I walk out of the driveway I’m working in. “Excuse me?” Crowe stops and turns to face me. I feel ridiculous. “Uh, do you need any money or anything for a cab?”
Crowe walks forward, smiling. He’s
skinnier than I imagined. He’s unshaven
and smiling. “That’s very generous
of you, but no. I can walk.”
“Are you sure? Where are you headed to?”
“I’m going all the way to Inez.”
“Well, that’s...”
He holds out his hand abruptly. “Russell Crowe, mate.”
I shake his hand. “Jeff. Jeff Lester.”
He’s crushing my hand. “Glad to meet you, Jeff.” He keeps squeezing and I try to pull my hand away. He’s much stronger than me, but after a minute he lets my hand go.
“Actually, if you want, I’d be happy to share a cab with you, Jeff. I suppose Inez is a long way to walk.”
“Yeah, definitely.” Now I’m in a tight spot because I don’t need a cab; I need to be working. But his drunken pride won’t let him take money from a stranger. “Well, you don’t mind waiting a moment or two while I....”
“Hell, no!” He says enthusiastically. “I got nowhere I’m supposed to be.”
“Great, great.” I say. I walk back into the tiny driveway I’m working in. The swimming pool has shrunk down to the size of a bathtub, empty except for dead leaves and trash.