Part 9 (1/2)
Grayer isbusyadjustinghis toolsandoffersonly adistracted ”Yup”
Ramonsmiles inhis directionandthenwinksconspiratoriallyatirlfriend yet, Mr Grayer?” The elevator jerks as we reach the baseht, cold corridor, rich with the aroht Be careful now, don't get lost, or I'll have to cole of his eyebrows, pulls the door closed, leaving htbulb
”Grayer?” I yell downthecorridor
”Nanny! I' Come onnnn!” I follow his voice around thethe walls Sogage, ski equipment, and random pieces of bubble-wrapped furniture I round the bend and see Grove lying on his sto hionna be so fun when Daddy coets us started and Daddy does thehigh-ups andwehavehotchocolateinthelivingroom”
”Soundspretty cool Here, I have thekey,” I say, holdingit out toward hie and then proceeds to deftly make his way in around the boxes I let him lead as he's clearly elockerfromanEasy-Bakeoven
I sitdownonthecoldce that of the Xes My parents used to daydrea with both feet up on the trunk packedto bursting with our summer clothes thatserved as our coffee table On occasion, we'd allow ourselves to talk about e could do with one extra closet uch as a fa thelottery
”Do you knohat you're looking for, Grove?” I call into the piles, as I haven't heard anything in a fewnoises break the silence ”Grayer! What's going on in there?” I start to standupashi+s flashlightcoetting et the blue box!” I click the high bea two dirtied socks and a little khaki rear end tunnelingintothemiddleofthepile
”Are yousurethat's safe,Grayer? I thinkot it Oh, man, there's lotsa stuff back here My skis! These are o to Aspirin”
”Aspen?”
”Aspen Found it! Going to pass 'eet ready, Nanny, here they colass ball coht and catch it It is handblown and has a Steubenwith a red hook Before I canlookup anotheronecohtrollingaround onthe floor,casting a weird lighton Grayer'boxes, I realize I've been letting Mickey Mouse run the show ”Back it up, ht”
”Noooooo”
”Gray-er!” It's theWickedWitchvoice
”FINE!” Hetunnelsbackout
I handhiain,onlythis tiet back up to the apartment Grayer erlysettheboxofornamentsdowninthefronthall
”Nanny?” I hear asmall voice callfor roo Grayer's tree
”Passtolookatus Grayer andI, standingsafelybythe door, survey the living rooold leaves, Victorian angels, and stringsofpearls
”Get downMydaddoesthehigh-ups”
”Holdon asec,Grayer,”I sayasI pass offthebirds totheet down or e as I knock on Mrs
X's officedoor
”Come in”
”Hi, Mrs X? Sorry to bother you? The roo”
andstacksandstacksofChristmas cards
”No, no, come in hatis it?” I open enius? I'othilestons twasjust breathtaking”ttj_?
”While I've got you, can I ask? Is a plaid taffeta skirt just too cliche for a Scottish Christmas party? I can't decide?
UT___)>
”Oh!You shouldsee boughtthecutesttwinsets todayforMr
X's nieces I hope they're the right color Would you inter-weight cashethe,” I cut in, ”Grayer was really looking forward to decorating the tree He said it was so if et hi acoupleofornaood idea to be traipsing needles all over that part of the house” She searchesfor asolution ”If hewants atreeactivity,whydon't youtakehireatidea,”I sayasI openthedoor
”Thanks' roo and tapping on Julio's ladder ”Hey! Howaboutthis?Wheredoesthis go?” heasks
Julio looks down in disgust at the spoon ”That doesn't really gel with my vision? Grayer's eyes start to well up ”Well, ifyouot a planGrabAl, I'll getyourcoat”
”Grandrandmother crouches down in her black satin pajaether as she extends her hand ”Pleased to , you Christelach”
”Thanksso much,Gran We were in desperate needof a surface to decorate”The doorbellrings behind usasI reachtotakeoffGrayer's coat
”Asurface!Don't beridiculous”Shereachesover Grayer's head to open the door and there stands a huge tree with two arht this way!” she says ”Now, Grayer,” she whispers, ”you cover Al's eyes It's all about the surprise” We kick off our boots and follow closely behind theot to hand it to her he has the deliveryroom Sheseeshi+eta?
”If you're going to do so, then do it all the way Now, Grayer, let et this soiree started” Grayer holds his hands carefully over Al's eyes as ,” she hts She's lit candles all about the roolow around our family pictures, and as Frank croons ”The Lady Is aTra
SheleansdowntoGrayer ”Well, sir, wheneveryou're ready,I believeAl shouldmeethis tree”We both make drum-roll noises as Grayer takeshi+s hands offAl's eyes and asks hioutfirst
An hour later the two of us are lounging on cushi+ons beneath the green boughs, sipping hot chocolate, while GrayerrelocatesAl atwhiet a read on him I want hiood reason ouldbe Ofcourse,if1 never seehitheelevator, dear He'll showupSo,howarefinals going?” sheasks
”OnlyonemoreandI'm done It's beeninsane heXeshavebeenout atChristoes to sleep, which, ulti to concentrate over thesoundsof Charleneandherhairyboyfriend?Shelooksatetme started”