TheSk y l i ghtRoom byO.Henr y
Fi r s tMr s .Par k erwoul ds howy out hedoubl epar l our s .Youwoul dnotdar et o i nt er r uptherdes cr i pt i onoft hei radv ant agesandoft hemer i t soft he gent l ema manwhohadoccupi edt hem f orei ghtyear s.Thenyouwoul dma managet o s t ammerf or t ht hec onf es si ont haty ouwer enei t heradoc t ornoradent i s t .Mr s . Par k er ' sma mannerofr ec ei v i ngt headmi s s i onwass uc ht haty oucoul dne v er af t er war dent er t ai nt hes amef eel i ngt owar dy ourpar ent s ,whohadnegl ec t ed t ot r ai ny ouupi noneoft hepr of es si onst hatfi t t edMr s .Par k er ' spar l our s . Ne xty ouas c endedonefl i ghtofs t ai r sandl ook edatt hes ec ond-fl oor bac kat $8.Con v i nc edb yhers ec ondfl oormannert ha ti twaswor t ht he$12t ha tMr . Toos enber r yal way spai df ori tunt i l hel ef tt ot ak ec har geofhi sbr ot her ' s or angepl ant at i oni nFl or i danearPal m Beac h,wher eMr s .Mc I nt y r eal wa y s s pentt hewi nt er st hathadt hedoubl ef r ontr oom wi t hpr i v at ebat h,y ou managedt obabbl et haty ouwant eds ome t hi ngs t i l l c heaper . I fy ous ur v i v edMr s .Par k er ' ssc or n,y ouwer et ak ent ol ookatMr .Sk i dder ' s l ar gehal l r oom ont het hi r dfl oor .Mr .Sk i dder ' sr oom wasnotv ac ant .Hewr ot e pl a ysands mok mo edc i gar et t esi ni tal l da yl ong.Butev er yr oomhunt erwas madet ov i s i thi sr oom t oadmi r et hel ambr equi ns .Af t ereac hv i s i t ,Mr .Sk i dder , f r om t hef r i ghtc aus edbypos si bl eev i c t i on,woul dpa ys omet hi ngonhi sr ent . Thenoh,t heni fy ous t i l l s t oodononef oot ,wi t hy ourhothandc l ut c hi ngt he t hr eemoi s tdol l ar si ny ourpoc k et ,andhoar s el ypr oc l ai medy ourhi deousand c ul pabl epo v er t y , ne v er mor ewoul dMr s .Par k erbec i c er oneofy our s .She wo ul dho nkl o udl yt hewo r d"Cl ar a , "s h ewoul ds h owy o uh erb ac k ,an dmar c h
downs t ai r s .ThenCl ar a,t hec ol our edmai d,woul des c or ty ouupt hec ar pet ed l addert hats er v edf ort hef our t hfl i ght ,ands howy out heSk yl i ghtRoom.I t oc cupi ed7x 8f eetoffl oors pac eatt hemi ddl eoft hehal l .Oneac hs i deofi t wasadar kl umberc l os e tors t or er oom. I ni twasani r onc ot ,awas hs t andandac hai r .As hel fwast hedr es ser .I t sf our bar ewal l ss eemedt oc l os ei nupony o ul i k et hes i desofac offin.Yourhand c r eptt oy ourt hr oat ,y ougas ped,y oul ook edupasf r om awel l andbr eat hed onc emor e.Thr ought hegl as soft hel i t t l es k yl i ghty ous awas quar eofbl ue i nfi ni t y . " Twodol l ar s ,s uh, "Cl ar awoul ds ayi nherhal f c ont empt uous ,hal f T us k egeeni al t ones . Oneda yMi s sL ee s onc amehun t i n gf o rar oo m.Sh ec a r r i e dat y p ewr i t ermad e t obel uggedar oundbyamuc hl ar gerl ady .Shewasav er yl i t t l egi r l ,wi t hey es andhai rt hathadk ep tongr o wi ngaf t ers hehads t oppedandt hatal wa y s l ook e da si ft he ywer es a yi ng:" Goodnes sme!Wh ydi dn' ty o uk eepupwi t h us?" Mr s .Par k ers howedhert hedoubl epar l our s ." I nt hi scl os et , "s hes ai d," one c oul dk eepas k el et onoranaes t het i corc oal " " ButIam nei t heradoc t ornoradent i s t , "s ai dMi s sLees on,wi t has hi v er . Mr s .Par k ergav ehert hei nc r edul ous ,pi t y i ng,s neer i ng,i c ys t ar et hats hek ept f ort hos ewhof ai l edt oqual i f yasdoc t or sordent i s t s ,andl edt hewayt ot he secondfloorback. " Ei ghtdol l ar s ?"s ai dMi s sLees on." Dearme!I ' m notHet t yi fIdol ookgr een. I ' mj us tapoorl i t t l ewor k i nggi r l .Showmes omet hi nghi gherandl ower . " Mr .Sk i dderj umpedands t r ewedt hefl oorwi t hc i gar et t es t ubsatt her aponhi s door .
