Up & Out - Ariella Papa [89]
“What is it that you want to do, Rebecca?”
“Who the hell knows? I thought it was creating shows for kids.”
“So you believe children are our future?” She is doing a good job of keeping this conversation light. Our roles have flip-flopped. All last year, I tried to cheer her up and help her figure out her life. Now she is doing the same for me.
“Something like that. When I think about it, I wonder what the point is.” Our next round comes. We hold up our glasses, clink and sip. “These kids are just going to watch my show and see Esme start out cool and outspoken and then turn out high-pitched and wearing a half shirt. Honestly, that’s a lesson they’ll learn, anyway. Growing up sucks. What do you get?”
“Divorce,” Lauryn offers thoughtfully.
“And cellulite.”
“Ulcers.”
“Debt.”
“Prescription medication.”
“Sexual dysfunction.”
“Men who can’t commit.”
“No men, period.”
“Maybe an STD.”
“If you are lucky enough to be getting laid,” I say. “Speaking of which. What are you going to do if the guy from last night calls?”
“Fuck him,” Lauryn says, and uses her mouth to eat a steamer as no one ever has. The combination of her contorted face and the effects of the frozen daiquiri cause me to rush to the bathroom, giggling.
On Sunday, it’s kind of overcast and I have a sunburn. Lauryn suggests we go birding on the island, and before I can say no, I am crouching next to her in high grass.
It’s all worth it, though, because we go out to a fancy restaurant Sunday night and eat delicious green salad and thick, wonderful steaks.
Lauryn insists on paying. I try and convince her to let me because she put me up, but she won’t hear of it.
“Ever since I got here, I’ve wanted to take you to this place. Just indulge me.”
“Okay,” I say. “Thank you.”
Monday comes too soon. I would like to extend my trip, but I know that Lauryn has been shirking her research to spend time with me. I have to go back to the hot city and figure out what to do with the rest of my life.
Lauryn and I grab iced coffee and Portuguese rolls and sit by the dock, watching the piping plovers circle and dive for fish. The ferry comes in. It’s overcast today, which makes it only slightly easier to leave.
“I had a lot of fun,” I say. “I got a little taste of summer, and I saw how the other half lives.”
“Yes, you certainly did,” Lauryn says, adapting a formal tone. “And I bid you well on your voyage.”
“Thank you,” I say, trying to do my best sea captain voice. “I trust I leave you in the capable hands of the strapping lad we encountered the other night at the ale house.”
“Yes, I pray his hands are good.”
“And so it shall be.” We smile at each other and walk toward the ferry. She walks me up the ramp to the man who takes my ticket.
“Thank you,” I say. We hug for a little while.
“Thank you for coming. Say hi to everyone for me.”
“I will.” I climb up to the top deck and wave to Lauryn on the pier. I’m bummed to be leaving, but anxious to get on the road. The horn sounds and Lauryn animatedly pretends it hurts her ears.
We continue to wave at each other until she becomes very small and then I can’t see her anymore.
18
Pitseleh
I walk to my apartment from the Port Authority, stopping in one of the fish stores along the way to buy some salt cod. When I get on my block, Tommy is sitting on the stoop talking on a cell phone.
“Hey,” I say. “New phone?”
“New phone and new job.”
“What?”
“I’m still going to be working in the DVD store, but I started watching two little boys three times a week.”
“What? Where did you get these boys? What are you watching them do?”
“Their parents come into the store all the time. Apparently they had a nanny, but she had to go back to Estonia. Now they need someone to baby-sit and they said they always wanted a guy to hang out with their kids. When school starts I’ll only hang out with them after school. Their mom works part-time and their dad works a lot. He rents good movies, though. Lots of cult horror and sci-fi. He knows almost as much