1 February
I open the door as quietly as I can. The loft is pitch black. I kick off my shoes, remove my tie, and toss my jacket to where I think the couch should be. I miss. I feel around for the string pull on the light, pull and the room remains dark. The power must have blown again.
"Mark, is that you?" Roger's voice echoes through the silent room.
"Yeah, just me." Suddenly a flicker of light appears, with the smell of sulfur. "Where did you find the candle?"
"Oh, I went to the store around the corner about bought some." He walks over to me and hands me one. I light it and go over to the couch.
"So you are feeling better then?"
"Yeah, we both are actually. Amazing what drugs can do, huh?"
I raise my eyebrows at him. "Yeah, yeah."
"Anyway, why are you so late? Did you work another double?"
"Yeah, Pauline wanted the night off, so I said I'd work for her."
"Mark, that's three doubles in a row."
"You have been keeping track? I touched."
"Well yeah, I mean, you are never around here anymore."
"We need the money. I don't mind it, really."
"You are working too hard. You haven't touched your film. You promised us that you would start working on it again."
"And I will. Jesus, stop nagging me, I had a long day."
He shakes his head at me, "Well, how did you do today?"
"Not bad for a Thursday, about $250."
"No shit, really? Wow, who knew waiting tables could be so lucrative."
"Yeah, well…" I reach in my pocket and place the wad of money on the table. "It's mostly dollar bills, but that should pay off the last doctor bill. Maybe if I keep working doubles we could actually afford heat and electricity."
Roger laughs, "In this dump? Never. It would lose its charm."
I stand up, "Well, I'm going to bed, another double tomorrow. I told Reese that I would take his lunch shift tomorrow and Pauline wants another night off."
"I thought tomorrow was your day off."
"Yeah, well, you know how it is." I shrug and walk towards my room. "Fridays are big money making days."
"But Mark, it's Mimi's birthday."
"Oh right, twenty-one. How could I forget? Well maybe you guys can come up to the restaurant?"
"We tried that once, remember? They wouldn't let us in. We weren't dressed right."
"Well dress up then!" I can see his glare even with the low candlelight. "Look, I have to work. Mimi will understand." I go in and close my door behind me.
I lay down on my bed and watch the lights from cars outside drape across my ceiling. My eyelids feel heavy and I close my eyes. One thing about working so hard, I don't have trouble sleeping anymore.
A knock startles me, "Mark?" Roger opens my door, the light of his candle brightening the room a little. "You asleep already?"
"Mmm…" I roll over towards him. "What's up?"
"Look, you know that Mimi and I appreciate you helping us out. But we are both feeling better now. I called Tony, the band is going to practice on Sunday. He already has us lined up at CBGB's on Tuesday."
"Really?" I sit up a little, "Are you sure you can handle going to a club though? All that smoke…"
"Fuck Mark, listen to me! Stop acting like my fucking mother!"
"I'm listening, I'm just saying, you just got over Pneumonia. I don't think it is a good idea for you to…"
"I don't think I asked you your opinion!"
"Then what the fuck am I working so hard for, if you are just going to turn around and make yourself sick?"
"Oh Jesus H. Christ!"
"Roger, I'm sorry, I didn't mean… I'm just tired."
"You have to stop putting me before you."
"You do bring up a good point though."
"What?" I sit up completely.
"This past month all you have done is work and give me and Mimi your money. Have you kept any for yourself?"
"Sure, I keep about twenty bucks a week."
"Great, so you can take the subway back and forth. Stop being so fucking noble."
"Roger, I'm really tired, and I have a long day tomorrow. Can we talk about this later?" My head starts to pound.
"Fine, whatever. We're not done though." I barely hear him leave, as I fall asleep.
Since we have no power, my alarm doesn't go off. As soon as I open my eyes, I know I'm late. I can just tell. I grab my clothes and run into the bathroom. I almost collide with Mimi, who is brushing her teeth. "Oh, sorry… I'm late for work." I turn around to leave.
"Rut rabout ry rirthray?"
"Huh?"
She spits into the sink, "What about my birthday?"
"Oh, right, Happy Birthday, Mimi." I go over and give her a hug. "I just woke up, but I remembered."
"That's not what I mean, I thought we were going out today. I even called Maureen and Joanne and some of the girls from the club."