" Ex c us eme,Mr .Sk i dder , "s ai dMr s .Par k er ,wi t hherdemon' ssmi l eathi spal e l ook s." Idi dn' tk nowy ouwer ei n.Ias kedt hel adyt ohav eal ookaty our l ambr equi ns . " " They ' r et ool ov el yf orany t hi ng, "s ai dMi ssLees on,s mi l i ngi nex ac t l yt heway t heangel sdo. Af t ert heyhadgoneMr .Sk i ddergotv er ybus yer as i ngt het al l ,bl ac k hai r ed her oi nef r om hi sl at es t( unpr oduc ed)pl ayandi ns er t i ngas mal l ,r ogui s hone wi t hheav y ,br i ghthai randv i v ac i ousf eat ur es . " AnnaHel d' l l j umpati t , "s ai dMr .Sk i ddert ohi ms el f ,put t i nghi sf eetupagai ns t t hel ambr equi nsanddi s appear i ngi nac l oudofs mok el i k eanaer i al c ut t l efi s h. Pr es ent l yt het oc si nc al l of" Cl ar a! "s oundedt ot hewor l dt hes t at eofMi s s Lees on' spur s e.Adar kgobl i ns ei z edher ,mount edaSt y gi ans t ai r way ,t hr us t heri nt oav aul twi t hagl i mmerofl i ghti ni t st opandmut t er edt hemenac i ng andc abal i s t i cwor ds" T wodol l ar s ! " " I ' l l t ak ei t ! "s i ghedMi s sLees on,s i nk i ngdownupont hes queak yi r onbed. Ev e r yd ayMi s sL ee s onwe ntou tt owor k .Atn i g hts h eb r ou ghtho mepa pe r s wi t hhandwr i t i ngont hem andmadec opi eswi t hhert y pe wr i t er .Some t i mes s hehadnowor katni ght ,andt hens hewoul ds i tont hes t epsoft hehi gh s t oopwi t ht heot herr oomer s .Mi s sLees onwasnoti nt endedf oras ky l i ght r oo m whe nt hepl a nswer edr a wnf orhe rc r ea t i o n.Sh ewa sga y he ar t e da nd f ul l oft ender ,whi ms i c al f anci es .Onc es hel etMr .Sk i dderr eadt ohert hr ee ac t sofhi sgr eat( unpubl i s hed)c omedy ," I t ' sNoKi d;or ,TheHei roft he Subway . " Ther ewasr ej oi ci ngamongt hegent l emenr oomer swheneverMi ssLeeson hadt i met os i tont hes t epsf oranhourort wo.ButMi s sLongnec ker ,t het al l bl ondewhot aughti napubl i cs chool ands ai d," Wel l ,r eal l y ! "t oev er y t hi ngy ou
s ai d,s atont het ops t epands ni ff ed.AndMi s sDor n,whos ho tatt hemo v i ng d uc k sa tCo ne yev e r ySun da yan dwor k e di nad ep ar t me nts t o r e ,s ato nt he bo t t o ms t e pa nds n i ff ed.Mi s sL ees o ns a to nt h emi d dl es t e pan dt heme n woul dqui c k l ygr oupar oundher . Es pec i al l yMr .Sk i dder ,whohadc as theri nhi smi ndf ort hes t arpar ti na pr i v at e,r omant i c( uns pok en)dr amai nr eal l i f e.Andes pec i al l yMr .Hoov er , whowasf or t y fi v e,f at ,fl us handf ool i s h.Andes pec i al l yv