The Man in My Basement

8

I couldn’t work.

9

“What do you plan to be doing down there in my 10

basement?” I asked.

11

“Reading, thinking. If I get the opportunity maybe I’ll 12

do some writing.”

13

“Nothing else?”

14

“Eat and sleep.” Bennet’s face was reposed and patient.

15

He even gave me a wan smile.

16

“What do you mean, if you get the opportunity? ”

17

“Many things depend on circumstance, Mr. Blakey.

18

Opportunities stem from these circumstances.”

19

I was beaten by this last interchange. Anniston Bennet 20

wanted to live the hermit’s life in a two-hundred-year-old 21

cellar. I needed the money. I tried to think about what my 22

mother would advise, but all I could come up with was a 23

sad face and a deep sigh, a beseeching look that said I 24

hoped I did right. Uncle Brent would have damned me 25

for either choice.

26

I wanted to say no, but instead I said, “Okay, Mr. Ben-S 27

net. Bring me your paper bag and we have a deal.”

R 28

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Walter Mosley

¦

¦

¦

1

2

3

The white man handed me the bag and shook my hand 4

in the street in front of my house. Irene Littleneck 5

watched and smoked over our exchange.

6

“See you on July one,” Bennet said softly.

7

“You bet.”

8

Again he got into his turquoise Volkswagen, made a U-9