Chapter 9 Breakfast at Tiffany's-9

I mean the kids the wives bring. It should be sad, seeing the kids there, but it isn't, they have ribbons in their hair and lots of shine on their shoes, youd think there was going to be ice cream; like in the visitors room, aparty. Anyway its not like the movies: you know, grim whisperings through a grille. There isn't any grille, just a counter between you and them, and the kids can standon it to be hugged; all you have to do to kiss somebody is lean across. What I likemost, theyre so happy to see each other, theyve saved up so much to talk about, it isn't possible to be dull, they keep laughing and holding hands. Its different afterwards," she said. "I see them on the train. They sit so quiet watching the rivergo by." She stretched a strand of hair to the corner of her mouth and nibbled itthoughtfully. "Im keeping you awake. Go to sleep."

"Please. Im interested." "I know you are. Thats why I want you to go to sleep. Because if I keep on, Illtell you about Sally. Im not sure that would be quite cricket." She chewed her hairsilently. "They never told me not to tell anyone. In so many words. And it is funny. Maybe you could put it in a story with different names and whatnot. Listen, Fred," she said, reaching for another apple, "you've got to cross your heart and kiss your elbow -- " Perhaps contortionists can kiss their elbow; she had to accept an approximation. "Well," she said, with a mouthful of apple, "you may have read about him in thepapers. His name is Sally Tomato, and I speak Yiddish better than he speaks English; but hes a darling old man, terribly pious. Hed look like a monk if it werent for the gold teeth; he says he prays for me every night. Of course he was never my lover; as far as that goes, I never knew him until he was already in jail. after all Ive been going to see him every Thursday for seven months, and Ithink Id go even if he didnt pay me. This ones mushy," she said, and aimed therest of the apple out the window. "By the way, I did know Sally by sight. He used tocome to Joe Bells bar, the one around the corner: never talked to anybody, juststand there, like the kind of man who lives in hotel rooms. But its funny tomember back and realize how closely he must have been watching me, because right after they sent him up (Joe Bell showed me his picture in the paper. Blackhand.

Mafia. All that mumbo jumbo: but they gave him five years) along came this telegram from a lawyer. It said to contact him immediately for information to myadvantage." "You thought somebody had left you a million?" "Not at all. I figured Bergdorf was trying to collect. But I took the gamble and went to see this lawyer (if he is a lawyer, which I doubt, since he doesn't seem to have an office, just an answering service, and he always wants to meet you in Hamburg Heaven: thats because hes fat, he can eat ten hamburgers and two bowls of relish and a whole lemon meringue pie). He asked me how Id like to cheer up alone old man, at the same time pick up a hundred a week. I told him look, darling, you've got the wrong Miss Golightly, Im not a nurse that does tricks on the side. I wasn't impressed by the honorarium either; you can do as well as that on trips to the powder room: any gent with the slightest chic will give you fifty for the girls john, and I always ask for cab fare too, thats another fifty. But then he told me his client was Sally Tomato. He said dear old Sally had long admired me a la distance, so wouldn't it be a good deed if I went to visit him once a week. Well, I couldn't: it wastoo romantic."

"I dont know. It doesnt sound right." She smiled. "You think Im lying?" "For one thing, they can't simply let anyone visit a prisoner." "Oh, they dont. In fact they make quite a boring fuss. Im supposed to be hisniece." "And its as simple as that? For an hours conversation he gives you a hundred dollars?" "He doesn't, the lawyer does. Mr. OShaughnessy mails it to me in cash as soon as I leave the weather report." "I think you could get into a lot of trouble," I said, and switched off a lamp; there was no need of it now, morning was in the room and pigeons were gargling on the fire escape.

"How?" she said seriously. "There must be something in the law books about false identity. After all, youre not his niece. And what about this weather report?"