Leaving New York

Chapter 29

A month after lunch in the Bois, Ari got asylum status and a laborer's job at a small construction company in the Marais. It wasn't a job for a man with a bachelor's degree, but he was safe and delighted to be supporting his sons. Chloe sold a painting at Deidre's gallery; the boys started school. Gar had two interviews but no offers.

One night at dinner, Ari said he'd met the roofer doing the house they were building in Bagnolet. "I told him there's a lot of roof leaks where me and the boys live. He said he could come take a look if you wanted."

"There's no money to pay him, Ari. Remember, I don't have a fucking job." The boys were there.

Chloe said, "Gardner Connally, clean up your sailor's mouth in front of our boys."

"Sorry."

Chloe went on, "Honey, you said we have to get the roof fixed no matter what, sell or no sell. Isn't that right, Jack?"

Lion said, "I felt drops on my head when it rained the other night."

Gar stood up, raising his voice, "Alright, we'll get the G.D. roof fixed!" then stormed out.

On Saturday, the guy came. Ari introduced him to Gar and me.

"This is Phillipe."

I said, "Bonjour."

Gar said, "We don't have any money."

Phillipe said, "Well, we can still look around, yes?"

Gar sneered, "I guess."

We all walked up to the attic, gingerly stepping along the massive wooden joists as Phillipe shined his flashlight all over.

"She is very leaky, n'est pas?"

Gar said, "Comes and goes."

Phillipe then climbed some ramshackle steps in a dark corner, banged on a latch several times, then a trap door flew open like a jack-in-the-box. Light streamed in from the sky; we climbed outside, walking across the flat part of the Mansard roof, still watching him check everything. I looked over the roof edge, almost losing my balance. "Whoa." Phillipe grabbed my arm.

"Not too close, monsieur."

"Thanks." It looked like he knew what he was doing; he had a clipboard with a rough sketch of the building's floorplan. He marked all the suspected leaks.

"Okay, I see what I need to see."

Ari said, "Okay."

We climbed back inside, where Phillipe said to Gar, "The roof was replaced maybe twenty years ago. It doesn't need replacing, but there are many patches required."

Gar said, "Would you be willing to do it?"

"I could do it, but I would need a helper. My helper just moved to Brittany, damn him."

I said, "I could do it." Phillipe scanned my body for ability.

Gar looked at me, "What do you know about roofing?"

"I helped re-roof our fire station about five years ago. We all pitched in and did most of it ourselves because the city would never get to it."

Gar said, "How much would you charge?"

"I have to get back to you. I have to go now to my nephew's game." We started downstairs.

The lanky Frenchman said, "It was nice to meet you all."

After he closed the door, Gar said to us, "It's gonna be a ton."