Part 21 (1/2)
”Maybe if you'd spend an hour of your precious tiht have done better in his interviews,” shespits back
”My precious tihty hours a week so you can stand there in your pearls, with your eight-thousand-dollar curtains and your 'charity work,' and questionhowI spendtopayhis tuitionbills, huh?You?” ”Honey” She softens ”I know you're under a lot of pressure Look, since you're already ho dinner? I made a reservation at that place you love, down by the river” Her kitten heels make little clicks as she walks over to hiet a roomatthePierre,maybetheonewiththedoubleJacuzzibathI've reallymissedyou”
It's quiet for aTheir lowlaughter drifts into thehallway
I'm just about to sneak off to Grayer's room when Mrs X coos{ ”Should I send a donation to St
Bernard's with thetuitioncheck,sowe getoffontherightfootwith them?”
”Therightfoot?” He's againindignant ”Correct,buthaven't theyalreadyacceptedhiet back to the office The car's waiting downstairs I'll call you later” Mr X swiftly passes theovercoathepresumablynever took off Thedoor sla out with his red train ”DADDY!!!” He throws hiainstthefrontdoor
Mrs X walks slowly into the hall and stands for a h Grayer at the front door until hereyes glazeover,thenwalksrightpastbothofustoherbedroo over, while holding tightly onto the doorknob ”1 WANT DADDY''!” I sit down on the floor and reach out to hold hiarmsandawayfromme ”NOOOooooI wantmyDADDY!!!”We heartheelevator doorslide closed ”DON'TLEAVE''''”
”Ssshhh, 1 know” I circle my arms to pull him onto my lap ”I know, Grove” We sit on the floor as his tearsmake adark, wetspotonthekneeofmyjeansI rubhis backandmurmur, ”It's okay,Grove Shhh, it's okaytobesadWe'll justsithereandbesadfor alittle while”
”Okay,”hesays into
”Okay”
PART THREE
Ma her owners know exactly where she stood on all nityofquality white folkstopaytheslightestattentiontowhat adarkysaid, even when she was just grunity, they nore whatshesaid,even ifshestoodinthenextroomandalmost shouted
ONEWITHTHEWIND
CHAPTER EIGHT
Frosting ontheCake Connie, RatherthanironingGrayer sheetstoday,I likeyoutopackthefollowingitems for Mr X Hissutis shi+rts Ties Underwear Socks Andanythingelseheuses Theseitemsshouldbepackedanddoiththedoorram)
”Nanny, have you seen Grayer's bow tie? I put it out last night” Mrs X and Grayer are due at theApril Tea forNewSt Bernard's FahGrayer's drahile I try to wrestle him into an ultrastarched oxford, complete with stays in the collar, and Connie, I assue
”I needanelephant,” Grayersays, pointingtothesketchpadonhis diminutive table
”Onesecond,Grayer,”1 say, ”Let mebuckleyourbelt?
”No,notthatone”ShesticksherheadoutfromGrayer's walk-in closet
”That's theoneyouputout” I add, ”OnthebedSorry”
”It doesn't go”
Kneeling down in front of him, I look him over luepinstriped shi+rt, khaki pants, white socks, brown belt I don't seetheproblereenandredstripedcanvasbelt
I pointdownatthebeltbuckle ”See,GforGrayer”
”G?” he asks, looking down ”I need my card” I reach for the bus-pass holder on the dresser, which containsthevestigesof Mr X's businesscard
”No,”shesays, e fromthecloset ”Nottoday It's liketheinterviews Remember theinterviews?
Nocard”
”I wantent,” I say, tuckingitoutofsight
”I still can't findhis f-ingbowtie”
”Nanny, I need an elephant” I pick up a gray crayon and draw an a ears and a trunk,theextentofties outofthecloset
”I wanttowearstothefloor
”No Not today” She goes stor out into the entrance hall where I can hear her voice echo off the marble ”CONNIE!CONNIE'”
”Yes, ma'am?” Grayeris quiet,I keepforGrayer's bowtie Doyouhappentoknohere itis?”
”No,ma'am”
”Is ittoomuchtoaskthatyoukeeptrackofGrayer's clothes?DoI havetobeontopofeverything?The one thing I delegate to you? She sighs heavily and then there's a there?Golookforit!”
”I'm sorry,I justdon't knohere itcouldbe, ma'am I putitinhis roomwith theotherones”
”Well, it's not thereAnd this is the second ti thisthat this is all too much responsibility for you, I'm sure we can rethink yourrolehere”
”No,ma'am I'll lookfor it It's justthattheclothes,needtobepackedbythreeandit's two-thirty now If Mr X needsthe who you workfor?You workforyouto lookfor thetieAnd ifthis confusesyou,pleaseletme know Because,asfarasI canrecall,I a through Grayer's closet ainst thecloset doorfurtheropen
”Connie, I'll lookhere,”I saysoftly ”You takethelaundryrooh the front hall Mrs X continues ”We could call Mr X and see which he gives et packedor whetherhis sonhas therightfuckingtie to weartohisnewschool!Maybehe'll talktoyouMaybehe'll takeyourcall, Connie”
”I'uncovers nothing
”Anything?” Mrs X's faceappearswhere shehasliftedthedustruffle
”No,sorry,”I sayfromunderGrayer's bed
”Goddao Just put hireen polka dots” I slideout onmystowherehis father's tiehangs