Bright Lights, Big City

When the narrator wakes up the next morning, there’s a cat sitting on his chest. It’s 11:13 a.m. He gets up from the couch on which he was sleeping and sees a note on the kitchen table. It’s from Megan, telling him about the breakfast items in the fridge and his clothes, which are hanging in the bathroom. She asks him to call her later. He leaves a note, once again saying that he’s sorry and thanking her.

The narrator returns to his apartment. When he gets there, the phone is ringing. Richard Fox is on the other end. He says that he heard about the narrator’s recent firing but mentioned an opening at Harper’s magazine. He offers to recommend the narrator. He then mentions the piece that he’s writing about the magazine where the narrator used to work and asks for some background information—whatever the narrator can offer. The narrator notices a baby cockroach crawling up the wall and wonders if he should crush it or let it be, while explaining to Fox that his position wasn’t important enough for him to have information. Fox asks if they can meet at the Russian Tea Room.