Party

New job not so trying yesterday as on Monday and Tuesday because Libby has to have emergency Root Canal surgery. When receive call -- on cell phone -- at 6 a.m. -- am uncharitably pleased. Work study student Billy has followed me to the Humanities department. He gets the phones while I settle myself in. Oranize files, dust off bookshelves and desk, purge desk of detritus -- snapped rubberbands, pen caps, stack of old receipts, half used jar of vaseline. Wash hands with scalding water and vast quantities of soap. Late in the afternon, receive telephone call from Dave who says We are Going to a Party. Become excited, but then have panic about clothes -- am wearing jeans that are about to go in the crotch, wrinkled button down shirt, and treed coat that purchased at Salvation Army. Tweed once very fine, but this several decades ago. Ask Dave how one is supposed to dress for party. Oh I'm sure you look fine, he says breezily. You always look cute. This disarming and forget, temporarilly about clothes until arrive at location of party, extremely fancy apartment building on Fifth Avenue in midtown. Try to straighten back so that don't get mistaken by doormen for a vagrant. But doormen (dressed in outfits blazing with gold braid) are very very polite in the way that only vast sums of money can buy. Apartment on 46th floor. Entrance hall size of a small gymnasium. Floor is white marble. White marble motif continues on spiral staircase that leads to the upstairs and into floor and walls of living room to which we are shown. Am desperate to poke around, but feel suddenly nervous. Hiss at Dave, "Where are we?" He says, I don't know, Weird, right? We are descended upon by very tall thin creature wearing gigantic gold necklace made of heavy gold disks hung from a thick chain. Am kissed on both cheeks. She introduces herself as Carolina (or Silvana, but also perhaps Chiara.) Am assured by Carolina that she is a very very old friend of his and that she adores him and adores me too. Tell her that she has an amazing apartment. She laughs and says It isn't mine, it is Marco's. Don't I know Marco? Do not like to admit that don't know Marco so nod yes, firmly. Go to bar with Dave. Ask for a red wine. Bar very sensibly does not have any red wine. I can have white wine or a vodka drink. Dave says Vodka, Two. We move to sitting area next to window. Windows stretch from floor to ceiling. Try not to look directly down as makes feel slightly dizzy. Am not bothered by looking directly out. Ask Dave quietly if he knows Marco. He says he Thinks so. Am not convinced and feel that at any moment will be thrown out of the party as imposters. Dave nods his head at very young man approaching. Marco, Dave murmers, He's lost A Lot of Weight. Shake hands with Marco and repeat line about Amazing Apartment. Yes, he nods. He hopes we will make ourselves comfortable. Think, Comfortable for what. Mind provides many graphic and scandalous images. Drink vodka drink very quickly. Room becomes full and while on second drink suddenly feel chatty. Talk to photographer who says I must go to Palermo. You will love it. Can't think how he could possibly know this about me as am not even exactly sure where Palermo is. Ask how he knows Marco, but photographer is vague, instead says that he used to come to this apartment all the time in the eighties when it was owned by an Arms Dealer and had a swimming pool exactly where we are standing. At this am definately excited and try to get photographer to give more details, but instead he talks about his wife (or possibly son or maybe boyfriend) who is a painter. Ask, What does s/he paint? Bodies. Figures. Say, inanely, That sounds Nice. He nods. Also dismembered bodies. Feel that we have reached the end of our conversation. Meet up with Dave again. Ask, Where are we? He says impressively that he just heard that Marco has ties to the Vatican. Nobody ever knew he was this rich until recently. Stick around at party waiting to hear more gossip, but nothing at all scandalous happens at party and am reminded how dull the very rich can be. Drink more than ought. Am very glad to go home to small apartment with familiar rug, comfortable couch, and books and well worn wood floors.