The Yooperverse is back in business!Â
End of April/early May, post election.
âAy ay ay! You did what, Irish?! And Ben, you went along with this? Not that Iâm sorry, but Dios Mio! That building!? Really?!â
The voice over the phoneâs tiny speaker was not exactly shrill, but it wasâdistinctive, peppered with Nuyorican slang and a still-prominent accent, a high tenor in its excitement, a little like Jockâs intruder alert.
âYou know how he is when he gets going,â Ben said, laughing. âLike a bulldozer. I just went along for the ride. And now weâre moving to New York.â At the moment, they were in their hotel room at the Four Seasons on 57th Street with Mushy at Benâs feet and Jock pacing the confines of his latest prison, walk! clearly on his mind.
âWhen? How? Why? I want all the details, mijos!â
âHang on, we havenât signed the papers yet,â Khalil said, also laughing. Juan Alvarez did that to people, his warmth and generosity and enthusiasm for life rubbing off on whoever he was talking to within the first five minutes of conversation. It made him a wonderful host, a popular dance teacher of everything not ballet and tap, and a charismatic community leader. âWeâre still in town. Want to have dinner? You and Roberto with us, and weâll explain?ââYou will come over today, right now, for dinner,â Juan ordered. âHoberto and Mami will want to see you both again and hear this insane story too. Ay Ay! I cannot believe you are moving here. Just like that!â They heard a finger snap.
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