Американские боги

           ShewouldputonanIndigoGirlsCD,andshewoulddoherfinalchoresofthenightatherownpaceandinherownway.First,shewouldcleantheespressomachine.Thenshewoulddothefinalrounds,ensuringthatanymissedcupsorplatesweredepositedbackinthekitchen,andthatthenewspapersthatwerealwaysscatteredaroundtheCoffeeHousebytheendofeachdaywerecollectedtogetherandpiledneatlybythefrontdoor,allreadyforrecycling.

           ShelovedtheCoffeeHouse.She’dgonethereasacustomerforsixmonthsbeforeshetalkedJeff,themanager,intogivingherajob.Itwasalong,windingseriesofroomsfilledwitharmchairsandsofasandlowtables,onastreetlinedwithsecond-handbookstores.

           Shecoveredtheleftoverslicesofcheesecakeandputthemintothelargerefrigeratorforthenight,thenshetookaclothandwipedthelastofthecrumbsaway.Sheenjoyedbeingalone.

           AssheworkedshewouldsingalongwiththeIndigoGirls.Sometimesshewouldbreakintoadanceforasteportwo,beforecatchingherself,andstopping,smilingwrylyatherself.

           Atappingonthewindowjerkedherattentionfromherchoresbacktotherealworld.Shewenttothedoor,openedit,toadmitawomanofaboutSam’sage,withpigtailedmagentahair.HernamewasNatalie.

           "Hello,"saidNatalie.ShewentupontiptoesandkissedSam,depositingthekisssnuglybetweenSam’scheekandthecornerofhermouth.Youcansayalotofthingswithakisslikethat.