Chapter 9 #2
“Or why does this magic only happen at Christmastime?” Diya adds.
“Also! Why do lawn inflatables bring people so much joy?” Cash adds, before tapping his chin and answering himself. “Though I guess that may be self-explanatory.”
“If you’re really going to write about this, you can explain that the movies you plan to make someday will be informed by the answers to these fundamental questions,” Izaac says.
“Oh, you’re good,” I reply, tapping my temple. “Taking mental notes.”
“I know, Bosley. I’ve been telling you!”
“I do have one more, but it’s a bit personal,” Diya says.
“Are you worried that reality might be, like, creatively limiting, though? Maybe even kind of depressing? What if you can’t find what you need to prove all this?
Or what if you’re disappointed, and end up losing your own faith in the process? ”
“Mm, yeah, you’re so used to controlling the narrative,” Izaac says. “But with this… it’s really a crapshoot. People aren’t always reliable.”
I don’t admit to either of them that I’ve already seen some things that have tested me on that front since we arrived.
But I return to Eve and the way she described people as fascinating.
I have felt that at times in Ripton, but I’ve never been exposed to this many varieties of capital-H human before.
Surrounded by Brooklynites, it’s like I’m a Christmas tree newly sprung from its netting—like I could reach out and grow in so many new directions.
“I’m confident,” I say. And for the first time in a while, I feel like that’s true.
“Bennie Bosley, consummate optimist,” Diya says.
“Always the romantic,” Cash adds.
“Actually, I’ve been thinking that maybe I’m a humanist…,” I say.
“Well,” Izaac says, rubbing his chin. “As your head of marketing, I’ll ask that you keep me up to speed on how you identify, but for now, we need to get this plot moving.”
Diya checks the time and nods fervently.
“So, it’s 12:32,” he continues. “The bakery reopens at three, then closes at five, which gives us a window of two hours for you to see your girl. The weather is obviously the wild card. Diya, status check?”
Cash turns to her and holds out an imaginary microphone.
“Predictions are still showing rain around three p.m., but the changeover to snow later is a little less clear. Some reports are now saying sevenish, others still around eight or nine,” she answers, eyes trained on her radar app.
I sigh. “Now, the forecast—that’s what’s really unreliable.”
“Either way, that should give us plenty of time for Bennie to close the deal and still get back to the motherland before the city becomes a snow globe,” Izaac says confidently.
I, on the other hand, am deeply unsettled. The phrase close the deal makes my stomach lurch again. If everything goes according to plan, the goal is for me to kiss this girl. How is it possible to want something so badly even as the very idea of it scares you half to death?
“That gives us a few hours to do a little gallivanting,” Izaac says, and I snatch onto the distraction.
“Ohhh, gallivanting’s my favorite,” Cash quips.
“What does one even do in Brooklyn?” Diya asks, ignoring us and slurping her Mother Earth.
I train the camera on what’s happening around us to answer her question. In Brooklyn, it seems to me like one lives . Out loud. Even if we did nothing else for the whole day but sit here and look around, capturing glimpses of the lives swirling all around us, I’d be happy.
“Great question,” Izaac says, and looks around at each of us. “Hopes? Dreams?”
“Don’t look at me. I can officially report to Jolene that my horizons have been expanded—that’s enough to call the day a success,” I say, holding up my mug. That’s true in a way, but also, the whole adventure is enough about my stuff already. I’m not about to ask for anything else.
“In that case,” Cash says, “I would like to formally propose lunch.”
“Yes, babe.” Izaac rubs Cash’s back. “I promise, we’ll feed you.”
Izaac is such a caretaker. It breaks my heart that his family is always arguing. Which reminds me…
“What about you, fearless leader?” I ask him. “Should we try to see your sister?”
“Oh, yes, Audra!” Cash says, clapping his hands. “Let’s go see her! I miss her so much.”
I study Izaac’s face. Is he nervous? Anxious? I know he and Audra haven’t spoken in a while and this might be a little awkward, but come on—a surprise visit at Christmas? That’s the making of an unforgettable sibling reunion! A necessary addition to my shot list for the day.
“I mean, I don’t want to take us off course, but she does live pretty close to here,” Izaac says, then he looks at Diya, like he’s asking her for permission—one logical human to another.
“I love Audra,” Diya says. “And I trust the Evans siblings can keep us reasonably on time and on task.”
Izaac looks at his watch. “Well, I guess we can say hello quick,” he says. “But what about you, Diya? Any hopes and dreams? I hear there’s a Brooklyn Botanic Garden.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Diya says. “But no. I’m here to help Bennie get the girl, make sure you maniacs don’t find trouble and we end up fired for missing work tomorrow, and then get home,” she says, then shoots down the rest of her Mother Earth. “Full stop.”
“Aren’t you the most selfless friend ever?” Cash cocks his head at Diya.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m into lunch, too,” she adds, shrugging.
I eye her closely.
“Bosley, what’re you looking at me like that for?”
“Oh, nothing,” I say, and smile.
Maybe she’s being honest and she’s just here for the rest of us. But also? Maybe… just maybe… she’s coming around. I will do everything in my power to make sure she leaves here today totally certain that she belongs in Brooklyn with us too.
“Anyway,” Izaac says, ignoring us. “Audra lives above a famous pizza place. They even have some vegan stuff, so maybe that can be motivating for everyone.”
“Magnif!” Cash claps.
“Okay then—questions, comments, concerns?” Izaac asks. “The floor is open.”
“Motion passed,” I pronounce when there are none, and off we go.