I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Next morning after I'd said goodbye to the dogs Alex and I bundled off to the station in the chill of early morning. I was leaving from Gatwick at nine and taking the Concorde so I'd land in New York before I left. I didn't understand physics, but that seemed like a pretty cool thing to be able to do. I would be landing at JFK at eight and would immediately book into my hotel where I could nap and then a representative from the American publisher would meet me for lunch. I was already looking forward to my kip when I arrived. I figured that if I just lived for the sleeping then everything would be all right.

From JFK I rang Alex at school, 'Guess what?'

'What?'

'It's eight am.'

'Yes, I know.'

'I left there at nine.'

I could hear the smile in her voice, 'Yes, I know. I'm glad you're feeling better.'

I said cheerfully, 'Oh, I'm still bitter about the whole thing, I'm simply momentarily amused.'

'I see.'

'By the way, flying first class is the way to go, I'm telling you. They give you champagne and caviar up there!'

I could hear her smiling, 'That's why you're in such a good mood.'

I laughed, 'I only had one glass, I swear. I thought it would look bad for me to show up sozzled. And caviar is revolting.'

'Good plan. Are you off to your hotel just now?'

'Yeah. I was going to have a kip, but I'm rather wired.'

'Be certain to have a sleep after lunch. Or else you'll be a zombie by your signing tonight.'

'You should have seen the skyline as we flew in. It was amazing.'

She chuckled, 'You've seen the New York skyline before, darling.'

'I know, but this time I get to stay. It's busy already. You know how in the village the world has to wake up, well here everyone's already awake and driving around. Must be all the coffee.'

She laughed, 'You sound energised.'

'There's an energy to the place. Like you can eat it. I think it would be exhausting to live here.'

'Well, see lots of interesting things so when we're there in a few weeks you'll have something to show me.'

'All right.' My tour began and ended in New York. I was glad she'd get to see the city. 'I love you. Scritch the dogs for me.' I started to get choked up, 'Goodbye.'

'Goodbye, sweetheart, I love you, too.'

I booked into The Plaza (wowwee wowwee) and marvelled at the size of the bed (freakin' HUGE) and the amenities (super posh). I considered ringing Alex to tell her I was never leaving that suite, but decided against it. I set my laptop up on the desk by the window and pushed open the curtains. I was glad they hadn't put me on the side of the hotel that faced Central Park, as I liked overlooking the streets, which were now teeming with yellow cabs and other cars. Every few minutes a limousine would flow by in the traffic and I wondered who was inside. I was on one of the floors that was fairly high up (higher than I'd ever been, anyway), but when I looked out over the city there were loads of buildings that were taller than the one I was in. People stacked on top of people on top of people. It felt so crowded to me. I couldn't live right on so many other people--I wouldn't be able to breathe.

I still wasn't tired so decided to investigate my rooms. The suite had a full kitchen with china plates and everything. I considered going out and picking up some groceries, then I thought about how I'd never seen grocery stores in films set in New York. I couldn't imagine that they'd have big supermarkets there, as it seemed incongruous. Huh. I looked back out of the window and it seemed like too much to go out into just for breakfast. I opted to ring room service and order something. After eating I flopped down on the sofa and clicked around the channels. It was strange hearing the newsreaders with their nasal, over-pronounced voices. Had I sounded like that? I tried to do an impression of them, but I just sounded ridiculous. I decided to shut the curtains, as I wasn't enthused about the millions of people who could see into my suite simply by looking out of their windows.