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"The Internal Revenue Service. They want you to pay them a million dollars by Monday or they're going to seize everything you have!"
It was a threat so huge that it couldn't possibly be true.
"Seize everything?" I said. "By Monday? Why Monday?"
"They sent a certified notice three months ago. Your business manager didn't tell you. He says you don't like bad news. . . ."
She said it so sadly I knew she wasn't kidding. What did I have a business manager for, a financial manager . . . why did I hire these professionals? Surely I didn't need to hire experts for anything so simple as getting my property seized by the IRS. I could have done that by myself.
"Can I help you, Richard?" she said.
"I don't know." What a strange feeling it will be, to see locks hanging on the airplanes, on the house.
"I'll do anything you want," she said. "I've got to be able to do something. I think I should see a lawyer."
"Good idea. Call my lawyer in Los Angeles, see if he's got anybody in his office who knows taxes. And don't worry. It's got to be a mistake. Can you imagine, a million dollars in TAXES? What's happened is I've lost a million dollars and there will be no taxes. A wire got crossed. I'll talk to the IRS when I get back and see what's going on, and we'll straighten the whole thing out."
"OK," she said, doubtfully. "I'll call your lawyer and go from there. Hurry home, please, soon as you can." She sounded tense and scared.
"I have to stay two more days. Don't you worry. We'll get this settled and I'll see you soon!"
"Don't you worry, either," she said. "I'm sure I can do something. . . ."
How strange, I thought, back under my covers in Madrid. She's taking it so seriously! As if it matters to her, as if she cares!
I thought of the managers I had hired. If this were true,
every one of them had failed. I'll bet that woman has more business sense in her hair-ribbon than the rest of us tied together in a knot.
What do you know-I hadn't bought trustworthiness with trust. Or with big salaries or with titles or with responsibilities or with expense accounts. And when hired hands fail, I suddenly realized, it's not them but me who gets vaporized!
Ay, Richard, que tontol Estoy un burro, estoy un burro estupido!
Interesting, I thought. Less than two weeks in Spain, and already I'm thinking in the language!
twenty-five
JL T WAS in a file marked Richard on her desk, and assuming it for me, I opened the file and read.
Dawn's peaceful, luminous blue
Intensified with the day
As did happiness,
Blue . . . bluer . . . bluest,
White puffs of delight,
Joy overflowing,
Until sunset
Wrapped us in tender pink And we fused in a Passionate magenta goodbye, Earth-soul and Cosmic-soul Bursting with beauty.
When night came,
A baby moon