er yy oungMr .Ev ans , whos etupahol l owc ought oi nduc ehert oas khi mt ol ea v eoffci gar et t es .The menv ot edher" t hef unni es tandj ol l i es tev er , "butt hes ni ffsont het ops t epand t hel o wers t epwer ei mpl ac abl e. ****** Ipr ayy oul ett hedr amahal twhi l eChor usst al k st ot hef oot l i ght sanddr opsan epi c edi ant earupont hef at nes sofMr .Hoov er .T unet hepi pest ot het r agedyof t al l ow,t hebaneofbul k ,t hec al ami t yofc or pul enc e.Tr i edout ,Fal s t affmi ght h av er e nd er e dmo r er o ma nc et ot h et o nt h anwou l dha v eRo meo ' sr i c k e t yr i b s t ot heounc e.Al o v erma ys i gh,buthemus tno tpuff .T ot het r ai no fMomusar e t hef atmenr emanded.I nv ai nbeat st hef ai t hf ul l es thear tabov ea52i nc hbel t . Av aunt ,Hoov er !Hoov er ,f or t y fi v e,fl us handf ool i s h,mi ghtc ar r yoffHel en her s el f ;Hoov er ,f or t y fi ve,fl us h,f ool i s handf ati smeatf orper di t i on.Ther e wa sne v erac han c ef o ry o u,Ho ov e r . AsMr s .Pa r k e r ' sr o omer ss att h uson es u mme r ' se v en i ng ,Mi s sLe es onl oo k ed upi nt ot hefi r mamentandc r i edwi t hherl i t t l egayl augh: " Why ,t her e' sBi l l yJ ac k son!Ic ans eehi mf r om downher e,t oo. " Al l l ook edups omeatt hewi ndowsofs k y sc r aper s ,s omec as t i ngaboutf oran ai r s hi p,J ac ks ongui ded.
" I t ' st hats t ar , "ex pl ai nedMi s sLees on,poi nt i ngwi t hat i nyfi nger ." Nott hebi g onet hatt wi nk l es t hes t eadybl ueoneneari t .Ic ans eei tev er yni ghtt hr ough mysk yl i ght .Inamedi tBi l l yJac ks on. " " Wel l ,r eal l y ! "s ai dMi s sLongnec ker ." Idi dn' tk nowy ouwer eanas t r onomer , Mi ssLeeson. " " Oh,y es , "s ai dt hes mal l s t argaz er ," Ik nowasmuc hasan yoft hem aboutt he s t y l eofs l eev est hey ' r egoi ngt owearnex tf al l i nMar s. " " Wel l ,r eal l y ! "s ai dMi s sLongnec ker ." Thes t ary our ef ert oi sGamma,oft he c ons t el l at i onCas si opei a.I ti snear l yoft hes ec ondmagni t ude,andi t s mer i di anpas sagei s " " Oh, "s ai dt hev er yy oungMr .Ev ans ," It hi nkBi l l yJ ac k soni samuc hbet t er namef ori t . " " Sameher e, "s ai dMr .Hoo v er ,l oudl ybr eat hi ngdefi anc et oMi s sLongnec k er . " It hi nkMi s sLees onhasj us tasmuc hr i ghtt onames t ar sasan yoft hos eol d as t r ol oger shad. " " Wel l ,r eal l y ! "s ai dMi s sLongnec ker . " Iwonderwhet heri t ' sas hoot i ngs t ar , "r emar k edMi s sDor n." Ihi tni neduc ks andar abbi toutoft eni nt