Leaving New York

Chapter 37

I got up early to run at the park. Ernie was running in the opposite direction.

"Hey, Ernie."

"You're an asshole."

"I'm sorry about what I said."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Sure. I hope you have a Merry Christmas."

He ran out of the park towards his building. It hurt I'd ruined something. I got back to the house, showered, then lay in bed dozing. A man—I needed a man. A brother--someone I could talk to and hold. I fell asleep in the empty house then the doorbell buzzed. I looked at my clock then ran downstairs.

"Jack."

"Hey. Did the company get the scaffold?"

"Oui, that job, she is done. You ready for this one?"

"Yes."

We trotted upstairs as I thought, 'Phillipe is here!' I hummed Jingle Bells. We dove into the work right away, putting on harnesses for climbing outside. We removed rust from the roof with wire brushes, then applied a uniform layer of metal base coat six inches outward from the leaks. He untied the red bandana around his neck, mopping his brow. "It's cool, but the roof heats up."

"Yeah."

He grabbed his water bottle, gulping some down, then handed it to me, "You need water too." I hesitated, thinking, 'What if he has a cold or VD or something, but I loved his trust. I remembered how he'd fallen asleep on me.

"We get the little patches done; then we'll replace the worst places with whole metal sheets. Then we'll seal it all up with urethane roof cement."

"I see." I liked the way he explained it all to me. We finished patching, then climbed back in and ate lunch. He pulled a banana from his metal lunch box, offering me a piece, which I took. "The banana, she is an herb."

"No."

"Yep."

I was getting all bound up by the harness and slid my hand down my pants to unravel everything. Phillipe laughed, "Why is it women think it's gross when we have to adjust our cocks, but they fuss with their brasiers all day long?"

I snickered, "Right on."

"I not pay attention to women. They want too much--to get married, make babies, buy them a house, send their babies to college."

"Yeah."

He said, "Do you have any children?"

"No."

"A wife? Ex-wife?"

"No."

Phillipe said, "I was married."

"I think you told me."

I wanted to think the night we were together was the beginning of something, but I guessed now he was straight. After lunch, we cut out whole sections of rusted metal, replacing them with new sheets.

"You are a good worker, Jack. It's five; I'm ready to call it a day. You?"

"Yeah."

"What are you up to?"

"Making dinner for everyone. I was doing it every night, but now just once a week since I'm helping you."

"Oh."

Was he going to ask me to do something fun? Why was I always taking care of people, like the Connally household and Henry?"

I said, "Have dinner with us?"