Novel Excerpt, Chapter 5

Excerpt from Grand Theft Cambridge, Chapter 5. Ron Russo's employer sends everyone home on the first really nice Friday afternoon in April. Ron is sitting at an outdoor cafe table off Kenmore Square, enjoying the day, when a lithe, attractive woman walks up. With a little reminder, he realizes she is Martha Soares, a stripper from the Pussycat Club. The club doubles as venture capital meeting room for Silvio Carlini, whom Ron is advising on the side. Martha was to have delivered Ron's "bonus" at the club, which Ron turned into a thoughtful favor after a few confusing moments. Now Martha demands a real-life favor from him.

Martha said, "Oh, I'll order for myself. You're going to return a favor, though."

Ron was surprised again. "I don't understand. Weren't we even back at the club?"

The waitress, sensing a lover's quarrel, took Martha's order with alacrity.

"Oh, you are so naive, Ron. I couldn't take your gift any more than I could stuff your card in my pocket. The rule is customers don't touch, though possibly I wouldn't have minded you. It also means cash business only, no favors, no gifts. Silvio or even Helen would have fired me for getting involved. I know you didn't mean anything but good. That was a nice gift, but one I couldn't take. I've gotta tell you, I have been real tempted to call your office number since I realized you wouldn't be doing regular business with Silvio. But this means we are just two friends who happened to meet on the street."

"Oh. Wow. I don't know where to start. I'm sorry if I got you into trouble."

"No, you didn't because I stuffed your card in my bag, then went back and laughed about you with Helen."

"Ouch. But nothing came of it?"

"Well, I think some of the dancers were talking about the wimp techie who came in, and trying to figure out how to make easy money off of guys like you."

"So, you're right. I owe you at least a coffee, and maybe dinner."

"No, that was a sweet gesture you made. Giving something to me, not taking. But remember the thing I did give you."

"Well, I have to say I liked you leaning into me back then."

"No, dummy. My real name. That probably would get me fired. I know I look different in civilian clothes, but still..."

Ron looked around with worry. "Uh, you're not in danger now, are you?"

Martha laughed hard enough to draw attention. "You are so out of it! Look, none of the letches coming down from the neighborhoods or even the good suburbs are going to be down here today. And the frat boys that find their way out to Revere aren't going to recognize me dressed. So, no, like I said, we're just two friends talking without a care in the world."

"Okay, especially today." Ron swept his arm toward the sky.

"Yeah, it is a nice day to be walking around down here. But the thing is, I gave you the gift of my name. That's a huge no-no. Look, how do we tell someone's not a stalker, or thinks what I do is real?"

"It looks real enough."

"Liar. I know who was out there with all you tech boys. I know I do it better then Shera -- I mean, Char -- uh, let's just say the other one. But it's not real to anyone not hooked on fantasy before he even comes in the door. So, anyway, you know a secret, and you're clueless enough to maybe, possibly cause me a little danger. So I want something back from you."

"Uh, Mr. Clueless can hardly imagine what. But I'm game, and I'll honor my debt."

"Okay, then. I would like a favor. Look, out of high school I've worked fast food, then bartending, then a year of, uh, dancing." With wholesome college students on every side, Martha dropped her voice at her latest job. "So I could clean up for a few years. I've already put away $14,000 out of my tips." Ron whistled at that number. Martha said, "Yeah, I know what I'm doing. But, Jesus, it's not real. It's fantasyland on and off the stage, and in the back rooms, and I'd give up a lot to have conversations with normal people like you every day."

"You called me normal. That's an improvement."

"Shut up. So, anyway, I'm not dumb. I can read the Globe want ads. Tech is going crazy right now. And they can't possibly be a hundred percent wizards like you. So I want your help getting a job in tech. Electronics. Software. Internet. Biotech. There have to be hourly jobs you don't need a PhD for."

"Well, high school diploma... I'll be honest, just guessing what you make from what you've put away, the money would be a big step down."

"I live in a three-room apartment that's clean only because my Korean landlord won't let it go to hell. I live clean and I don't spend my money on crap. My damn cousins gave me furniture because my family doesn't want to know about my life. So having money is only a little part of the picture."

"Well, okay, what can I do for you?"

The waitress, still sensing a quarrel, set a large cafe au lait in front of Martha, then hurried away.

Martha said, "Well, you're clueless about my world. I'm not into yours at all, and I want to learn."

Ron said, "All right."

"And the real favor is, I want you to get me in to talk with a couple of people. Not get me a job, but get me to where I can get a shot at a job."

"Well..." Ron thought about it. "Seems to me the problem breaks down into three parts. You need to look and act the right way, one. Two, you need to know what jobs you might be good at. And three, you need to get in the door somewhere."

"Do you do this kind of thing all the time?"

"When I heard this quote, 'Every engineer looks at life as a series of problems to be solved,' that was a lightbulb moment. Yeah, I do. That's part of who I am."

"So you're saying I need to do more than just try my luck."

Another outpouring

So, this year is turning out to have a very uneven pace. Yesterday and today were both 4,000 word days, following a drought. How'd that happen. YT's sleep patterns are still screwed up is one reason. ML Tiff and the amazing duo of M and G dragging this author into word wars accounts for some. Finally getting to write the job seeking advice scene accounts for a lot! Even so, there's still a good sense of forward motion this year. Onward.

Word count after 17 days: 24,273