2030_ The Real Story of What Happens to America - Albert Brooks [49]
Brad just couldn’t believe it. How long is this for? He was a goddamn home owner, for Christ’s sake, not a kid going into the army. Were they just going to keep him there forever? He wanted answers. He wanted out of there. He hoped he was not going to share a bunk with Fatty, although he sort of liked the guy. Anybody who could sleep on a bus as he was being driven to a concentration camp couldn’t be all bad. But right now all Brad really cared about was information. What is the plan? Do I get my money? Every employee he asked told him the same thing: “That will be addressed later.” The only real information he was given was his bunk number and the rules of the tent. He was also given a food card and a key to a small chest of drawers. He went from anger to confusion to a sort of passive state, which lasted only ten minutes, until he saw the line for the bathroom.
* * *
“There are people I need to tell about my father,” Kathy said as she sat holding Max’s hand, never wanting to let go.
“I understand. Can I help you?”
“I need to tell Brian.”
“I’ll give you some time alone. Will you call me when you feel like it?”
“I feel like it now.” They walked to the door and they kissed. So passionately, so beautifully, she just couldn’t get over how life could deliver so many emotions in one day.
When Max left, Kathy sat down. She started to cry. For her dad, for herself, for breaking Brian’s heart. For everything.
“Hello?” Brian said, looking at his watch.
“Hi.”
“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“My dad died.”
“What?! You’re kidding? How? When? I’m coming over.”
And before Kathy could answer, he disconnected. Not that she would have tried to stop him anyway.
Brian was there in ten minutes. The door was unlocked and Kathy was in the kitchen, where she was making tea. Brian walked over and gave her a hug. He didn’t try to kiss her and she wouldn’t have let him anyway. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “How did it happen?”
“Just suddenly. It happened right here. He was having breakfast.”
“Breakfast? It happened at breakfast? Why didn’t you call me?” Kathy said nothing. She took her tea and went into the living room. Brian followed her. He asked again. “That was six hours ago, how come you didn’t call me?” Kathy sat down and tears began welling up. “I’m sorry,” Brian said. “I don’t want to see you cry. I just wanted to be here to help. That’s what people do when they’re close. I just wanted to be here. You should have called me.”
Kathy couldn’t hear this anymore. She took advantage of her state of mind and just blurted it out. “I don’t love you.”
“What? What did you say?”
“Brian, you’re the most wonderful guy and I have had some amazing times with you, but I don’t love you.”
“When did this happen?”
“I don’t know. It happened.” In the past it was moments like this when Kathy would say something like, “I’m just confused right now,” or “I just need time to think.” But she didn’t. She said, “I’m in love with Max Leonard.”
And now Brian had a moment that everyone goes through at least once. A moment when someone is told something that he already knew but never wanted to hear, and when he does hear it, he is forced to act shocked, as if it were a surprise.
“What? What the fuck? The guy from the meeting?”
“Yes.”
“When did this happen?”
“It just happened. Probably instantly, I don’t know.”
“So you called him?”
“That’s not important.”
“It is to me. Your father died and you called him?”
“Yes.”
And that was the worst thing Brian could hear. He knew it was over. He knew how significant that was. He was so torn. He wanted to say something mean to try to hurt her for hurting him, but her dad had just died, and more