Just then Din-Din woke up and poked her head out of the bag. She purred as rubbed her head. “Hey!” the man yelled. “No cats!”
“This isn’t my cat.”
His eyes narrowed and he spat out in broken English, “Why you have cat if not your cat?”
I couldn’t understand why the guy was being so insistent about the cat. It wasn’t like Din-Din could make the place smell worse. “It’s a long story. But it’s not my cat.”
The man grumbled. “You have pets?”
“No. I mean, not really. I have a fish but it’s not like he leaves the bowl,” I added.
“Nyet!” the man shouted. “No pets!
Now I was mad. Everything that had happened over the past few days had worn on me and this was the last straw. “Are you serious? You’re charging a fortune for this shoebox that smells like a cat litter box and you’re acting like I might actually do something worse to it?”
“Nyet! No! I don’t rent to you.” The man stalked into the room and physically pointed me towards the hallway.
It was a light touch but I was still shocked by it. “Don’t touch me!”
“Out! Go!” I took one last look at the guy, shook my head, and left.
Back on the sidewalk, Din-Din meowed softly. Again, I couldn’t think of anywhere to go. So I went to the only place I hadn’t been yet.
Chapter 7
“You kind of smell like cat pee.” I was standing at Ella’s front door, holding Din-Din in my arms. She opened it with a glass of wine in one hand and a disgusted look on her face.
I ignored her disgust. “Do you want a cat?” I must have looked pathetic because she let me in before she told me no.
Ella had one of the smaller apartments over on Central Park West in a very trendy building. She had bought it years ago with her first big book deal. But this was the first time I’d been there in a long while. I always felt intimidated when I went over there. Everything was a little too nice--the doorman, the elevator, the neighbors. I’d had a lot of apartments throughout the years and I was more comfortable near the all-night chicken shacks and burglar bars on my windows.
Inside the apartment, everything was decorated in whites, beiges, and peaches. It looked like a shabby chic decorator went wild. I didn’t want to sit down because it all looked like something I could get dirty. Who has a white couch? I thought before answering my own question. Someone who doesn’t make mistakes, obviously.
“Why don’t you want her?”
“Because I don’t want to smell like cat pee, too.” Ella sat down and gestured for me to do so, too. “Is that the cat you snuck into Mom and Dad’s house?”
My mom and Ella talked a million times a day. Of course she told her. “Yeah.”
“Why? You know they barely want to let you have that fish.”
“I couldn’t help it!” I pointed to the cat’s face. “Look at her. I saved her the other night when I was out doing Super work. I didn’t know what else to do with her. I can’t take her to a shelter and I don’t know anybody that wants a cat.”
Ella rolled her eyes. “Did it ever occur to you to ask first? Maybe they wouldn’t have been so mad if you explained and asked before you did it.”
I rolled my eyes right back at her. “You sound like them.”
“Maybe because I sound like a sensible person.” Ella took a sip of her wine. “How is the search going?”
“Which one? The job or the apartment?” I held a hand up. “Wait. It doesn’t matter. They’re both going shitty.” I paused while the question that I came to ask sat heavily on my tongue. I decided to just get it over with. “Ella, can I live with y--”
“No.” She spit it out before I was even finished.
“Not live forever,” I soldiered on. “I mean stay with you until I get back on my feet. It shouldn’t be more than three months.” I must have gotten that from the same place I got the lie about the cat.
“No.”
“Why not? You have enough room. I could stay in your guest room. I promise I won’t get anything on your couch. I won’t even sit on it. And Crash is no trouble at all. And the cat is well behaved.” Din-Din meowed in agreement. At least someone was on my side.
“Because it wouldn’t help you. It would be one thing if Mom and Dad had unreasonable rules but they don’t. They just want you to clean up after yourself, contribute to the household, and to not bring home stray cats. Besides, I have rules just like Mom and Dad do.
“I think the problem is that you don’t want to have any rules. You've always been like that. Remember how you used to steal food at night after we were supposed to be bed? Or how you’d sneak out in high school? Oh and this isn’t the first time you’ve snuck a pet into the house. Remember when that snake that got loose during Thanksgiving? Mom had to convince Dad not to give you up for adoption!”
The worst thing about having a brainiac for an older sister is that they don’t forget anything. “You know, I wish you would fall down and get just a little concussion. Not enough to hurt you. But just enough that you don’t remember every damn thing all of the time.”
“I am what I am,” Ella shrugged. “And so are you, Audrey. All you’ve ever wanted was to do what you wanted to do. You can’t do that until you have your own thing. That means no staying at the parents’ place, no staying at my place, no borrowing money, nothing. Once you’re standing on your own two feet, you make the rules.”
She was right, as usual. “I’m trying, Ella. I really am.”
“Good. Until then, just do what Mom and Dad want and live there.”
“Okay, okay, okay. But what about Din-Din?”
“Who is Din-Din?” I nodded to the cat who was now sleeping in my lap. “Fine,” Ella said. “I’ll take Din-Din--”
I jumped up, upsetting the cat on my lap and leaping at Ella to hug her. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“--UNTIL you find another home for it,” she finished.
“Thank you anyway, Ella. What made you change your mind?”