"Sorry, but I told a few people I would work for them. We need the money."
"Mark, come on, you have been working too hard, and we never see you."
"I know, I know. No more extra shifts, I promise. But I have to go in today."
"When is your next day off?"
"Friday."
"Today is Friday."
"I know, I meant next Friday." She throws the towel she was using down in disgust.
"You know what? Forget it!" She storms away.
"Mimi, I have to…" I hear her slam the bedroom door. I quickly shower and get dressed for work.
As I put my tie on and try, unsuccessfully to make my hair not stick up, there is a knock. "Yeah, come in."
"Hey." It's Roger. "Mimi's really pissed off, what happened?"
"She's mad that I have to work." I'm all set to go, but he is now blocking the doorway.
"Look, try and get out early, ok? You can meet us later. When was the last time we hung out?"
I shake my head, "I don't know."
"We miss you."
"Yeah, yeah. I got to go. I'll see you guys later."
"Promise me you'll come home early."
"I'll see, Roger. Come on, I have to go."
I didn't get out early. In fact, I was the last guy to leave. Usually the bartender closes up, but he had picked up a girl and wanted to take her out. It is now well past two and I'm just getting home. "Roger? Mimi?" Silence.
. I kick off my shoes, remove my tie, and toss my jacket to where I think the couch should be. I notice the flashing red light on the answering machine. With all of my effort, I reach over and hit "Play". Four new messages.
"Mark, it is 9:30, we are leaving the Life now and going to The Cutting Room. Meet us there."
The second message, I can hardly hear, I know it is Roger, but it is just mumbling with lots of background noise. Third message.
"It is 11:30. The restaurant closed a half hour ago, where the fuck are you? Listen, we are going to a party on… WHERE IS IT? Oh, It's on Bleeker and 6th. 541 Bleeker, third floor. Just go inside and find us. Later."
"Mark, where the hell are you?" This time it is Mimi's voice, and her tone alerts me. "Roger's… I don't know, something's wrong with Roger. I left him alone for about 15 minutes and I don't know. I'm at the hospital now. Mark, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!? St Vincent's, in the Emergency Room. Mark, get here…"
I don't hear the rest of the message because I'm already out the door.
I open the door as quietly as I can. The loft is pitch black. I kick off my shoes, remove my tie, and toss my jacket to where I think the couch should be. I miss. I feel around for the string pull on the light, pull and the room remains dark. The power must have blown again.
"Mark, is that you?" Roger's voice echoes through the silent room.
"Yeah, just me." Suddenly a flicker of light appears, with the smell of sulfur. "Where did you find the candle?"
"Oh, I went to the store around the corner about bought some." He walks over to me and hands me one. I light it and go over to the couch.
"So you are feeling better then?"
"Yeah, we both are actually. Amazing what drugs can do, huh?"
I raise my eyebrows at him. "Yeah, yeah."
"Anyway, why are you so late? Did you work another double?"
"Yeah, Pauline wanted the night off, so I said I'd work for her."
"Mark, that's three doubles in a row."
"You have been keeping track? I touched."
"Well yeah, I mean, you are never around here anymore."
"We need the money. I don't mind it, really."
"You are working too hard. You haven't touched your film. You promised us that you would start working on it again."
"And I will. Jesus, stop nagging me, I had a long day."
He shakes his head at me, "Well, how did you do today?"
"Not bad for a Thursday, about $250."
"No shit, really? Wow, who knew waiting tables could be so lucrative."
"Yeah, well…" I reach in my pocket and place the wad of money on the table. "It's mostly dollar bills, but that should pay off the last doctor bill. Maybe if I keep working doubles we could actually afford heat and electricity."
Roger laughs, "In this dump? Never. It would lose its charm."
I stand up, "Well, I'm going to bed, another double tomorrow. I told Reese that I would take his lunch shift tomorrow and Pauline wants another night off."
"I thought tomorrow was your day off."
"Yeah, well, you know how it is." I shrug and walk towards my room. "Fridays are big money making days."
"But Mark, it's Mimi's birthday."
"Oh right, twenty-one. How could I forget? Well maybe you guys can come up to the restaurant?"
"We tried that once, remember? They wouldn't let us in. We weren't dressed right."
"Well dress up then!" I can see his glare even with the low candlelight. "Look, I have to work. Mimi will understand." I go in and close my door behind me.
