Thinks she's going crazy. I could hear a deeper bitterness in her screams today. Genuine concern in his voice. He does love her in some strange way.

Later, when I go by to tell Tom the pipes are leaking, Grace answers & starts screaming to him that it’s me at the door. Then she apologizes for screaming, tells me he's deaf, she never knows if he can hear her. There is a sham in her manner of speaking⎯ she speaks in a familiar droning tone, as if we've been pals for years⎯ but it is a shamless sham. She really is sincere about it. She realizes the hopelessness of her situation & knows one of the few things of value she can do is be kind. She is very kind.

» September 20th, 1967 : Brown-Eyed Girl