Scamerican dream
Chapter 49. From author 2 (2011)
That morning the taxi came for me, as usual, and drove me in an unknown direction. After 40 minutes of being stuck in traffic I was finally there. Max was already there, as usual, sat at the table and drinking tea.
‘Hello, friend!’
‘Good morning, Max.’
‘I have good news!’
‘What? Does this café have a 70% discount on the breakfast menu?’
‘You guessed wrong,’ said Max, smiling. ‘It’s our last meeting’
‘Are you joking?’
‘No jokes, friend. This is the end. I mean, end of story.’
I was at a loss. I didn’t know whether to be glad or upset with the news. I was really used to those meetings and first-person stories of secrets, schemes and machinations that Max told me about. They were truly interesting and engaging. Hearing a story like that was a chance of a lifetime.
‘You said it’d 10–12 meetings!’
‘True. It’s the tenth today.’
‘Really? Already?’
Max only smiled and nodded.
‘I told you everything, but I am sure you’re tormented by a question. Why did I decide to stop? Right?’
‘Well, because of Lisa, probably,’ I said uncertainly.
‘Good guess, but I won’t overburden you with philosophy; I’ll tell you another story instead. The last story.’
‘What story?’
‘Let’s call it ‘Nick and his 401k.’
‘Funny name,’ I laughed.
‘Well, to be honest, I didn’t feel much like laughing at the time.