The woman with the cat complex is named Mrs. Alice Plesher, but she doesn’t reveal her first name to him and Sai only finds out by accident, later. Mrs. Plesher calls the paper and is put through to Sai. He has no idea why although he could guess the new guy gets all of the reporter-on-the-beat drudgery assignments until proven worthy. Alice speaks haltingly as if hardened by age and her voice reveals a rasp. Sai pictures her in a long house dress from the fifties, wide pink and white stripes fading with age—a smock of beige over the dress, a multitude of cats clinging to the fabric like stick-ons.

Report Quote Report Quote Report Quote Submit Quote Submit Quote Submit Quote