Taking It on the Lam by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Page 47

Poster of Glenn Miller and his Orchestra and Glenn Miller and his Orchestra with Marion Hutton and “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller, Michael McDermott, and Chummy MacGregor; property of the author, the latter under both the “fair use” and “transformative” doctrines.

To my right was an occupied desk. Much like a bank or post office, the lower wood paneling was covered by an upper level insert of a lug-proof glass with a small cutout for the passing of dough and the sounds of perfunctory “conversations.” For some strange reason unbeknownst to me, it was not difficult for me to refrain from taking out my roscoe and yelling; “Your money or your life,” or some other narrative capable of compelling the now scared occupants of the room to volunteer their valuables. I suppose that it could have been the beat surroundings, but more

Taking It on the Lam Page 48

strongly suspect that it was the Glenn Miller music on the unseen radio.

I stood next to the lug-proof partition, while the seated clerk ignored me. I looked at the room rates posted on the wall behind him and though thinking them a bit high decided on a five day stay. Curiously there were no differentiations stated regarding room size and “amenities,” the only specification the intended length of stay. I rapped on the glass with a-rat-a-tat-tat of my knuckles to get the clerk’s attention. He looked at me and said a friendly; “What can I do for you?” while his dead eyes conveyed more of a “fuck off” greeting.

“I’m considering a room.”

“Aha. Please spare me the surprises. The old ticker isn’t what it used to be.”

“Rates seem a bit steep.”

“Oh! Another palpitation. Allow me to catch my breath. ........

Hokey dokey. No dinges to share a hall bathroom with. Don’t come cheap.” His bored monotone suggested that he might have had this conversation once or twice before. The hotel dick sitting at the rear, cradling a semi-automatic roscoe shot me the hi okay sign, which I returned.

Taking It on the Lam