Vine Leaves Literary Journal:
a Collection of Vignettes from Across the Globe
Working in New York
At first, I used petty cash to buy myself lunch: lox and cream cheese on an onion bagel.
Once my signature was on his account, I “borrowed” money for art deco furniture and a
nicer apartment on 72nd and Columbus. After that, I tried to limit myself to $200 a week.
He drank too much and wore a bad toupee, but I became his girlfriend, which relieved my
guilt. He gave me a mink coat for Christmas. He took me to Broadway plays. I thought I
wanted to be an actress. Sometimes, I’d wear a fake wedding ring with the mink and use his
name to get the best tables in restaurants. This was almost everything my mother had dreamt for
herself.