During my visit to the Charles J. Shields Collection at the Indianapolis Historical Society, I read a transcript of a conversation between Kurt Vonnegut and Shields in which Vonnegut’s second wife Jill Krementz was present. Jill brought out her camera and photographed Charles J. Shields seated nearly cheek-to-cheek–as directed by Ms. Krementz, am acclaimed photographer.
The mood in the room was cordial. Perhaps the close proximity might have caused the men the slightest tension.
Shields joked that he found Vonnegut’s wife bossy.
“Tell me about it,” Vonnegut quipped.
The date was March 14, 2007. Shortly after Shields left Vonnegut’s Turtle Bay townhouse, Vonnegut fell and struck his head, causing blunt force trauma.
Kurt Vonnegut died April 11, 2007.