hegal l er yatConeySunda y . " " Hed oes n ' ts ho wu pv e r ywel l f r om do wnh er e , "s a i dMi s sLe es on ." Yo uo ug ht t oseehi mf r om myr oom.Youknowyoucanseest ar seveni nt hedayt i me f r om t hebot t om ofawel l .Atni ghtmyr oom i sl i k et hes haf tofac oal mi ne,and i tmak esBi l l yJac ks onl ookl i k et hebi gdi amondpi nt hatNi ghtf as t ensher k i monowi t h. " The r ec ameat i mea f t e rt h atwh enMi s sLe es onb r o ugh tn of o r mi dab l ep ap er s h omet oc o py .An dwh ens h ewen to uti nt hemo r ni n g,i n s t e adofwo r k i n g,s h e
wentf r om offic et ooffic eandl etherhear tmel tawa yi nt hedr i pofc ol d r ef us al st r ans mi t t edt hr oughi ns ol entoffic eboy s .Thi swenton. The r ec ameane v eni n gwh ens h ewea r i l yc l i mbe dMr s .Par k e r ' ss t o opa tt h e hourwhens heal wa y sr et ur nedf r om herdi nneratt her es t aur ant .Buts hehad h adn od i n ne r . Ass hes t eppedi nt ot hehal l Mr .Hoo v erme therands ei z edhi sc hanc e.He as k edhert omar r yhi m,andhi sf at nes sho v er edabo v eherl i k eana v al anc he. Shedodged,andcaughtt hebal us t r ade.Het r i edf orherhand,andsher ai s ed i tands mot ehi m weak l yi nt hef ac e.St epb ys t eps hewentup,dr aggi ng her s el fbyt her ai l i ng.Shepas s edMr .Sk i dder ' sdoorashewasr edi nk i nga s t agedi r ec t i onf orMy r t l eDel or me( Mi s sLees on)i nhi s( unac cept ed)c omedy , t o" pi r ouet t eac r os ss t agef r om Lt ot hes i deoft heCount . "Upt hec ar pet ed l adders hec r a wl edatl as tandopenedt hedooroft hes k y l i ghtr oom. Shewast ooweakt ol i ghtt hel amport oundr es s .Shef el l upont hei r onc ot , herf r agi l ebodysc ar c el yhol l owi ngt hewor ns pr i ngs .Andi nt hatEr ebusoft he s k yl i ghtr oom,s hes l owl yr ai s edherheav yey el i ds ,ands mi l ed. ForBi l l yJ ac k s onwass hi ni ngdownonher ,c al m andbr i ghtandcons t ant t hr ought hes k y l i ght .Ther ewasnowor l dabouther .Shewassunki napi tof bl ac knes s,wi t hbutt hats mal l squar eofpal l i dl i ghtf r ami ngt hes t art hats he h ads owh i ms i c a l l yando h,s oi ne ffe c t u al l yna me d.Mi s sLon gne c k ermu s tbe r i ght ;i twasGamma,oft hec ons t el l at i onCas si opei a,andnotBi l l yJac ks on. An dy e ts h ec ou l dno tl e ti tb eGamma. Asshel a yonherbac ks het r i edt wi c et or ai s eherar m.Thet hi r dt i mes hegot t wot hi nfi nger st oherl i psandbl ewak i s soutoft hebl ac kpi tt oBi l l yJac kson. Herar mf el l bac kl i mpl y .