“Because I’d rather let the cat move in than you. She’ll probably be less trouble.”
Chapter 8
I left Ella’s place late that night. Knowing I was broke, she treated me to a pizza. Then we ate it while we watched a movie. The movie was a romantic comedy and she did dab the grease off her pizza with a napkin before she ate it. Still, it was a big step for Ella.
Afterwards, Din-Din slept on Ella’s bed while she and I walked down to the lobby together. She headed to a 24-hour Duane Reade around the corner for kitty litter and food. While I headed back to my parents’ place.
On the walk home, I really thought about what Ella had said about working with what I had until I could get what I want. If I didn’t want to be treated like a teenager, I had to move out of my parents’ house. To do that, I needed a better job. And until that happened, I needed to keep my job at Cranky's, no matter how little it paid.
And then it hit me like a bolt of lightning: the best way to keep my job at Cranky's was to do something about the Graffiti Bandit. And if Lou couldn’t afford the extra security, maybe I could do something.
I checked the time. Twelve-fifteen AM. With the new hours, Cranky's opened every morning at five-thirty AM and closed around five PM. If the Graffiti Bandit wanted to hit us, he’d have to do it after dark and after the streets quieted down. Now would be the perfect time to check it out.
I took a quick left and headed to Cranky's as fast as my sneakers could take me.
*****
Cranky's looked weird at night. I was used to seeing it in action. Even when I opened in the mornings, the world was waking up. Cars were on the street and people were walking their dogs. But at this time of night, the street was quiet. Most of the shops were closed. Jacob’s Pickles--the restaurant on the other end of the block--was still open but business was tapering off.
Nothing looked out of the ordinary. The window was still as clean as I’d left it that morning. I crossed the street and ch
ose an alley that faced the store. Using the darkness as cover, I pulled my hoodie up and made myself at home.
As luck would have it, I didn’t have to wait very long. Most of the stragglers out on the street were dressed for a Friday night out on a summer night. Only one was in all black with a skull cap. First, he walked past the store and down the block. Ten minutes later, he walked by and passed the store again. Finally, a few minutes later he walked back and stopped in front of the store window.
The Graffiti Bandit raised his hand and shook the spray can. I didn’t think about what to do next, I just moved. I ran across the street, keeping low as I went. Busy making quick strokes in his latest masterpiece, he didn’t seem to see me coming. I couldn’t see what he was drawing but his concentration was evident. I thought I might actually get close enough to touch him but just as I was coming up behind him, he turned to face me.
He froze in place. My momentum wouldn’t let me freeze. Instead, I skidded right into him at full force. We slammed together against the front window of the store and slid down onto the sidewalk. He let out a yelp and started struggling to get away from me. I tried to stop him but he was stronger than me and he won.
He broke free, rose, and took a few steps into the street. I got to my feet just as quickly and ran after him. He turned back and threw the spray can at me. I dodged it and the can hit the window, leaving a spreading crack snaking up the pane.
Inside the store, the alarm blared, accompanied by several flashing security lights. The Graffiti Bandit took off running down the street. I paused, running over the various scenarios that might possibly happen next. All of them ended with me fired and/or arrested. I’d been there before. I wasn’t looking to do that again. So I took off running in the opposite direction and didn’t stop until I was back at home.
Chapter 9
I slept in the next morning. Being stressed and tired will do that to you. I didn’t have any interviews set up. No one was calling me. Besides my mom barging in to make sure I wasn’t harboring any fugitive strays, no one disturbed me.
I woke up at noon to a text from Ella reminding me to be proactive about looking for a job for myself and a home for Din-Din. Yeah, yeah. One thing at a time. At the moment, I was more concerned with whether anyone had seen me with the Graffiti Bandit when the window was broken. If that happened, I’d be officially unemployed.
My shift started at two PM. As a pro at being fired, I knew that if I showed up acting like nothing was wrong it would make it harder for Lou to fire me. Most people don’t like confrontation. Just act like everything is okay and they will, too.
When I walked up to Cranky’s the first thing I noticed was that the window was gone. In its place was a piece of plywood that two men in jumpsuits were now removing.
I walked into the store and things seemed pretty normal. Well, except for the fact that there weren’t any customers inside. I nodded hello to Eddie. He grunted back at me. The door to the office was open and Lou was sitting behind the desk, holding his head.
I knocked on the open door and said “Hey.”
Lou looked up and waved me inside. “Come in, Audrey.”
I sat down on the opposite side of this desk. “Rough night?”
Lou sighed. “Yeah. The Graffiti Bandit broke the window last night and set off the alarm. And he was gone by the time the police got here.” I nodded in what I hoped was a sympathetic I-didn’t-break-your-window manner. “Business was terrible today because we look closed. And now I have to pay for a new window, too. I tell you, Audrey, if it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.”
“I know the feeling.” Inside, I wanted to be happy because it seemed like he didn’t know I had been involved. But it was hard because I was looking at a man who really might lose his business. And all I could think of is whether I’d get a few more hours a week at work or not.
