Free Refund by Karen E. Bender Page B

you require use of a phone?”
    â€œNo,” she said.
    â€œA fax machine?”
    â€œNo, thank you.”
    She rose up on half-toe and then down again—later, he realized this was the gesture she used when she had more on her mind that she wanted to talk about, trying to make herself physically taller to give herself stature to ask for what she wanted.
    â€œYour office,” he said. “Now. My headset.”
    â€œYour what?”
    â€œMy headset. I need it.” He tried to smile, attempting to appear more relaxed than he felt. “Now.”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, curtly, so likeher mother in fact it confirmed she knew where it was. She sat in the dark vinyl chair and leaned back in it. “Now. Tell me your opinion. I want to describe the sky over a new planet that has been created by the explosion of a supernova. Should it be pink or yellow or blue or a combination?”
    â€œI don’t know,” he said.
    â€œPick.”
    Her stubbornness made it hard for him to think. “Blue,” he said, helplessly.
    She spun the chair. “Thank you. I have to get to work.”
    L ENNY DRIFTED THROUGH HIS DAY AT WORK, LISTENING TO HIS writers knock around ideas: How about having contestants drink a concoction made by a four-year-old out of items he found in the refrigerator and medicine cabinet? What about telling people they had to walk down the street dressed like a chicken, slapping every third person on the face? That’s Anything for Money ! When he left, the sky was dark and furred with purple clouds. He told the chauffeur not to drive him home immediately. He was glad for the sensation of motion as the car floated over Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Silver Lake; he did not want to be still.
    When he got home, he found the staff assembled in the living room. They were clutching pieces of paper. Rosita was wearing a large pot holder on her head. Carlos was wearing a cape. He saw other employees, whose names he did not remember: a gardener wearing a chiffon scarf around his neck, the pool man. Aurora was standing on a chair in front of them. They were listening to her.
    â€œRosita!” Aurora commanded. “Your turn!”
    â€œYou! You have cursed me!”
    â€œIt is what the forces said to do,” Carlos said, in an eerie voice.
    â€œHello,” Lenny said.
    There was a silence. Rosita took the pot holder from her head. Carlos removed his cape and smiled brightly.
    â€œWhat is going on?” asked Lenny.
    â€œWe’re rehearsing,” said Aurora.
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œMy movie.” She smiled. “They’re all good in their parts. I didn’t know they all wanted to be actors!”
    He had not known that they had any other aspirations at all. He studied them. They looked away, trying to erase the animation in their faces.
    â€œThank you all,” she said. “We’re done.”
    Carlos picked up Lenny’s briefcase and walked, stiffly, up the stairs.
    â€œRosita! My dinner,” Lenny ordered.
    â€œCan I have mine, too?” Aurora asked.
    â€œYou haven’t had dinner?”
    â€œI wanted to wait.”
    â€œChildren shouldn’t eat at nine o’clock,” he said. It occurred to him that he had no idea when a child should eat dinner.
    â€œI always wait for my mom to come home.”
    â€œWhen is that?”
    â€œSix. Nine. Never.”
    â€œWhat do you eat when it’s never?”
    â€œWhatever’s around. Yogurt. Ritz Crackers. Raisins. Chips.”
    â€œRosita, give her some dinner,” he said. He went to his room.
    H E ENTERED HIS BEDROOM AND CHANGED INTO HIS SILK SWEAT suit. Then he looked for his favorite comb. It was not in his bathroom or his bedroom; nor could he locate his cologne. Standing in the middle of his bedroom, he wondered what the hell was going on. He went to the balcony and listened; he heard the clatter of