—slush
chapter*Dad
textscVoice.
It’s Jacobi.
“How aaaaarrrrreeee you man?”
Silence.
“Are you there? Richard?”
“I’m here.”
“How areeeeeeee you?”
Silence.
“You’ll never guess where I am, man.”
Silence.
“Richard. Are you there?”
“You’re right, I’ll never guess.”
“I’m at home. Where are you?”
Silence.
“Can you come pick me up? I need a ride, man. I fucked this girl last night, I think you know her.”
“Did you tell Shonda?”
“No. No. Shonda just left. I can’t drive, man.”
“Do you know you have a meeting scheduled at ten?”
This time the silence is from the other end. From Jacobi’s end.
“Jacobi, man, do you know you have a meeting scheduled at ten?”
“What meeting?”
“You scheduled a development meeting. It’s at 10am. You’re leading the meeting.”
“Are people there?”
“I have no idea.”
“You’re not there?”
“No.”
“Dude, can you come pick me up, I really can’t drive. I fucked this girl like seven times.”
“Why can’t you drive? Does Shonda have the car?”
“Is anybody at the meeting? Can you call over there?”
“No,” I say. “I can’t. Why don’t you call.”
“Okay but can you pick me up?”
“Why can’t you drive?”
“I was up with this girl like all night—”
“Yeah, okay. You wanna call the office and let people know you’re late?”
“Sure, thanks. Thanks for this. I’ll see ya soon.”
End of call.
“Candy. I need you to watch Liss for a minute. Liss, you okay with that?”
My daughter nods. She has a mouth full of Mexican Benedict.
“Virgin only,” I say.
“But red-headed sluts,” Candy says.
“Just make it virgin. Pila?”
“That’s why I’m here,” he says, “I’ll keep an eye on em. How long you gonna be gone?” Pila’s coming toward my place setting.
“Twenty minutes.” I’m shaking my head.
“You want me to put this in the oven for you?” His hand is on my plate.
“No, no,” I’m saying.
“Actually,” Pila says, “Fuck that. We’ll make you a new one. Twenty minutes? Hector, have Varo make him a new..what is this..Mexican Benedict, steak extra rare, with avocado, right? Good, good, we’ll see you in twenty minutes. Take care of what you have to take care of, Rich, we’ll see you in a minute.”
I’m out the door.