New York Stories

As we're driving into New York City -- admiring a lavender-yellow-and-orange striped umbrella trapped in the barbed wire atop of a chain link fence, shuddering at the billboards for "Bodies" and The Mummy" that seemed to be everywhere, craning up at the Flatiron Building like dorky out-of-towners -- Josie says, “Hey, wouldn’t it be more cheerful if they made all the payphone receivers yellow, like daffodils?” Later at Grand Central Station (yes, kids, where everyone stood still that time!) we noticed a bank of canary yellow payphones – further proof that Josie is actually in charge of the Universe.

Other New York sightings: the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry (accompanied by Mom's highly telescoped and largely ignored lecture on Immigration History), the Bellinis’ newsstand in the Times Square subway station (no sign of the Cricket, but they did have "Hustler" prominently displayed), and this lovely installation in Battery Park:



We also had dinner with Andrew’s stepmother Ruth, his half-brother Jeremy, and Jeremy’s fiancée Heather at a marvelous restaurant (Josie's word: truffleful). Jeremy held us spellbound with the story of the time he (12) was left in charge of his younger brother Jason (9) while his older brother Jonathan (14) was off at a neighbor's. Jonathan and his friends called the house pretending to be psychotic axe-murdering kidnappers (a particular fear of Jeremy’s, as they well knew), and then came pounding ominously on the door, demanding to be let in.

Jeremy, completely terrified, grabbed Jason, a kitchen knife, and the phone, and took all three up to the attic, out the window, and on to the roof, where he dialed 9-1-1. The Essex Fells police, who normally had very little excitement in their lives, responded with gusto. Within minutes, three police cars swooped up, and the stunned pranksters found themselves surrounded by a crowd of adrenaline-fueled cops waving loaded guns and shouting orders. When Jeremy finally opened the door, one of these fine gentlemen presented him with Jonathan in handcuffs, saying “He claims he’s your brother. Is that true, or should we book him?” Jeremy didn’t hesitate for a second: “Book him.”

We’ve decided that this inspiring story -- of a boy bravely protecting a younger brother from terrors fabricated by an older brother -- earns Jeremy a place of honor in what Menna would call “The Middlest Club.” (And yes, Jonathan, we'd love to hear your version of events too...) Andrew says he'll host the first meeting -- in the treehouse, of course.