Dana said, “A pi—?”
“I realize that Kemal is new to our country, and I’ve tried to make allowances, but his—his behavior is reprehensible. He’s constantly getting into fights, and when I reprimanded him this morning, he—he insulted me. That was too much.”
Dana said tactfully, “I’m sure you know how difficult it must be for him, Mrs. Kostoff, and—”
“As I told you before, I’m making allowances, but he’s trying my patience.”
“I understand.” Dana looked over at Kemal. He was still staring down, his face sullen.
“I do hope this will be the last incident,” Mrs. Kostoff said.
“So do I.” Dana rose.
“I have Kemal’s report card for you.” Mrs. Kostoff opened a drawer, took out a card, and handed it to Dana.
“Thank you,” Dana said.
On the way home, Kemal was silent.
“What am I going to do with you?” Dana asked. “Why are you always getting into fights, and why do you use words like that?”
“I didn’t know she spoke Serbian.”
When they reached Dana’s apartment, she said, “I’m going to have to go back to the studio, Kemal. Will you be all right here alone?”
“Word.”
The first time Kemal had said that to her, Dana had thought he had not understood her, but she quickly learned that it was part of the arcane idiom spoken by the young. “Word” meant “yes.” “Phat” described members of the opposite sex: pretty hot and tempting. Everything was cool or sweet or tight or rad. If there was something they didn’t like, it sucked.
Dana took out the report card that Mrs. Kostoff had given her. As she studied it, her lips tightened. History, D. English, D. Science, D. Social Studies, F. Math, A.
Looking at the card, Dana thought, Oh, Lord, what am I going to do? “We’ll discuss this another time,” she said. “I’m late.”
Kemal was an enigma to Dana. When they were together, he behaved beautifully. He was loving and thoughtful and endearing. On weekends, Dana and Jeff turned Washington into a playground for him. They went to the National Zoo, with its spectacular array of wild animals, starring the exotic giant panda. They visited the National Air and Space Museum, where Kemal saw the first Wright brothers plane dangling from the ceiling, and then walked through Skylab and touched moon rocks. They went to the Kennedy Center and the Arena Stage. They introduced Kemal to pizza at Tom Tom, tacos at Mextec, and southern fried chicken at Georgia Brown’s. Kemal loved every moment of it. He adored being with Dana and Jeff.
But…when Dana had to leave to go to work, Kemal turned into another person. He became hostile and confrontational. It was impossible for Dana to hold on to a housekeeper, and sitters told horror stories about evenings with Kemal.
Jeff and Dana tried reasoning with him, but it had no effect. Maybe he needs professional help, Dana thought. She had no idea of the terrible fears that plagued Kemal.
The WTN evening news was on the air. Richard Melton, Dana’s personable co-anchor, and Jeff Connors were seated beside her.
Dana Evans was saying, “…and in foreign news, France and England are still locking horns over mad cow disease. Here is René Linaud reporting from Rheims.”
In the control booth, the director, Anastasia Mann, ordered, “Go to remote.”
A scene in the French countryside flashed on the television screens.
The studio door opened and a group of men came in and approached the anchor desk.
Everyone looked up. Tom Hawkins, the ambitious young producer of the evening news, said, “Dana, you know Gary Winthrop.”
“Of course.”
In person, Gary Winthrop was even more handsome than in photographs. He was in his forties, with bright blue eyes, a warm smile, and enormous charm.
“We meet again, Dana. Thanks for inviting me.”
“I appreciate your coming.”
Dana looked around. Half a dozen secretaries had suddenly found urgent reasons to be in the studio. Gary Winthrop must be used to that, Dana thought, amused.
“Your segment is coming up in a few minutes. Why don’t you sit here next to me? This is Richard Melton.” The two men shook hands. “You know Jeff Connors, don’t you?”