" Goodby e,Bi l l y , "s hemur mur edf ai nt l y ." You' r emi l l i onsofmi l esawayandy ou won' tev ent wi nk l eonc e.Buty ouk eptwher eIc oul ds eey oumos toft het i me upt her ewhent her ewas n' tany t hi ngel s ebutdar k nes st ol ookat ,di dn' t y ou?...Mi l l i onsofmi l es ....Goodby e,Bi l l yJ ac k son. " Cl ar a,t hec ol our edmai d,f oundt hedoorl oc k edat10t henex tday ,andt hey f or c edi topen.Vi negar ,andt hes l appi ngofwr i s t sandbur ntf eat her spr ov i ng ofnoa v ai l ,s omeoner ant o' phonef oranambul anc e. I nduet i mei tbac k edupt ot hedoorwi t hmuc hgongc l angi ng,andt hec apabl e y oungmedi c o,i nhi swhi t el i nenc oat ,r eady ,ac t i v e,c onfi dent ,wi t hhi ssmoot h f ac ehal fdebonai r ,hal fgr i m,danc edupt hes t eps . " Ambul anc ec al l t o49, "hes ai dbr i efl y ." What ' st het r oubl e?" " Oh,y es ,doc t or , "s ni ffedMr s .Par k er ,ast houghhert r oubl et hatt her es houl d bet r oubl ei nt hehous ewast hegr eat er ." Ic an' tt hi nkwhatc anbet hemat t er wi t hher .No t hi ngwec oul ddowoul dbr i nghert o.I t ' say oungwoman,aMi s s El s i ey es ,aMi s sEl s i eLees on.Ne v erbef or ei nmyhous e" " Whatr oom?"c r i edt hedoc t ori nat er r i bl ev oi c e,t owhi c hMr s .Par k erwasa s t r a n g e r . " Thes k yl i ghtr oom.I t Ev i dent l yt heambul anc edoc t orwasf ami l i arwi t ht hel oc at i onofs ky l i ght r ooms .Hewasgoneupt hes t ai r s ,f ouratat i me.Mr s .Par k erf ol l oweds l owl y , a she rd i gn i t yd ema nd ed . Ont hefi r s tl andi ngs heme thi mc omi ngbac kbear i ngt heas t r onomeri nhi s ar ms .Hes t oppedandl etl oos et hepr ac t i s eds cal pel ofhi st ongue,notl oudl y . Gr adual l yMr s .Par k erc r umpl edasas t i ffgar mentt hats l i psdownf r om anai l . Ev e raf t e r wa r dt h er er e ma i n edc r ump l e si nhermi ndan db od y .So me t i mesh er c ur i ousr oomer swoul das kherwhatt hedoc t ors ai dt oher .
" Lett hatbe, "s hewoul dans wer ." I fIc angetf or gi v enes sf orhav i nghear di tI wi l l bes at i s fi ed. " Theambul anc eph y s i c i ans t r odewi t hhi sbur dent hr ought hepac kofhounds t hatf ol l owt hec ur i os i t yc has e,andev ent heyf el l bac kal ongt hes i dewal k a bas h ed,f orh i sf a c ewa st ha to fo newhob ea r shi so wnd ea d. Theynot i c edt hathedi dnotl aydownupont hebedpr epar edf ori ti nt he ambul anc et hef or mt hathec ar r i ed,andal l t hathes ai dwas :" Dr i v el i k eh* * l , Wi l s on, "t ot hedr i v er . Thati sal l .I si tas t or y ?I nt henex tmor ni ng' spaperIs awal i t t l enewsi t em, andt hel as ts ent enc eofi tma yhel py ou( asi thel pedme)t owel dt hei nc i dent s t o g e t h e r . I tr ec ount edt her ec ept i oni nt oBel l e v ueHos pi t al o fay oungwomanwhohad beenr emov edf r om No.49Eas t-s t r eet ,s uffer i ngf r om debi l i t yi nduc edby s t ar v at i on.I tc onc l udedwi t ht hes ewor ds : " Dr .Wi l l i am J ac k s on ,t heambul anc eph y s i c i anwhoat t endedt hec as e,s a y s t hepat i entwi l l r ec ov er . "
