— Look I mean I said just hand me the shirt. I mean like I can get out by myself okay?
— Yes I just, here…
— And I mean look man I mean I can dry myself too, okay?
— What’s the matter I just…
— Like nothing’s the matter I mean I just don’t need your hand there okay?
— No but what’s…
— I said I can dry there myself!
— What’s the matter what’s so…
— I said nothing’s the matter just get your look man I mean the telephone’s man I’m not kidding, I mean let me answer the fucking telephone get your…
— Just, wait damn it I’ll answer it just…
— I mean I’m expecting this very important…
— Hello…? He’s not here no, who… Oh it’s you yes Jack’s been waiting for you to call he’s… just went out a little while ago yes but where can he reach you, I know he can’t wait to… Yes he’s told me about you it all sounds… pardon? No, no it’s e i g, I thought… Thomas yes Tom I, I thought Jack had probably… No he was but I’m giving the place up you see my wife just pardon…? No it’s a, it’s sort of a studio uptown he’s been working here since you left I’m just having my calls transferred here, I thought if my wife wanted… No not recently no something I wrote a few years ago’s out in paperback picked up some kind of an award but pardon…? Oh, oh you mean his book yes, yes he’s been working on it driving himself pretty hard since you left been having a few problems with the… I don’t think it’s really that though someone who’s not used to the kind of self-discipline that… No but every writer has dry periods I’m just coming out of one myself, quit my job I feel like I just got over a long illness but I’ve been having a little pardon…? Oh you’re still at the airport you just got in? I didn’t… just said Geneva yes he thought it was some family problem I know he’ll be glad to hear you’ve straightened it out, once these things get started I know my own lawyer’s said he thinks I should…
— Look man hang up I mean I’m expecting this very…
— Pardon…? Oh you’re, you’re welcome yes I… yes I’ll tell him that I know he’s… I will yes I’m looking forward to meet… hello?
— Look I mean I’m expecting…
— Yes I heard you, listen that’s a call Jack’s been waiting for, someone he’s…
— Somebody he really doesn’t want to see man I mean I heard all about it.
— Heard what don’t be silly, it’s the only thing holding him together he’s…
— Man like nothing’s holding him together I mean if there’s really somebody he doesn’t want to see it’s her, like I mean who took my pants…
— Well damn it where is he, keeps saying he thinks he’s sick I’ve been telling him to see a doctor listen was he drinking last night? Where the hell is he.
— Like I said how do I know where is he, I mean these plaid pants I can’t find them maybe he wore them to go to the doctor place man I mean maybe he’s still up in that pile of boxes in there from last night.
— Whole place is such a mess hardly get through the, what are all these matchbooks dumped my God what happened in here anyhow, books and mail dumped all over the look how did this happen, these toys I sent up here how did they get…
— Look man I mean they’re all broken anyway what do you…
— No but look film papers cans all over the Christ is that a cat up there?
— Oh wow, like I was scared he got drownded…
— Got what?
— Like this shipwreck man, I mean this big storm last night there was this shipwreck here kitty kitty…
— Listen what are you talking about, this…
— Man I mean I was in it!
— All right never mind look, I just…
— Like what do you mean never mind I mean what does it look like happened here man.
— God knows, I thought Jack was…
— Knows what I mean I’ll tell you one thing he’s no fucking good in a shipwreck. Kitty kitty…?
— All right listen I may have some important mail here and I’m looking for a, damn it look there are a lot of valuable papers stored here whole manuscript of my book splitting right down the side that box that says Hoppin’ With…
— Man like that’s where the armchair traveler…
— And this folder I’m looking for something I, some work I started it’s an old manila folder with tea stains all over it think I mislaid it someplace have you…
— Man like the only old wait look out look out, I mean right by your foot that piece of folded paper…
— What this? but what…
— Man don’t spill it I mean wow I didn’t know I still have some left move your, look I mean there’s hardly room to…
— Get your feet up then I’m just trying to see what these, Christ look how did this happen! all the notes for his book how could…
— How could I what I mean he’s sitting here scraping it up with his feet like what am I supposed to do, I mean he hates it man.
— Hates it don’t be, it’s the only thing holding him together reason he’s working on it again I told you this call he just got, she’s…
— What man she’s what, I mean I’m telling you nothing’s holding him together man she’s why he hates it! I mean the telephone rings he says it’s the wrong number, like this big important call he says he already got it he won this free dance lesson man I mean you’re in there talking to her like she’s this big fucking inspiration I mean this load she put on him she’s really wiped him out man he doesn’t want to see her!
— Sounds to me like you’re…
— I mean you’re supposed to be this big important novelist and you don’t even get that? I mean he’s got this book so screwed up with this free dance lesson he comes out feeling like I said I don’t need your hand right there man if you…
— No relax I just meant, I just meant she sounds like an elegant woman hear him talk about a neater sweeter maiden it all sounds romantic enough but she sounds a little chilly, a little bit…
— Chilly? I mean it’s this black haired chick he’s been balling right?
— Has he told you ab…
— Like what does he need to tell me I mean he was right through that window over in Schramm’s balling her wasn’t he? And I mean if you think she was look I mean I’m not kidding get your…
— No relax look I just meant, I mean meeting somebody like you who doesn’t lay down all kinds of old-fashioned conditions like commitment and intimacy on something that’s as healthy and natural as…
— Look man if this spills I mean get your…
— What is it, is it…
— What does it look like snow? I mean look I don’t need your…
— I’ve heard it’s kind of an aphro…
— Afro nothing man look I said I don’t need your fing…
— Just, look relax don’t be, don’t get excited just…
— Don’t get excited I mean then what’s your finger trying to look man I’m not kidding I…
— What’s the matter just…
— I said nothing’s the fucking matter I mean I just don’t need your finger…
— Then how, how about this…
— Oh wow, wow I mean come on…
— What’s the matter what’s so…
— Look I, I mean come on get your, I mean the telephone’s man you’re hurting my mean I’m not kidding I’m expecting this very…
— You damn it, you…
— I mean I said I’m not kidding!
— Go ahead damn it! go…
— I mean let me past…!
— Spread it for Schramm for Jack why can’t you…
— Hello…? this is her yes, I mean… Like whenever you want Mister Cibo, I mean now…? No I mean I’ll come down there now if you want like all I have to do is… this dress with these little checks on I already got it yes I’m coming right… At suite what…? Yes I’m coming right down…