“You don’t have to do me any favors, Ricky,” I said. “I 23
don’t need Clarance’s charity or yours.”
24
“You need somethin’,” Ricky declared.
25
He wanted me to take up the bait and fight or make a 26
joke out of it or anything. But I just stuck out my lower 27 S
lip and shrugged. I didn’t have the energy for that kind of 28 R
talk right then. I focused my attention on Narciss. She
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The Man in My Basement
was writing down notes on slips of yellow paper, which 1
she attached to different pieces. She also made entries in a 2
small spiral pad she had.
3
“Hey, Charles?” Ricky said.
4
“Hey what?”
5
“Could I use your phone?”
6
“Local or long distance?”
7
“I wanna call Bethany. She said that —”
8
“Okay,” I said, cutting him off. “Make your call.”
9
Ricky gave me a sullen look and then went into the 10
kitchen to use the ancient Princess phone in there. I heard 11
him say Bethany’s name and then I returned my attention 12
to Narciss.
13
She seemed extremely competent. Now and then she’d 14
take some reference book or another from her shoulder 15
satchel to prove or disprove some point she was making 16
to herself. She would write more notes and then move on 17
to the next object. In the meanwhile Ricky was laughing 18
and chattering on the phone in the other room.
19
I was having a fine time in the chilly window seat, 20
watching the earth-toned woman judge my lineage. The 21
moon shone on her, glaring over my shoulder.
22
“Are you hungry?” I asked Narciss after it was com-23
pletely dark outside.
24
“I’d like something after I’m done here,” she said.
25
“We could go over to Dinelli’s in Southampton,” I of-26
