Part 26 (1/2)
I regain e's stealth attack ”I'm just on e stands under Josh'11bepleasedtohearfrohevery pocketuntil I find thenapkin on which Josh wrote thereal estate people's name I do aquickprayer fortheapartment-deprivedanddialtheofficenumber
”Hehlow!”A horrendousNewYork accentanswers ontheseventhring
”hello,I'forPat”
”She doesn't workhereanymore”
”OhWell, perhapsyoucanhelptorent astudioforJulyfirst”
”Can't helpyou”
”What?”
”Can't help you It's only the beginning of the month You want a place for July you showup at the end ofthemonthwith afistful of cash,sayatleasttwelve thousandtostart,andwe'll tawk”
”Cash?”
”Cash”
”I'm sorry,twelve thousandincash?”
”CashForthelandlordYou've gottacome with thefirstyear's rentincash”
”Theentire firstyear?”
”Andyouhavetobringdocuthatyounet,net, uarantors?
”Mywhat?”
”Guarantors he people who are going to guarantee that the rent gets paid even if you die, typically, your parents But they must live in the tristate area so their assets can be seized and they have to net at leastonehundredtimes therent”
”Thatsee fancy?
”Oh, e of thirty is graduating fro here”
”But all thatincash?”
”Honey, the Wall Street kids all get relo otta payupfront”
”Oh,tospend?”
”I don't knowsix,sevenhundred”
”A month?” She holds thephone away from her mouth while shecackles ”Honey, do us all a favor and lookintheVoice for a share”
”ButI don't wanttoshare”
”ThenI wouldgetmyself anapartmentinQueensand acanofpepperspray”
”Well, doyouhaveanylistings inBrooklyn?”
”We don't dotheboroughs”Shehangsup
Thehairs onthebackof myneckstandupasI hearthedistinct tearof a condoh! I throwthe pillows over Mrs Xtoletives Grandma another twirl around the dance floor to the strains of the salsa band she has hired fortheeveningfrolowincolorfulpaperlanterns
”And he can dance!” she calls out to whereon her terrace, her flaasheturnsher
Momleansintowardme ”He's adorable”
”I know,”I saywith pride
”Hey, watch it Father's present,” Dad says jokingly fro is warle with my parents'
friendsaroundthecandlelittables
”Thatguyover therewants to pay over with two plates of cakeandhandingonetomymother
”Yeah,sure tstartswith theelbows ” Dadwarns'her
Thesongfinishesand H H andGrand!” Grandetsorand dad ”Get out there and give your wife a twirl” Mo her hand in Dad's direction They shuffle off in step to the s?” Grandma asks as she and H H sit down on the chaise ”Has everyone had enough to eatanddrink?”
”The party is divine, Frances,” Sarah thanks her ”Now, if you'll excuse his paella”Shedisappearsontothedancefloor