The Paris Review - Fall 2016

the holdings you accrued during your time in the banking industry and use
that money to pay for Alexander’s passage West, to start a new and better life
for himself !”—and Leslie could feel the energy in the room flag with every
“swirl of potent amber liquid.” He did know, at least, not to read too long.
“ ‘ “Father,” ’ ” Cal read, with finality in his voice, “ ‘ “it is half of an hour
until midnight.” His daughter led him by the hand into the grand ballroom,
where he would join his guests in preparing for the long-heralded new century’s
beginning.’ Thank you.”
Leslie clapped hard. She really was medium-proud of the way he read, the
poise he showed in front of a group, and the casual seriousness with which
he carried himself. Jim was right—he didn’t mess around. But to what end?
“Great job,” she said to him when he’d made his way over to her. She gave
him a quick kiss.
“Was it okay?” he said.
“Very commanding.”
“But not like in a fascist way, right?”
“Only the tiniest bit,” she said. “A little touch of fascism in the night.”
“Huh,” he said. “Well, I’m glad you liked it.”
She squeezed his shoulder once and moved past him so that he could
greet his other admirers, and then went back behind the sales desk where she
knew Kim kept a bottle of Jim Beam in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet.
She took a pull from the half-full (or was it half-empty?) handle, then,
before she could register the effect, took one more, holding the whiskey in
her mouth for an extra unpleasant second before swallowing it. The immediate
consequence was nausea, but then she felt the old pleasant warming in her
brain and felt justified in her choice. All of these things that masqueraded as
decisions, she knew, were really just inevitabilities.
“You, uh, drop something, Les?” Kim loomed over her.
“Yeah, I think my contact lens is in this bottle of Jim Beam,” she said.
“Could you get out of there before Max sees you?” Kim said. “Come
on, man.”
“Feeling a little sad,” Leslie said. She stood up and rested her weight on the
low science-fiction shelf. “But I was feeling so good just a few minutes ago!”
“This is a good night,” Kim said. “Whatever it is, you’re overthinking it.”
“I wish I wasn’t such a jerk,” Leslie said.
“Yeah, well,” Kim said.
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