new york, new york

chapter 68

-Oh, it’s you, Tina said when she opened the door. Or I assumed that this little over thirty years old woman with messed blond hair would be Tina. -Come on in. We have a situation here. So please make yourself comfortable. I’ll be with you in a moment.
Then she vanished to the apartment.
-How many times have we discussed this? Margaret! Do not run away from me.
I heard doors banging, opened and closed again. Then the silence fell. I put my bags down and walked cautiously to the next room. It was living room. It would have been nice if it weren’t such a clutter. Sofa was covered with clothes and floor with toys. That wasn’t anything new to me, but after all well cleaned and organized places it was kind of a shock.
I noticed a little girl who had come to the door.
-Hey, what’s your name?
-Midge, she said. I figured out that she must be younger of two kids. She looked very sweet, though her face was almost hidden behind remains of perhaps blueberry pie. She looked at me with great intense. She was looking shy and unabashedly investigating at the same time in a way that only kids can. I didn’t let that to confuse me, instead I went to the sofa, took some clothes off it and sat down. I waited for few minutes after Midge’s eyes until Tina returned.
-I’m sorry it took so long, she said as walking in. At the same time Midge disappeared. -Maggie is going trough some pre-puberty. I’m scared to think what she’s going to be when she’s fourteen.
Tina sighed and looked around.
-Good that you had courage to come in. I’ve had the most terrible week at work. In Wednesday we took three editions of the paper. Can you believe that? Three editions. Then we had to work all night trough to get it out on time. Would you like to take something?
-Some tea would be nice.
-But we never drink tea, Tina said. -Coffee’s OK?
Without waiting for an answer she rushed to the kitchen. I realized that it would be completely different from any other place I’ve lived in. At the same time presumably Maggie ran trough the living room yelling her mother by name. For a moment I missed Charlene and her warm cups of tea and safe atmosphere. But then I decided to take what was about to come as it would come.

-Would you like to go out to town tonight? Tina asked when we were sitting in the bit cleaner kitchen. Because it was nine in the evening she had took girls to bed while coffee was coming. It was peaceful and even Tina seemed to relax.
-No, I don’t think so.
-Funny that you’re traveling on New Year’s Eve.
-Well, I have my reasons.
-I guess you do. Jacob has told me something about you and said that I shouldn’t ask much. So what’s your secret?
-There’s no secret, I laughed. -Jacob just knows that I don’t like to share my life right away.
-You don’t have to, Tina promised. -You seem like a smart young woman, that’s all that matters. Want to go see your place?
-Sure.

I looked around in a small room. There was a bed, small desk, few chairs, small fridge, on the top of that two small cooking plates, sink and one cupboard. Only closet was next to the door that lead to the so small toilet that you’d have to go in backwards. Lone light came from a bulb without any shade and window revealed a view to the wall of another house.
-I know it’s not much.
Well, there weren’t even curtains on the window.
-But the last tenant wanted to fix this up with her own stuff and I haven’t just had the time to do anything for this. I do have some textiles on the other side. If you’re not too tired, we could check those right now.
-Thanks, but I’m pretty exhausted. I’ve been up almost 24 hours. I try to avoid jet lag as much as I can.
-OK. But I really mean it, don’t worry about this, I think we’ll get from this a nice place for you.
Remembering their home I doubted it a little.
-Yes, I think so too.
-I have a day off tomorrow. So we can check out what I can find for you. You probably have some kind of style of your own?
-No not really, I gave her a weary smile. -I’ve been in so many places...
-Well then we shouldn’t have any problems. I wish you a peaceful night. Here are the keys, just come over when you wake up. We’ll be awaken from about seven. But feel free to sleep as long as you like. We’ll be home all morning.
We wished each other good night and then Tina left. I looked around once more but because it didn’t get any better I unpacked most of my stuff. My laptop filled almost the whole table and it seemed that working wouldn’t be very ergonomic. But I was too tired to care, so I unmade the bed and thanked Tina for at least putting sheets ready for me. I clambered to the bed and soon I was asleep, in spite of noise of New Year’s celebration that wriggled in from the chinks of the windows.

I woke up twelve hours later. I felt quite perky which was a good sing considering jet lag. Could it be that for me NY time is more familiar than time in my own country? I didn’t stop to think that for any longer but got up and went to toilet. It was still very small, but kind of cozy. And actually you could turn around there; if you pulled your stomach in and lifter your hands up you were slim enough to take a spin. Walls were white and I decide to paint them immediately. Anyway I would have ten days before I would have to start working so I could spend some time really doing something.

As I got out from the toilet I looked the whole place with different eyes. First, bed. It was 4 foot wide, just good-sized. It would need some pillows and new cover. That would be same color as the curtains. And probably a new carpet if possible. I went to peak into the cupboard. There were only few cups and plates, all different colors. I made notes in my head: pillows, blanket, curtains, some dishes. I put it down as I realized I was hungry. I decided to check out first what Tina might have but probably I would have to buy most of it. And I didn’t have too much money. But then again, I would mostly work at home so I’d be there a lot. So it would be just a good investment, right?

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I'm way too curious. Tell me what you think.

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