‘You could’ve called. You could’ve emailed, right? It would’ve taken one second.’
‘Myra, I know. God, I’m sorry. I miss you guys. I miss you and Jody and Jeff so much. I question myself all the time if this was the right thing. I’m sorry, I promised myself I wasn’t going to talk about this and blame myself. But you’re right, I should’ve called. You’re seventeen.’
‘So where are you staying? Can I call you?’
‘Oh god! That’s funny. My cell is only Asian right now. I’m living at this place called a love hotel, can you believe that? And there’s only a communal phone, or something like that. I’m going to get my cell to be international sometimes, I just haven’t figured out hardly anything here, it’s crazy, and Jon and Sarah left, they went to Japan! They decided they didn’t like Seoul or something, when it’s so incredible, I mean it, I think you’d like it. Oh, Myra ... ’
‘What’s a love hotel?’
‘Sorry, I’m rambling, right? I know I am. But, anyway, most kids here live with their parents until they’re married, practically, it’s an economic reality. So, most apartments are pretty small here and the kids have to go somewhere to be together, you know, and have sex.’
‘And you’re living in there?’
‘I am. It’s really a nice place. I have my own bathroom.’
‘Do you hear the kids doing it?’
‘Oh god. It’s not like that, Myra. I mean, it’s like a rooming house, a little hotel, and oh, it’s not just kids, anyway ... Oh, whatever. I guess most people living here are English teachers like me.’
‘You like those people?’
‘Who?’
‘The people at the motel.’
‘Sure I do, I’ve met some really great kids. I mean, not kids, they’re younger than me but they’re not kids. They can’t believe I have teenagers, actually! They think I’m younger than I am.’ My mother started laughing. She didn’t hear my echo. ‘Myra? You there? Oh, the line’s bad. There’s people from all over the world here. It’s been very inspiring for me.’
‘There’s people from Africa there?’
‘Yes, actually, funny you mention. There’s a guy from Nigeria on the floor above me. Oh, the Korean women are just beautiful, it’s a really beautiful, beautiful city, Myra, and I’m going to travel around a bit too.’
Now I started laughing. I didn’t know why except that I hurt.
‘You sound good, Myra, it’s so good to hear your voice,’ my mom said. She was so far away. ‘You know, I think that Nigerian man is in the arms trade or something ... ’
There was a long patch of static and my mom was laughing through it.
‘This line’s going to die soon, I’m sorry.’
‘Okay.’
‘Ummmm ... How’s your cheek doing now? Is Dr. Bernhard still taking care of it?’
I heard my mother breathing through the receiver. It occurred to me how funny it was, how perfect it was that porn likes a red cheek and a good spanking slap.
‘My cheek is perfect,’ I said.
‘Oh, I’m glad, Myra ... How is your dad? I mean, how’s he doing?’
‘I’m not going to tell you about him.’
‘Oh ... ’
‘We’re fine, all right? Everything’s perfectly fine.’
‘I’ll call Jeff tomorrow. Jody’s really loving residence, she says. And she says that you’re seeing someone? I mean, that you’ve been spending time with someone?’
Fucking god. I knew whatever Lee said to my dad would travel fast. I had no idea if Lee had told my father about Elijah, or Aaron. If Lee was as bad now as Jen and Charlene.