334
LEONARD MICHAELS
hips. "I was bored, bored, bored," she cried. "Do you hear me?
Bored. The screaming was worth it, maybe, but I was bored. I hope
you're happy about the job. You'd have gotten it even if we stayed
home. Probably a better salary, too. Did you know a man was al–
most beaten to death and another had a stroke while looking at a
picture? I wish I'd seen that picture. Must have been very dirty, don't
you think?"
"He named a figure?"
"You imagine I asked?"
"Of course you asked."
"Eleven and a half to start."
"Bullshit. How much?"
"He said his daughter, Naomi, wants to be an actress. He calls
her Nimi. Maybe it was Ninny screaming, rehearsing some part."
"How much? Don't prattle."
"He said she has a neurological problem. Theater is so good for
her. 'So good for Nimi,' he said. He meant she is a crazy loony,
right?"
"Who cares? How much?"
"The wife is very good-looking, but sort of a dopey slut, wouldn't
you say? Wouldn't you say that, Phillip? He's a weakling. I'm sure
you'll like the job, Phillip. You know what he told me?"
"What did he tell you?"
"He told me he hates the sound of eating, even the sound he
makes. So he has these big dinner parties, see? Are you limping,
Phillip?"
"Yeah."
"And he's got a scheme for buying property on the moon. Be–
cause of the blacks, not to make money. He's in lumber and pub–
lishing. He doesn't need money. There's a family place in Connecti–
cut to which we've been invited, and another one in California. But
the moon, man, is where it's really at. 'Nowhere else to go,' he said.
'What do you think NASA is all about? Space Agency? No, sir.
Surreal Estate Agency.' No blacks on the moon, Phillip. He thinks
New York is finished. Phones don't work. Blacks everywhere. But
he hires black servants. What do you think that means, Phillip? He
wants to keep an eye on them? Please stop that damn limping and
walk more quickly."
