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"Ed?"
No answer.
I'm still thinking.
"Ed?" roars Ma.
I'm stunned back into the conversation.
"Are you listening to me?"
"Yeah...yeah, of course."
45 Edgar Street...13 Harrison Avenue...6 Macedoni Street...
"Ma, I'm sorry," I say again. "It just slipped my mind--I had a lot of pickups today. A lot of work in the city. I'll get it tomorrow, all right?"
"You sure about that?"
"I'm sure."
"You won't forget?"
"No."
"Good. Goodbye."
"Hey, wait!" I rush my voice through the phone.
She comes back. "What?"
I struggle to get the words out of my mouth, yet I have to ask her. About the card. I've decided I should really ask everyone I suspect of sending it to me. I may as well start with Ma.
"Yes, what?" she asks again, a bit louder this time.
I let the words out, each one tugging and pulling at my lips as they fight to stay in.
"Did you send me something in the mail today, Ma?"
"Like what?"
I pause a moment. "Like something small...."
"Like what, Ed? I don't really have time for this."
All right. I have to say it. "It's a playing card--the Ace of Diamonds."
There's silence at the other end. She's thinking.
"Well?" I ask.
"Well what?"
"Was it you who sent it?"
She's had enough now, I can tell. The feeling reaches a hand through the phone line and shakes me.
"Of course it wasn't me!" It's like she's retaliating for something. "Why would I bother sending you a playing card in the mail? I should have sent you a reminder to pick up"--she raises her voice to a roar again--"my goddamn coffee table!"
