you're such a good listener

i put the phone on speaker,

then go down

to the laundry room to bring up

a basket full of clothes.

i begin to fold,

as she continues to talk.

it's the history of her life,

going back to when her grandparents

arrived on Ellis Island

with one suitcase and a bundt cake.

when i'm done with the clothes.

i do some push ups.

some sit ups.

then put a pot roast in

the oven.  i slice carrots

and potatoes.

she's on her father now, having

finished with her mother.

yup. i say. holding the phone

closer.

interesting.

then i go back to the kitchen.

i haven't cleaned the fridge

in ages. so i start that.

are you still there, she says.

i go to the phone and say, yes.

your story is so interesting

that i didn't want to interrupt.

please go on. you haven't told

me about your cats yet.

i'll get to them, she says,

but let me tell you about my

last boyfriend first.

he's coming over for dinner

soon, so i only have one more

hour to talk to you.

okay.  sorry, about the noise

over here, i tell her.

i'm vacuuming the rug.