Chapter 21

           ThebestbreakIhadinyears,whenIgothometheregularnightelevatorboy,Pete,wasn’tonthecar.SomenewguyI’dneverseenwasonthecar,soIfiguredthatifIdidn’tbumpsmackintomyparentsandallI’dbeabletosayhellotooldPhoebeandthenbeatitandnobody’devenknowI’dbeenaround.Itwasreallyaterrificbreak.Whatmadeitevenbetter,thenewelevatorboywassortofonthestupidside.Itoldhim,inthisverycasualvoice,totakemeuptotheDicksteins’.TheDicksteinswerethesepeoplethathadtheotherapartmentonourfloor.I’dalreadytakenoffmyhuntinghat,soasnottolooksuspiciousoranything.IwentintheelevatorlikeIwasinaterrifichurry.

           Hehadtheelevatordoorsallshutandall,andwasallsettotakemeup,andthenheturnedaroundandsaid,"Theyain’tin.They’reatapartyonthefourteenthfloor."

           "That’sallright,"Isaid."I’msupposedtowaitforthem.I’mtheirnephew."

           Hegavemethissortofstupid,suspiciouslook."Youbetterwaitinthelobby,fella,"hesaid.

           "I’dliketo—Ireallywould,"Isaid."ButIhaveabadleg.Ihavetoholditinacertainposition.IthinkI’dbettersitdowninthechairoutsidetheirdoor."

           Hedidn’tknowwhatthehellIwastalkingabout,soallhesaidwas"Oh"andtookmeup.Notbad,boy.It’sfunny.Allyouhavetodoissaysomethingnobodyunderstandsandthey’lldopracticallyanythingyouwantthemto.

           Igotoffatourfloor—limpinglikeabastard—andstartedwalkingovertowardtheDicksteins’side.