The Pessimists by Bethany Ball

Author:Bethany Ball [Ball, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grove Atlantic
Published: 2021-09-13T17:14:42+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The “G” is for Gunter

Just before Virginia and Tripp’s New Year’s Party when he’d been too drunk to drive home, Gunter had decided he needed a new car. A big car for a big man in a big land.

I’m a tall man, Gunter had said to the dealer. I need a tall car. A tall German wagon is what I require, Gunter told the dealer. I need such a car to navigate the American neighborhood with its large houses.

Gunter, an architect, knew a thing or two about city planning, he told the dealer. Yes, this town had a train directly to Grand Central. Yes, this town was not a town really or a suburb but rather technically a village on the sound. Of course things could be better. There could be better restaurants, Gunter told the dealer. Of course things SHOULD be better! But I have been asked to design a very large building in Dubai for a fair amount of money, and I require a good German car. Such things should be German of course. Cars, education, sweet wines, typewriters, painkillers, train schedules, roads, camps . . . I’m only kidding, he told the salesman, who’d markedly blanched. Of course I’m joking! My wife is Jewish! But only on her father’s side. I myself am Swedish of course and not German. But I will admit I like some German ways. And the Swedish have not built a car since the Saab. The Saab was a good car. Do you know the history of the Saab? Originally they made fighter airplanes before World War II. You look surprised! But no, it’s true. We built airplanes in order to protect our neutrality. To you, an American, I’m sure it sounds absurd. To fight to be neutral is anathema to the American way! But it is absolutely our way. Indeed, I was in special forces. Well, not special forces. They had not yet become official when I was in the army. Anyway, I thought to buy a Saab but a little birdy back home tells me they are on the verge of bankruptcy. And besides! I have always wanted one of these big luxurious Mercedes. It’s grand, no?

Yes, the dealer said. The dealer, short with a mass of black hair who looked down at his watch. Gunter noted it was a small, stainless-steel Rolex. As a rule, Gunter hated status watches of all kinds. Gunter himself wore a microthin Skagen that an ex-girlfriend had given him. It was modest and stylish, like Gunter himself. Gunter loosened his scarf and switched over to price. It was expensive, of course. But Gunter was confident he could be given a good deal. Things were hard since the economic crash and Gunter was well cognizant of the wiggle room of salesmen.

Gunter was asked to step into an office to go over financials. He sat in the chair, his big knees pressing against the desk of the manager. The office was windowless and plain and there was some sort of contraption, some sort of intercom or radio.

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