R 28
“Down to the city. I’ve been considering working in
3rd Pass Pages
ManInMyBasemnt_HCtext3P.qxd 10/24/03 8:16 PM Page 142
Walter Mosley
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Manhattan for some time now. You know, I’ve been here 2
my whole life. I think it’s time for a change.”
3
“Oh. But the city is so crowded, so overwhelming.”
4
I laughed in a knowing way. “Sometimes I’m crowded 5
and overwhelmed just living in my own head.”
6
Who was it talking? Not me. At least I didn’t think it was 7
me. Whoever it was, Narciss seemed to like him. She smiled 8
and pinched my baby finger with her forefinger and thumb.
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I left there, making a beeline to Bethany’s apartment.
10
She answered the door and we fell into each other’s 11
arms, not wasting a single word.
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When our passions were satisfied, she lay against my 13
chest and started crying.
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“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
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“I wait for this every day,” she sobbed. “I love you, 16
Charles. But you don’t care.”
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“There’s a lot going on right now, honey. A lot that I 18
can’t talk about yet.”
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“You got a girlfriend?”
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“No. Not that. It’s inside my head. My head.”
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“Will you stay with me tonight?”
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“I have to go.”
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“To her?”
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“To who? I’m not going to anybody.”
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“If you aren’t going to anyone, then why do you have to 26
go? Don’t you like being with me?”
27 S
“I can’t explain it, Bethy,” I said and then stood up from 28 R
