Erich Segal - Oliver's Story

'We did,' said Barry nervously, 'a lot of times. So then we opened up to see if you were … uh — y'know — all right.'

'I'm fine,' I answered, nonchalantly flicking petals from my shirt.

'I'll make you coffee,' said Anita, exiting.

'What's up, Barry?' I inquired.

'Uh … the — you know — School Board case. We're — you know — prepping it together.'

'Yeah,' I said, as it began to dawn on me that in another world I used to be a lawyer. 'Don't we have a meeting on it sometime?'

'Yeah. Today at three,' said Barry, shuffling papers, shifting from his right foot to his left.

'Okay, see you then.'

'Uh … it's sort of half past four,' said Barry, hoping earnestly that accuracy would not cause offense.

'Four-thirty? Holy shit!' I leapt onto my feet.

'I've got a lot of research— ' Barry started, thinking that the session had begun.

'No. Hey, Barry — look, let's meet tomorrow on it, huh?' I headed for the door.

'What time?'

'You name it — first thing in the morning.'

'Half past eight?'

I paused. The School Board case was actually not quite the first thing I had planned for my matutinal activities.

'No. I'm seeing … an executive. We'd better make it ten.'

'Okay.'

'Ten-thirty would be better. Bar.'

'Okay.'

As I burst out the door, I heard him mutter, 'I've done really lots of research … '

I was early for the doctor, but was glad to leave. London wasn't on my wavelength, and besides, there were momentous things to do. Like get a haircut. And select my wardrobe. Should I wear a tie?

And bring a toothbrush?

Shit, I still had hours more to wait. And so I ran in Central Park to pass the time.

And also pass her house.

The castle of the princess is protected by a regiment. At first you meet the Keeper of the Gate, who vigorously questions the legitimacy of your presence in the royal precinct. Then, if satisfied, he will direct you to an antechamber where a footman by a switchboard then attempts to verify if you, a humble commoner, are actually expected by the monarchy.

'Yes, Mr Barrett,' said the epauletted Cerberus, 'you may go in.' His implication was that — to his mind — I'd barely passed.

'That's splendid news,' I answered him in kind. 'Can you direct me to the Binnendale apartment?'

'Cross the courtyard, take the far right entrance, then the elevator to the top.'

'What's the number?' I inquired.

'There's only one apartment, Mr Barrett.'

'Thanks. I'm ever so obliged' (you pompous asshole).

There was no number on the single door. Nor any indication whatsoever of who dwelt therein.

As I clutched my small bouquet of flowers purchased on the corner, I rang very couthly.

Seconds later, Marcie opened. She wore a kind of silky thing that women wear around the house — if they're the Queen of Sheba. Anyway, I liked the parts the garment didn't cover.

'Hey, you look familiar,' Marcie said.

'I intend to act much more so when I get inside,' I answered.

'Why wait?'

I didn't. And I ran my hands on lots of silky-covered Marcie. Then I offered her the flowers.

'That's all I could scrounge up,' I said. 'Some lunatic bought up all the others in the city.'

Marcie took my arm and led me in.

And in and in.

The place was so enormous it was disconcerting. Even though the furnishings were all in perfect taste, there just was too damn much of everything. But mostly a preponderance of space.

On the walls were many of the selfsame artworks that had graced my dorm at Harvard. Though of course these weren't reproductions.

'I like your interesting museum,' I remarked.

'I liked your fascinating phone call,' she retorted, deftly (lodging all responsibility for ostentation.

Suddenly we found ourselves inside a coliseum.

I suppose the area was commonly referred to as a living room, but it was truly mammoth.

Ceilings twenty feet at least. Huge windows overlooking Central Park. The view distracted me from adequate appraisal of the paintings. Though some, I noted, were surrealistic. Likewise their effect on me.

Marcie was amused that I was acting fazed.

'It's tiny, but it's home,' she quipped.

'Jesus, Marcie, you could set a tennis court up right in here.'

'I would,' she answered, 'if you'd play with me.'

It was taking quite a while just to traverse this wide expanse. Our footsteps clicked in stereo upon the parquet floor.

'Where we going?' I inquired. 'Pennsylvania?'

'Somewhere cozier,' she said. And squeezed my arm.

Some moments later we were in the library. A fireplace was glowing. And our drinks were waiting.

'A toast?' she asked.

'To Marcie's ass,' I said, my goblet in the air.

'No,' Marcie disapproved.

I then proposed, 'To Marcie's tits.'

'Come on,' she vetoed.

'All right, to Marcie's mind — '

'That's better.'

' — as full of loveliness as Marcie's tits and ass.'

'You're crude,' she said.

'I'm awfully sorry,' I apologized profoundly. 'I will henceforth totally desist.'

'Please, Oliver,' she said, 'do not . I love it.'

And so we drank to that.

Several glasses later, I was loose enough to comment on the nature of her homestead.

'Hey, Marcie, how can someone who's alive as you stand living in a mausoleum? I mean my family house was big, but I had lawns to play on. AH you have is rooms. Ancient musty rooms.'

She shrugged.

'Where did you and Michael live?' I asked.

'A duplex on Park Avenue.'

'Which he now owns?'

She nodded yes, then adding, 'Though I got my track shoes back.'

'Very generous,' I said, 'but then you moved back in with Daddy?'

'Sorry, Doctor, I am not that freaky. After the divorce, my father wisely sent me on a tour of duty to the distant branches. And I worked like hell. It was a kind of therapy-apprenticeship. He died suddenly. I came back for the funeral and stayed here. Temporarily, I told myself. I knew I should've closed the house. But since each morning I was sitting at what used to be my father's desk, some atavistic reflex made me feel I had to come … back home.'

'Be it ever so unhumble,' I appended. Then I rose, went over to her chair and placed my hand upon a lovely part of her anatomy.

No sooner had I touched her than a ghost appeared!

At least an ancient crone dressed all in black, except: for a white lace collar and an apron.

It spoke.

'I knocked,' it said.

'Yes, Mildred?' Marcie answered casually, as I attempted to retract my fingers up my sleeve.

'Dinner's ready,' said the beldam, and evaporated. Marcie smiled at me.

And I smiled back.

For despite the odd surroundings, I was strangely happy. If for no other reason than the nearness of … another individual. I'd forgotten what the mere proximity to someone else's heartbeat could evoke.

'Are you hungry, Oliver?'

'I'm sure I will be by the time we reach the cafeteria.' And so we went. Down yet another gallery, across the soon-to-be-constructed tennis court, to the mahogany-and-crystal dining room.

'Lest you be misled,' said Marcie as we sat at the enormous table, 'dinner was designed by me, but executed by a surrogate.'

'You mean a cook.'

'I do. I'm not domestic, Oliver.'

'Marcie, have no fear. My recent diet has been more or less like Alpo dog food.'

Dinner was unlike the night before in every way.

The food, of course, was better, but the conversation infinitely worse.

'Gee, delicious vichyssoise … beef Wellington … ah, Château Margaux fifty-nine … this soufflé is fantastic'