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Shortly before noon, Richard Huttner, a friend and neighbor of mine, called and asked if I'd meet him for lunch at a nearby coffee shop. I said I couldn't, that I had my cousin visiting me.
"Fine," Richard said. "Bring him along."
"Well, I don't think so," I replied, not wanting to go into detail. Marvin was within earshot. "He's had a long trip from Chicago, and he's about to make another. I think he'd just like to stay here."
"Want me to buy something and bring it up there for lunch?" asked Richard.
"Just a minute," I said. I turned to Marvin, cupping the receiver with my free hand. "Are you hungry?" I asked.
He nodded.
I said, "What would you like for lunch?"
"A pack of Lucky Strikes," he said.
"Anything else?"
"Cherry Life Savers."
"That's all?"
"Yes."
"Okay," I said to Richard. I gave him my order: a turkey sandwich and an orange soda. "And my cousin," I said, "will have a pack of Lucky Strikes and a roll of cherry Life Savers."
"That's all?" said Richard. I could picture his brow knotting.
"That's it," I said.
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