Mary Anne Rose - Chapter 2: Ten Years Later
2. Ten Years Later
A man walked into ‘75th & Amsterdam’, a bar in Upper West Side, New York. It was around 6:30 pm and today was a weekday, so the place was still quiet; if this were located in Wall Street or Midtown, working professionals would pack the place at this early hour, but the surrounding area was a residential area, so customers started coming in much later. He looked around; it appeared that he was looking for someone. Within five seconds, he found and approached her. Before neither spoke a word, he took out a short stack of papers stapled together and put it on the bar gently. He broke silence, “Hi.” “Hi,” replied she.
”I wrote this. Would you read it and tell me what you think?”
He wore a dark navy blue blazer, black slacks and a white shirt with French cuffs. Silver watch and dark leather boots. Each item looked very fine. He seemed a little young to be called ‘dapper’ but certainly looked handsome. Given his attire, it was guessed that he was one of working professionals in the city; he was too young to be an executive but probably on his way up there. He did not look like he was in publishing business, however, so it was fair to guess that he wrote it in his spare time or in his office while he allocated time for it unofficially.
”Ok …,” murmured she, paused for a second and pronounced, “Why do you think I’m interested in reading this? What if I don’t have time to read it?”
”I’m hoping that you have time. I’m also hoping that this is interesting enough so that you can finish reading without great difficulty. It’s only ten pages,” said he rather sincerely.
”You’re assuming that I have time AND I’m interested.” She was not upset but she apparently wanted to hear why he came to ask this all of a sudden. He looked down only slightly, breathed in and spoke gently but firmly, “Here’s the thing. This is a kind of personal story, and thus, I don’t want to pick just anyone to read it. The first reader has to be the right person.”
”And you picked me?”
”That’s right.”
”How about Grey?” She asked about their mutual friend.
”He’s not the best person in this particular instance.”
There was a pause again and then she said, “I’ll read it.”
”Thanks.”
”Do you want to have a drink?”
”Ah, sure, Guinness?”
Beer was served and they had chitchat. As he finished his drink, he left for the day.
Story passed to the bartender read as follows.
