bowl full of delightful apricots. Miss Tomson and Mr. Smith eating from a knee in front of the fire. Cosier that way. Miss Tomson undoing a gigantic buckle to let it out a notch. Patting the tiny rotundity.
"I'm getting a pot too. I need more padding on me. I could use more right here."
"You're all right there, Miss Tomson."
"How do you know these are reaL"
"Come come, Miss Tomson."
"Ha ha, almost caught you guessing though, didn't I Mr. Smith, come on admit it."
"For a moment perhaps."
"Mr. Smith, you give me laughs. Your face the day I brought Goliath to the office. Were you white."
"Brandy, MissTomson."
"This stuff made of apricots, Mr. Smith."
"Fermented."
"I could get stinko."
"Shall we have some strong coffee."
"I keep forgetting I'm here to do some work. Come on, let's work. Get the letters out. I'm really all set. Let's spread them all out next to each other. I got choice replies to all of them. Dear Buster, they're holding a big sale somewhere down town, full of kite bargains. You are invited. How's that Mr. Smith. You don't go for that one. Now this guy JJJ. how could he be aware of the nature of your business when I don't even know. Takes an opportunity to give a warning, why not Dear Jack, beat it or we'll give you a hot poker up the roosel. Sorry Mr. Smith, but I mean why doesn't he just come out with it. Ha ha, he might really give you a scare."
"Have more brandy, Miss Tomson."
"Sure. Funny in your house like this I feel relaxed. Mr. Smith I don't want to pry but why hasn't a guy like you got a wife and kids. It's none of my business, forget I asked."
Faintly from the street scraggly children's voices singing a yule song. Miss Tomson going to the window.
"Hey come here Mr. Smith look at this, isn't that sweet, group of urchins, they're singing. How do you get this window open."
"I'm afraid it's sealed."
"I'd throw the kids some money. Poor things singing out there all alone in the cold. Nobody I guess even listening. Can't we do something for them. Maybe I could run down there with a platter of stuff. Let's do that."
"Miss Tomson, I'd rather you didn't."
"Hey why."
"You'll get chilled."
"Not me. I'm as healthy as they make them. I go walking barefoot right out the lobby of my building."
"I still rather you didn't."
"What's got into you Mr. Smith. You mean you don't want me to give those poor kids sustenance. Is that what you're telling me."
"Miss Tomson, please, you're misunderstanding me."
"I wonder if I am. Then why shouldn't I. Look how cold and hungry they look down there. If I were a kid I'd wish someone would come out of a rich place like this and give me something, even though it was only food"
"I've got my reasons."
"I guess you have, Mr. Smith. But they're a mystery to me. If I had some kids and they were out singing I'd like to know someone was going to react. I've got my pad if you want to dictate."
"Miss Tomson, O.K., Matilda will give you some cold chicken from the kitchen. Take it down to them."
"No, it's all right."
"Now please do."
"No no, it doesn't matter."
"Miss Tomson, it does matter. It matters to me now."
"It was nothing."
"Matilda will put it all out on a big platter. There's a silver one in the alcove."
"It doesn't matter what it's on."
"She'll give you a tray."
"It doesn't matter now."
Miss Tomson sitting, bending her head forward. Her book opened with the pages curled back, scribbling with her pencil. World of woe. Couldn't tell her. And I can't tell her now. She's hurt. Now I'll be blamed for hating children. I don't like them but I don't hate them. Miss Tomson, remember what you said, it's you they're after. I don't expect you to examine every little thing for signs of hostility. But how do I know this bastard watching me get the letter from the doorman didn't send these kids as a decoy. If I told you this you'd ridicule me for imagining things. For getting scared out of all proportion to the threat. Take the damn platter, rip open the cupboards, load it all on. Get Hugo up here to help. We'll all march down.
"You'd like to go home now, wouldn't you Miss Tomson."
"I've got my pad ready and pencil poised."
"You're upset."
"I'm just waiting for the dictation."
"Well I'm so upset I can't dictate."
"Well maybe we better leave it till another