Read Online Henry of Atlantic City by Frederick Reuss - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Frederick Reuss
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is a void of darkness and drunkenness and sleep and illusion.
“Maybe you should take a break from that stuff you’ve been reading.”
Henry asked why.
“Because one day you might wake up and find out that all the things you’ve been saying are, well, true. Like what the guy said to Schwarzenegger when he’s in the Recall Office picking out his fantasy trip. You remember the line?”
Henry said you get the girl, kill all the bad guys, and save the entire planet?
“No, before that.”
Henry said you dumb bitch, he’s just acting out the secret-agent part of his ego trip?
“No, before that.”
Henry said when you go Recall you get nothing but first-class memories?
“No.”
Henry said when you travel with Recall everything is perfect?
“Right after that.”
Henry said take a vacation from yourself?
“That’s it! Take a vacation from yourself. I like that. It’s taken me thirty-nine years to figure that one out.” He ruffled Henry’s hair with his hand.
Henry said his favorite line in the movie was I wanted him dead, you moron, or I wouldn’t have dumped him down on Earth.
“I liked that one too. Anyway, enough movie talk. I’m hungry. What are you in the mood for?”
Henry said nothing.
“That won’t do, kid. What do you say we get a little room service?” Room service delivered a whole table of food and Sy ate everything and drank three bottles of beer. Henry didn’t eat anything but watched Sy as he gobbled everything up. He had been transformed from a lover of truth into a lover of food. Henry asked Sy to take him to the library.
“We’ll do it in the morning.”
Henry’s father came back a little while later. He unbuttoned his shirt and sat on the couch and put his feet up on the table. He looked like a bear. “You two have fun?” he asked. “What movie’d you watch?”
“
Total Recall
. Henry’s a tough critic,” Sy said.
“Oh yeah?”
“Henry wanted to see Schwarzenegger nailed to a tree in the end.”
Henry’s father laughed and pulled Henry over onto his lap. “I don’t blame you, kid. I get sick of the good guys always winning in the end too.” Then he said it was time for bed.
Henry didn’t go to sleep but stood at the door and listened while Sy and his father talked.
“You telling me they
bought
it?” Sy was saying. “They actually
believed
you? Christ almighty. Now they have
both
our asses in a sling!”
“Trust me, Sy. It all makes perfect sense. The story is air-fucking-tight. I’ve been over it with the old man tentimes already. Tomorrow you’ll see for yourself. Just wait. Oh, and he wants me to bring Henry too.”
“What? Henry? What the hell for?”
“Beats me. Some kind of assurance, maybe.”
“Assurance? For what?”
“Fuck if I know. He’s known about Henry from the beginning. He’s got a soft spot for kids. Maybe he wants to see what kind of a family man I am. Who the hell knows?”
“I don’t believe this. You can’t be serious. Henry’s only a kid, for Christ’s sake. You can’t mix him up in this.”
“I got news for you, Sy. He’s already mixed up in it. Anyway, when he sees all that money we’ll both be golden.”
“We’re bringing the money with us?”
“Goddamn right. A Christmas present.”
“And what if he doesn’t like how much is there?”
“Jesus Christ! How many times do I have to explain it? I’m not going to say it again. Just wait’ll he sees the green stuff. When we hand over the cash, everything will fit in just perfectly.”
“So you told him she was padding the numbers?”
“One thing at a time, buddy. One thing at a time.”
Henry went to the bed and lay down. He tried to forget himself and Byzantium and the Big Apple and everything but he couldn’t. He went to the window and looked out into the darkness of Central Park. His angel said thosewho have come to know themselves will enjoy their possessions.
Henry asked the angel what happened if you had nothing to possess. He had
“Maybe you should take a break from that stuff you’ve been reading.”
Henry asked why.
“Because one day you might wake up and find out that all the things you’ve been saying are, well, true. Like what the guy said to Schwarzenegger when he’s in the Recall Office picking out his fantasy trip. You remember the line?”
Henry said you get the girl, kill all the bad guys, and save the entire planet?
“No, before that.”
Henry said you dumb bitch, he’s just acting out the secret-agent part of his ego trip?
“No, before that.”
Henry said when you go Recall you get nothing but first-class memories?
“No.”
Henry said when you travel with Recall everything is perfect?
“Right after that.”
Henry said take a vacation from yourself?
“That’s it! Take a vacation from yourself. I like that. It’s taken me thirty-nine years to figure that one out.” He ruffled Henry’s hair with his hand.
Henry said his favorite line in the movie was I wanted him dead, you moron, or I wouldn’t have dumped him down on Earth.
“I liked that one too. Anyway, enough movie talk. I’m hungry. What are you in the mood for?”
Henry said nothing.
“That won’t do, kid. What do you say we get a little room service?” Room service delivered a whole table of food and Sy ate everything and drank three bottles of beer. Henry didn’t eat anything but watched Sy as he gobbled everything up. He had been transformed from a lover of truth into a lover of food. Henry asked Sy to take him to the library.
“We’ll do it in the morning.”
Henry’s father came back a little while later. He unbuttoned his shirt and sat on the couch and put his feet up on the table. He looked like a bear. “You two have fun?” he asked. “What movie’d you watch?”
“
Total Recall
. Henry’s a tough critic,” Sy said.
“Oh yeah?”
“Henry wanted to see Schwarzenegger nailed to a tree in the end.”
Henry’s father laughed and pulled Henry over onto his lap. “I don’t blame you, kid. I get sick of the good guys always winning in the end too.” Then he said it was time for bed.
Henry didn’t go to sleep but stood at the door and listened while Sy and his father talked.
“You telling me they
bought
it?” Sy was saying. “They actually
believed
you? Christ almighty. Now they have
both
our asses in a sling!”
“Trust me, Sy. It all makes perfect sense. The story is air-fucking-tight. I’ve been over it with the old man tentimes already. Tomorrow you’ll see for yourself. Just wait. Oh, and he wants me to bring Henry too.”
“What? Henry? What the hell for?”
“Beats me. Some kind of assurance, maybe.”
“Assurance? For what?”
“Fuck if I know. He’s known about Henry from the beginning. He’s got a soft spot for kids. Maybe he wants to see what kind of a family man I am. Who the hell knows?”
“I don’t believe this. You can’t be serious. Henry’s only a kid, for Christ’s sake. You can’t mix him up in this.”
“I got news for you, Sy. He’s already mixed up in it. Anyway, when he sees all that money we’ll both be golden.”
“We’re bringing the money with us?”
“Goddamn right. A Christmas present.”
“And what if he doesn’t like how much is there?”
“Jesus Christ! How many times do I have to explain it? I’m not going to say it again. Just wait’ll he sees the green stuff. When we hand over the cash, everything will fit in just perfectly.”
“So you told him she was padding the numbers?”
“One thing at a time, buddy. One thing at a time.”
Henry went to the bed and lay down. He tried to forget himself and Byzantium and the Big Apple and everything but he couldn’t. He went to the window and looked out into the darkness of Central Park. His angel said thosewho have come to know themselves will enjoy their possessions.
Henry asked the angel what happened if you had nothing to possess. He had
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