Chapter 39
The Puget Sound Book Company
101 South Main Street??Seattle, WA 98104
2/4/93
Dear Frida,
I’m so, so, so, so overjoyed that you’re back in Paris. And that you made up with Kirby. It’s about time! I’ll miss our calls, but you’re meant to do things that matter. And if we’re making things official, I’m doubling down on my argument in our last call. Serving those sardines in Sarajevo mattered! I also want it on the record how much I appreciate you letting me hog our conversations talking about Bumpa and Sven. Thank goodness our phone bills weren’t prorated or I’d be flat broke and not just regular broke.
I’m in a decent mood. It’s strange how my anxiety comes in waves. I’m not sure what makes the waves wash in and out, but it’s nice when they’re out. It’s nice when something good happens with Bumpa, and my brain doesn’t torture me with questions about happiness and unexamined lives and what made him go to Chicago. Like the last time I was with him, I was fiddling around with a deck of cards playing War. I had to take the turns for both of us. At least I thought I did. I was kind of drifting in and out of my thoughts when I realized his good hand was crawling across the table toward the two cards I’d turned up. A three for me and a king for him. He pulled the cards toward himself. I know his brain works, but it’s easy to forget because he can’t speak. I turned over two more cards. I think I was holding my breath. He blinked at them and pushed them toward me. I kept going. He took the pair if he won or pushed them over to me if I won. We ended up playing War all afternoon. I could hardly believe it, Frida. It was like we were us again. Bumpa and Punkin playing cards together like we used to. Now I’m crying.
…I’m back. Roy gave me one of his Roy hugs. He’s surprisingly sturdy for such a slender guy. Then Stella sent me to the coatroom for a good weep. It turns out her whole rebel thing is a facade. I’m pretty sure she has a crush on Birkenstock-wearing Otis. He’s a softy who’s always going on about social issues in Latin America and trying to get everyone to read I, Rigoberta Menchú . Stella is really smart (Frida Rodriguez smart). We’ve had some pretty deep conversations about Robertson Davies and
…You’re never going to believe this. We just caught spies. Kids Books Josephine was cleaning out the little castle we have for kids to play in, and she looked out the turret and saw two people taking photos and measuring shelves. We’re 99% sure they’re from Forth & Regal. They’re opening a superstore in Bellevue in May, and they’re planning one somewhere in Seattle after that. Don’t they know bookstores aren’t Kmarts. Seattle might put up with a few generic chains like B. Dalton or Waldenbooks, but no way is it going to support a corporate behemoth. Hand-Selling Forever!! (This month it’s A Circle of Quiet , by the way.)
I’ve completely lost track of where I was going. Oh yeah. I want to tell you that I took your Ma Bell advice and invited Sven to the nursing home with me, but the day we planned to go, he got the tenth (gulp) rejection for his novel. He was too morose to take anywhere. Editors say the writing is exceptional but the story is too dense. I feel bad for him, especially since I had a thought about what his agent said. About how Sven could be the next John Updike. That seemed like a positive thing at the time, but now I wonder, what if the world doesn’t want a next Updike? Sure he won the Pulitzer, but look at what’s hot. Clockers and The Mysteries of Pittsburgh . Did I ever tell you the title of Sven’s novel? Into the Liminal Gloaming . I had to look up both words in my American Heritage . The writing really is exceptional, but between you and me, I don’t think it should take forty-six pages for a husband and wife to drive up a hill.
Love,
Kate