Chapter 23
“Fall was veering into winter, and melancholy into sadness. I was sitting in my apartment, analyzing my life, when the phone rang”, I tell John
“Who called you?”, he asks
“The man introduced himself as Ed Black. He said he read my short stories on the New Yorker. He said my style was good, and the links between the stories riveting. I sat holding the phone, barely breathing. Are you still there?, he asked, and told me I should go see him. I asked when, and he said, now”, I say
“And you went to meet him, just like that?”, John laughs
“Of course I did. It could have been a prank, but why not?”, I shrug John shakes his head
“God Iris”, he says
“You must have faith in the possibilities of life”, I smile
“So it wasn’t a prank after all”, John replies
“Make a guess, John. Who was Ed Black?”, I ask
“An editor?”, John says
“I want you to tell me more about him”, I prod him, legs crossed, my foot drawing slow circles as I wait John guesses, but hesitates to speak out his guess.
“Tell me John”, I insist
“You tell me, Iris. I want to know what you and Ed Black, the man with the black trench coat, a paper and a drink in his hand, told each other when you rushed to see him with great urgency”, John states
I nod my head yes, smiling.