Page 127 of Married with Mayhem

How could anyone not love this place?

I love it more than ever because when I look down at the maze of high-rises and concrete, I see more than home. I see the girl who owns my heart.

But this dead phone problem is becoming a real kick in the teeth. How did people get shit done before cell phones were a thing? They must have just wandered around aimlessly, tormented by a ton of unanswered questions. I consider stopping in the terminal to plug it in long enough to make a call but I don’t want to stop. I’m too keyed up to be back in the same city as my girl.

The second I’m outside, I hail the first cab I see and bark out the Manhattan cross streets for Gino’s. Nico said Sabrina was staying at her sister’s place in Brooklyn but I don’t have an address. Gino’s seems like the best place to regroup, get in touch with her, and make a plan.

Not even a full month has passed since I last stepped through the door of Gino’s but it’s been an eventful absence. On the jukebox, The Band just started playingThe Weight. The predictable view of my dad standing behind the counter is an emotional punch. Stevie nudges him and he looks up.

“Hey, Pop.” I toss my bag in the corner.

He leans heavily on the counter. The circles under his eyes aren’t my imagination and sorrow gnaws at my guts.

I can’t relate to the agony of a parent.

Maybe someday. I hope so. Now that I’ve found the right girl, I can actually see that happening.

What’s more, I can only wish that when the time comes, I’ll do the job half as well as Sal Castelli.

“Hey, kid,” he replies in a gruff pitch. He looks me over, evaluating whether there’s been any permanent damage donein my time away and then relaxes when he finds none. “Your brother seemed to think you’d be on the road for a few days before showing up.”

“Yeah, I’ll explain later. Has Sabrina been around?”

“Nico was trying to cheer her up and brought her in for lunch. She mentioned going to some event at her school so she’s probably still there.”

“Look, I know I owe you a few hours of explanations but-”

He waves his hand to cut me off.

“Go to your girl,” he says gently. “She misses you like crazy and it hurts to see her sad.”

“We’ll talk later.” I start backing away toward the door.

He nods but there’s now also a smile on his face. “You bet your ass we will.”

Nothing but the need to get to Sabrina could make me run out on my dad. The game design school is in midtown, far enough away that I’m not willing to take the extra time to walk so I flag down another cab.

I’ve been here many times to pick Sabrina up but I’ve never stepped inside. Today there’s a black and white banner stretched across the top of the entrance that says Fourth Annual Game Design Exhibition.

The people who are milling around outside and sifting in and out of the building are all wearing ID badges. A stocky security guard is checking credentials at the door so unless I want to make a scene I’m not getting in there without flashing some.

As luck would have it, a skinny guy jogs down the steps and starts down the sidewalk. His eyes bulge when I step into his path.

“You’re leaving?” I ask him.

He takes a panicked glance around in search of potential help. “Yes?” He says it as a question, like he’s offering to change the answer if I want him to.

I pull out my wallet and extract all the cash. “There’s almost three hundred bucks here. Give me your badge and it’s yours.”

He practically faints with relief. I didn’t mean to scare him. The guy pulls the lanyard with the badge over his head and hands it over.

“All yours,” he says and runs away without taking the cash. If I chase him, he’ll probably piss his pants so I just shove the money back into my pocket and trot up the steps.

A glance at the badge tells me that my temporary name is Arvid Kanterman. As long as no one examines the photo too closely I’ll be in the clear.

The security guard waves me in with a yawn. Every hopeful video game creator in the tri-state area must be here. Most are male and nobody gives me a second look as I impatiently scour the crowd for any sign of Sabrina.

Following the herd, I find myself in a large auditorium. Dozens of simultaneous conversations create a constant buzz. The room is a maze of colorful tables and booths. Many have interactive screens set up to show off their products.

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