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I Am the Messenger

Page 12

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"Ed?"

No answer.

I'm still thinking.

"Ed?" roars Ma.

I'm stunned back into the conversation.

"Are you listening to me?"

"Yeah...yeah, of course."

45 Edgar Street...13 Harrison Avenue...6 Macedoni Street...

"Ma, I'm sorry," I say again. "It just slipped my mind--I had a lot of pickups today. A lot of work in the city. I'll get it tomorrow, all right?"

"You sure about that?"

"I'm sure."

"You won't forget?"

"No."

"Good. Goodbye."

"Hey, wait!" I rush my voice through the phone.

She comes back. "What?"

I struggle to get the words out of my mouth, yet I have to ask her. About the card. I've decided I should really ask everyone I suspect of sending it to me. I may as well start with Ma.

"Yes, what?" she asks again, a bit louder this time.

I let the words out, each one tugging and pulling at my lips as they fight to stay in.

"Did you send me something in the mail today, Ma?"

"Like what?"

I pause a moment. "Like something small...."

"Like what, Ed? I don't really have time for this."

All right. I have to say it. "It's a playing card--the Ace of Diamonds."

There's silence at the other end. She's thinking.

"Well?" I ask.

"Well what?"

"Was it you who sent it?"

She's had enough now, I can tell. The feeling reaches a hand through the phone line and shakes me.

"Of course it wasn't me!" It's like she's retaliating for something. "Why would I bother sending you a playing card in the mail? I should have sent you a reminder to pick up"--she raises her voice to a roar again--"my goddamn coffee table!"



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