I lay down on my bed and watch the lights from cars outside drape across my ceiling. My eyelids feel heavy and I close my eyes. One thing about working so hard, I don't have trouble sleeping anymore.
A knock startles me, "Mark?" Roger opens my door, the light of his candle brightening the room a little. "You asleep already?"
"Mmm…" I roll over towards him. "What's up?"
"Look, you know that Mimi and I appreciate you helping us out. But we are both feeling better now. I called Tony, the band is going to practice on Sunday. He already has us lined up at CBGB's on Tuesday."
"Really?" I sit up a little, "Are you sure you can handle going to a club though? All that smoke…"
"Fuck Mark, listen to me! Stop acting like my fucking mother!"
"I'm listening, I'm just saying, you just got over Pneumonia. I don't think it is a good idea for you to…"
"I don't think I asked you your opinion!"
"Then what the fuck am I working so hard for, if you are just going to turn around and make yourself sick?"
"Oh Jesus H. Christ!"
"Roger, I'm sorry, I didn't mean… I'm just tired."
"You have to stop putting me before you."
"You do bring up a good point though."
"What?" I sit up completely.
"This past month all you have done is work and give me and Mimi your money. Have you kept any for yourself?"
"Sure, I keep about twenty bucks a week."
"Great, so you can take the subway back and forth. Stop being so fucking noble."
"Roger, I'm really tired, and I have a long day tomorrow. Can we talk about this later?" My head starts to pound.
"Fine, whatever. We're not done though." I barely hear him leave, as I fall asleep.
Since we have no power, my alarm doesn't go off. As soon as I open my eyes, I know I'm late. I can just tell. I grab my clothes and run into the bathroom. I almost collide with Mimi, who is brushing her teeth. "Oh, sorry… I'm late for work." I turn around to leave.
"Rut rabout ry rirthray?"
"Huh?"
She spits into the sink, "What about my birthday?"
"Oh, right, Happy Birthday, Mimi." I go over and give her a hug. "I just woke up, but I remembered."
"That's not what I mean, I thought we were going out today. I even called Maureen and Joanne and some of the girls from the club."
"Sorry, but I told a few people I would work for them. We need the money."
"Mark, come on, you have been working too hard, and we never see you."
"I know, I know. No more extra shifts, I promise. But I have to go in today."
"When is your next day off?"
"Friday."
"Today is Friday."
"I know, I meant next Friday." She throws the towel she was using down in disgust.
"You know what? Forget it!" She storms away.
"Mimi, I have to…" I hear her slam the bedroom door. I quickly shower and get dressed for work.
As I put my tie on and try, unsuccessfully to make my hair not stick up, there is a knock. "Yeah, come in."
"Hey." It's Roger. "Mimi's really pissed off, what happened?"
"She's mad that I have to work." I'm all set to go, but he is now blocking the doorway.
"Look, try and get out early, ok? You can meet us later. When was the last time we hung out?"
I shake my head, "I don't know."
"We miss you."
"Yeah, yeah. I got to go. I'll see you guys later."
"Promise me you'll come home early."
"I'll see, Roger. Come on, I have to go."
I didn't get out early. In fact, I was the last guy to leave. Usually the bartender closes up, but he had picked up a girl and wanted to take her out. It is now well past two and I'm just getting home. "Roger? Mimi?" Silence.
. I kick off my shoes, remove my tie, and toss my jacket to where I think the couch should be. I notice the flashing red light on the answering machine. With all of my effort, I reach over and hit "Play". Four new messages.
"Mark, it is 9:30, we are leaving the Life now and going to The Cutting Room. Meet us there."
The second message, I can hardly hear, I know it is Roger, but it is just mumbling with lots of background noise. Third message.
"It is 11:30. The restaurant closed a half hour ago, where the fuck are you? Listen, we are going to a party on… WHERE IS IT? Oh, It's on Bleeker and 6th. 541 Bleeker, third floor. Just go inside and find us. Later."
"Mark, where the hell are you?" This time it is Mimi's voice, and her tone alerts me. "Roger's… I don't know, something's wrong with Roger. I left him alone for about 15 minutes and I don't know. I'm at the hospital now. Mark, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!? St Vincent's, in the Emergency Room. Mark, get here…"
I don't hear the rest of the message because I'm already out the door.