A change of gravity

"I went up and I knocked on her door, and I told her that this bothered me and all, her falling asleep like that I did not say "passing out," even though that's what I really think it was because I know she smokes. I told her: "What bothers me here is actually a lot more than the noise from the TV anna neighbors complaining a result that they can't sleep. Because you can turn the TV set down, and I know that now you're aware of this problem, you will do that. And then they wont be awake and complain. But what really bothers me about this is the fact you smoke. You fall asleep here inna chair some night, you've got a cigarette going, it could be a real fire hazard here. That could be a dangerous thing."

"And then what I said to her was this: "Now we do allow tenants who smoke to smoke in this building. We don't say that they can't do it.

Even though we know that can cost us some business sometimes, people just refuse to rent apartments from us if we allow smoking. But we think ordinarily what you do up here's your business, as long's you're living here. It's your place; you should be able, do what you want in it.

'"As long's you don't disturb nobody else; that's the one major rule.

It's your health, not mine that you've got to think of, and if that's the decision you've reached, well then, it's all right by me.

'"But I still have to tell you at the same time if we find there's been some kind of an incident up here some night because you fell asleep in that chair there and set the place on fire, smoke detectors in here went off or maybe even the ones out in the hallway started to go off, and the fire department hasta come, well, God forbid that anything should happen to you wind up inna hospital, smoke inhalation, something. Because if you haven't thought about that, you should give it some thought fire inna night is a serious thing. But even if something that bad doesn't happen, I can tell you right this minute what it is going to do is make a big change in how we look at things around here. And what we decide then we can let you do in here."

"I think it got through to her. Looked like it penetrated anyway. But like I say, you never know. All I can say's we haven't had any problems with her since then for a while. Nothing I've heard about anyway, and if there is one I generally do."

"Yeah," Merrion said. "Well, what we've been hearing down the courthouse is that she'd been keeping pretty steady company up here recently with a guy we're not all that sure's a wholesome influence.

Just the opposite, in fact. You understand: we have to be concerned.

So that was what made me decide I ought to come up here today and take a look around."

"Oh, that would've been right, you heard that," Brody said. "She has been. That would be Lowell you mean. Lowell Chappelle. He's been here a few times; seen him around here several times."

"You'd know what he looks like, then," Merrion said. This's a guy you'd recognize, then, you were to see him again? Does he also have a car, truck or something? See, I couldn't tell just by lookin' around here this morning, by looking at what's parked around in front if the guy's around. And I was, you know, you start thinkin': "Well, what am I gonna run into here, I go up this woman's apartment? Am I gonna find this guy in there, have him to deal with, I go into this woman's apartment?" He's got a reputation of being a pretty violent type of guy."

"Oh, yeah, I've seen him, good many times," Brody said. "But now you ask me, I don't think I've ever seen him driving anything. Seem like he'd almost have to, have something to get around in. Can't you check with the state police? I should think you could do that."

"I did," Merrion lied, kicking himself for not having thought of it, 'they report no listing for him."

"Well," Brody said, 'if he's got someone else's jalopy I couldn't tell you what it is or if it's here. I guess I must've never seen him in it.

"But now him, far as he's concerned: that's a whole other thing here.

I've seen him a lot. Fairly big guy, he is, stands out in your mind.

Big face." Brody cupped his hands beside his cheeks and puffed, bunching his jaw muscles as well. "Like this, okay? Only he's like this all the time. The man has a very big face. Sort of dark-skinned.

Might be one of those part-Indian people or something; you know how you see those guys in movies. Real black hair, not much grey. Probably about my age or so, at least; maybe a little older. Keeps himself in good shape. Looks like he's always doing something, doesn't want you getting in his way."

"Not a guy you'd pick to mess with," Merrion said.

"No," Brody said, 'definitely not. I believe what you said about him being a violent person. The guy definitely looks it. Of course I'm not the kind of guy that likes to go around, you know, picking fights with people. But if I was that kind of guy, I wouldn't pick one with this Lowell character. Not if I wanted to win it. He looks like he'd be mean, someone got him going."