“Lou,” I started carefully. “I wanted to thank you for keeping me on even though the store isn’t doing well. I know you’re still going to have to let someone go soon but please wait--”
Eddie interrupted us, poking his head into the office. “Hey, my shift ends in 3 minutes. Audrey, can you get out here? I want to leave on time for once.”
“Um, yeah. I’m coming.”
He didn’t acknowledge I said anything. Instead he turned his head to Lou, swinging his dreadlocks as he did. “Can I have my paycheck? I never picked it up.”
The interruption broke my stride so I gave up. I decided to go back out to the floor but Eddie was blocking the doorway. Instead, I waited for Lou to reach into the safe and pull out Eddie’s paycheck. As he reached out to take it from Lou, I noticed that Eddie had paint on his fingertips.
One word slid across my mind and out of my mouth. “Magenta!”
Chapter 10
Eddie ripped off his apron, grabbed his stuff, and headed out of the store. I followed right behind him, even though I was supposed to be working right now. “Hey!” I called after him. Eddie turned back to me. He looked confused, like it wrinkled his brain to see me outside of the store. I closed the distance between us and cut right to the chase. “Eddie, I know it’s you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The graffiti? The paint?” I pointed to his hands. “Just admit it. You have spray paint all over your hands.”
He sneered. “You’re so stupid. That’s hair dye. For my hair.” He pointed to his dreadlocks.
“Ha!” I pointed. “But your hair is purple. And that paint is obviously magenta. There’s a difference, you know!”
Just then, Lou interrupted us by poking his head out of the door. “Audrey? You working or not?”
Glancing over my shoulder, I said “Yeah, I’m coming. Just give me a minute.” Lou shook his head in irritation and went back inside. I turned back to Eddie. “Now, listen--”
But he wasn’t in the mood to listen. Eddie pushed me hard and took off running. I lost my footing and fell right into the pane of the glass the workers were about to install.
It all happened so fast. Glass breaking, sharp pain, and yelling voices engulfed me. I felt like I had been stabbed over and over again in my face and arms with a thousand tiny knives. The glass guys descended upon me. “Are you alright lady? What the fuck just happened? Can you move? Are you okay?
I tried to move but pain shot through my arms and neck so I just lay on the ground in a puddle of glass and blood. From the ground, I pleaded “I’m okay! But please, don’t let that guy get away. The one with the purple dreadlocks.”
“Don’t worry about that! Let’s get you inside and cleaned up.” I felt two sets of strong hands helping me up. A trickle of blood ran into right eye. I shut it to ease the stinging.
With my remaining eye, I saw Hy and Eddie standing a few feet away. Hy had Eddie by his shirt, which made quite the sight since Eddie was at least a foot taller than the old guy. But Eddie was busy holding his bleeding nose. In the other hand, Hy was holding his cane in the air like a deadly weapon. When Hy saw me looking at them, he flashed me a triumphant smile.
Just then, Lou burst out of the store. He looked at the scene in front of him, whipping his head from Eddie to me to the broken glass and said “What the fuck happened?”
*****
“Somebody better tell me what the hell is going on right now.”
Back inside, Lou sent Hy home and locked up the store. Then he let me and Eddie get clean up. As usual, my body healed faster than I could possibly explain. Once I washed all the blood off my face and arms, my cuts had already healed. I put a bunch of band-aids on my face and arms anyway for appearances. I played it off by telling Lou that it must have looked worse than it was. Eddie seemed to be okay, too--once he got a few tissues stuffed into his nose to stop the bleeding. We must have looked like two idiots, sitting at one of the tables in the store, waiting for Lou.
Eddie told his story first. It basically boiled down to me being a crazy person. Then I told my side, which included everything I co
uld tell Lou without breaking my Super oath and seeming like a crazy person. He listened to both sides intently and didn’t let us interrupt each other. Then he took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling. After a lengthy silence, he finally spoke.
“You’re fired.”
“What?! Why?!” I yelled.
“Which one? Me or her?” Eddie asked at the same time.
“Both of you.” Eddie and I both started to talk at the same time but Lou talked over us. “Hey, hey, hey! I don’t want to hear it. Eddie, I really trusted you. It was just me and you running the shop for so long and this is how you repay me as soon as you’re not getting double overtime anymore? You’re lucky I’m not having you arrested. Get out.” Eddie slunk out of the store, still holding his nose.
Lou turned to me. “And Audrey, I don’t know what’s going on with you but I can’t have you around my business anymore. It’s not just that you apparently broke my window. . . twice.” He shrugged. “There’s something weird about you. And frankly, I think you might be bad luck.”
I wanted to argue but honestly, I wasn’t sure that he was wrong. Lou walked over to the door and opened it in a clear gesture for me to leave. “Goodbye, Audrey.”
*****
“Hi, Audrey.”
Outside on the sidewalk, Hy was leaning against the wall. “Hi, um, Hy,” I answered. I wasn’t expecting to see him there. I thought he would have gone home. “Hey listen, thanks for stopping that guy for me. He was the Graffiti Bandit. You know, the guy who was messing with the windows?”
Hy didn’t say anything. He just nodded and blinked at me behind those big thick glasses. For some reason that made me feel uncomfortable so I just kept going.
Super (Novella): Super Search Page 4