The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan Page A

a few deep breaths and think of Trudy of all people. “Wait a minute. Okay. Wait. I thought I was supposed to be going through menopause! That’s what I came in here for!”
    “You probably were, Marilyn, but sometimes there’s one last hurrah left.”
    “Hurrah?” I sigh, but I’m abso-fucking-lutely positive that she knows I’m not waiting for a fucking response.

Chapter 4
    H i, honey. Two things: I’ve got a surprise to show you when I get home, and I’m going to be a little later than I thought.” I look down at my cell as if I can see his voice coming out of it. I don’t really like surprises because they usually disappoint. And in Leon’s case it almost always means it’s something more for his benefit than mine but he’ll present it so it comes across like it was meant for both of us to enjoy. If it doesn’t fall into this category, this is what will be an even bigger shock.
    So he’s going to be late. Good. Arthurine can eat frozen Stouffer’s and be happy. I could whip up a low-fat dessert, but this, too, takes time and I feel like sewing or hot gluing something—anything—tonight.
    “Marilyn? Are you there? Can you hear me?”
    “Yes, but I can barely hear you. Hold on a minute, would you, I’ve got a call from Joy coming in, which must mean it’s important because she never calls me on my cell. Be right back.” I press TALK . “What’s going on, Joy? Is Lovey all right? She didn’t sound right at all when I talked to her the other day. Is her pressure up again?”
    “And hello to you, too. No. Her pressure is fine.”
    “Is she taking her pills?”
    “Yeah, she’s taking all her pills. Her cholesterol is all right. And she still weighs a ton.”
    “Well, why was she talking crazy?”
    “Because she’s going crazy. Sometimes I wish to hell I was crazy and then I wouldn’t have to worry about nothing. But I ain’t. And I’m the one in bad shape. And I was…”
    “I have to call you right back, Joy. Leon’s on the other line and it’s long distance.” I hang up without waiting for her reply. Whatever she wants has got something to do with borrowing or needing some money or her world will end without my help and once again she’s sorry to have to call me like this but she had no choice and after searching for and not being able to find any other avenues—like a job, for instance—she has come to me, her very last resort, which is supposed to make me feel grateful that she saved the “best” for last. I have no intention of calling her back anytime soon because when I don’t, her world doesn’t fall apart any more than it already has and she usually manages to find someone besides Lovey and me to squelch off of.
    “Leon?”
    “I’m still here, Marilyn.”
    “I’ve got a surprise for you, too,” I say and then wish I hadn’t.
    “What kind?”
    “Probably not as big a one as yours—so don’t even think about it. Anyway, what time do you think you’ll get home?”
    “You’re not at home, are you? No, because I can hear the other cars and the wind. Did you try out a class?”
    “What class?”
    “At the gym. You said you were going to try spinning or something.”
    I forgot all about that. Why didn’t I just keep my big mouth shut until after I went? “I didn’t make it because I forgot today was my annual Pap test and I couldn’t miss that.”
    “I can understand that. Everything okay?”
    “Appears to be, but they send the actual results by mail. Oh no!”
    “What? You’re not in an accident, are you?”
    “No. I forgot that Sabrina and Nevil are going to some kind of metaphysical lecture tonight at Cal and I promised to keep Sage overnight. They’re dropping her off around seven and it’s almost six now.”
    “You couldn’t be that far from home, are you?”
    “No.”
    “Then what’s the problem?”
    “You wouldn’t understand.”
    “What’s to understand, Marilyn?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Do we have any plans for the weekend?”
    “Of