The City - chapter twenty-four
Over brunch the day after the UN gala, Franz and Leon told Tyler about their upcoming trip to Memphis . “We’re going to drive out with Spaz and visit Kimmie,” Leon explained. “And the new dog walker is so great, he’s already agreed to house sit for us again while we’re gone,” Franz inserted. “My friend Adam is performing in a show in Memphis ,” Tyler said. “Be sure to see it.”
Waking up refreshed, Frederico found Martin in his kitchen making pancakes and bacon. “I pulled up the Times’ website on your laptop. It’s tuned to the Arts Section Front. I think you’re going to be pleased,” he said. Frederico poured himself a cup of coffee and gleefully read the review of his mural. He kissed Martin on the cheek and reached for his phone and called Nina.
“I’ve already read it!” she said. “Congratulations!” “I couldn’t have done it without you,” Frederico said. “More than my muse, you pushed me to get it done in record time. I can’t thank you enough.” Martin watched his ex’s exuberant face. It was a familiar look that he hadn’t seen in some time.
Taking advantage of his day off, Greg went for a jog in Central Park . After he walked over to a bagel shop on West 74th Street. Seeing him too late to escape, he bumped into his bartender friend. “What’s your deal man?!” the bartender said. Uncomfortable with the attention being drawn to him, Greg tried to play it off casually. “Oh, hey man.” “Don’t you ‘Oh hey’ me! I’ve called you how many times in the last week and you haven’t had the decency to return a call? What’s your deal? It used to be you’d come running at the drop of a hat, now you can’t manage to find my number?” The conversation that followed wasn’t easy for either participant, but the anonymous onlookers enjoyed themselves. “Look, I’m sorry,” Greg tried to explain, “When it was casual I was fine with it. But once you turned it into movies and dinners … “ “Dates, asshole, they’re called dates,” the bartender interrupted. “Whatever you call them, I’m not interested,” Greg said. And then turned and walked away.
At an Upper East Side hotel, Jacob rolled out of bed to find the attaché packing his suitcase. “Thanks for a wonderful night,” the young attaché said. “I need to get to the airport; my flight to Hamburg leaves at noon.” ‘ Hamburg ‘ was all Jacob needed to hear to remind him of last night’s conversation. Nervously he climbed out of bed and picked his clothes from the heap on the floor. “That favor I asked you,” Jacob said. “Don’t worry about it,” the attaché responded. “It’s as good as done. This Helmut guy won’t be bothering you again. As soon as I get back to the consulate I’m sure I can find something in his visa application that we can … use.”
What does the City have in store next for our heroes? Stay tuned.
Initially based on actual events and real people, the story has progressed to such a point as to render everyone and everything unrecognizable. Nonetheless, names and associations may have been altered to protect the guilty or to make things seem more interesting.
