New York City has one of the harshest winter that anyone can experience here in the US. They also say that if you can stand the extreme winter or extremely humid summer, you can survive any weather condition anywhere. Well, maybe except the winter in Canada. But there’s something about the New York City that I do like. I know it sounds weird but I actually love the snow. There’s something mystical about it, I should be over this by now. Having lived here for almost five years since I left California. People from Los Angeles are supposed to hate New York. But for me, it’s the whole other way. I’m from Los Angeles and I love New York City from the bottom of my impatient heart. And the worst part of all during the winter is when you realize that you don’t have any friends…. It used to be like that for me but not anymore.

After I made some new friends via Craigslist last week, I realized that sometimes, if you truly want something, you have to go out of your way and ask for it. And I did, using the strictly platonic section of Craigslist. Now back to the shitty reality, I’m still scrounging for a fulltime job, I’ve been working as an office temp here in Manhattan for almost a year now. I started to think, what the fuck happened to my charisma?! Not to sound cocky but I used to get these crappy nine to five jobs like pancakes and now it’s fucking different. I don’t blame the Winter for this. But the last time someone hired me fulltime was almost 2 years ago, Winter of 2013. It was an instantaneous hiring process. I worked as an office manager for a design agency and then after a year and a half, I got burnt, accepted a job offer somewhere and then the recruiter that I was working with didn’t consult with his superior about hiring me so the job offer was not authorized. So I’m fucked. I ended up losing my apartment because of that bullshit. But I need to stop dwelling on it, maybe it’s true what they say, there’s a fucking reason for everything. Luckily, I was able to survive by working temp jobs all over the city. But I still need a fucking fulltime job! One Wednesday morning, I decided to call in sick at the temp agency that coordinates all my weekly assignments.

“Hello, this is Lorenzo Basque, I can’t make it to my temp assignment today because I’m not feeling well.. Thank you!” I said on the phone.

The truth is, I really wasn’t feeling well. Not physically but mentally, I was tired as fuck! Stressed out as you may say. I checked my email and there was a reply from a recruiter who found my resume on LinkedIn. It was for an Office Assistant position for an architectural company down on Wall Street, the position was fulltime. Alas! They wanted to meet with me for an interview. So I replied right away and set up an appointment for tomorrow morning. Then, my cellphone started ringing. I didn’t recognize the number but I answered it anyhow. I was secretly hoping it was one of the new friends that I met on Craigslist.

“Hello?” I answered.
“Lorenzo?” She asked.
“Yeah, who is this?”
“It’s me Megan, from Strictly Platonic ad.. Listen, I really hate to bother you right now but I’m about to get an abortion and was wondering if you could walk me to the clinic and then walk me home… I’ll give you money and pay for your cab. I just don’t want to go there alone.”

It was a nice morning phone call but Megan’s explanation made me worried about her. Maybe because my own mother once tried to make a trip to see an abortionist but then changed her mind and decided to have me.

“Megan, you don’t need to pay me or anything.. Just tell me where to pick you up.” I replied.

I picked up Megan in front of the brownstone apartment building where she lives on West 83rd Street on the Upper West Side. She told me that she wanted to have a cup of tea first before heading to that clinic in Chelsea. So we decided to stop by a small diner on Columbus Avenue.

“So when did you find out that you were pregnant?” I asked.
“A week ago. It was one of my regulars who comes to the strip club. He told me he was gonna leave his wife and marry me, and give me a better life. Being a stupid girl, this is what I got!” Megan answered.
“Well, it’s the best way to learn right? I’m sure after this you’ll never believe all the shit that those guys tell you.”
“Thanks again for coming with me. I know it’s crazy because I just met you but the situation that I’m needed me to take a chance.”
“Hey no problem! We’re friends now, remember?”
“I know, thank you!”

I dropped off Megan at the clinic in Midtown East. She seemed a little nervous. I also promised to pick her up once the “procedure” is done. After I left her at the clinic, I have to face the reality that I need to find a fucking job. So I went to the public library in Lincoln Center and took my netbook with me. When I was about to enter the library, my phone rang again, I answered it and it was Candice.

“Hello?” I asked.
“Lorenzo, this is Candice! What are you doing for brunch?” She asked.
“It’s 10:30 in the morning..”
“I don’t care, I’m friends with the manager of this restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen and we could have breakfast and mimosas at the same time!”

I haven’t eaten yet during that time and I figured maybe Candice can loan me some money because I was also flat broke. So I agreed to have some drunken lunch with her. After all, it’s always fun to hang out with people who’s got money coming out of their asses.

As I walked in at the restaurant that Candice texted me, I noticed that she’s the only patron in there. Also note that it’s a weekday, most New Yorkers are stuck working like dogs. I sat down with her and noticed that she already gulped down a glass of bellini.

“Hi Lorenzo! Sorry I couldn’t wait to get drunk! Take the menu, and order yourself some nice breakfast and don’t forget to try their mimosa! They make the strongest ones!” She said.
“Thank you very much, I’m starving so I’m gonna order..”
“So where have you been?”
“Oh I was dropping off Megan at a clinic in Midtown East.”
“She’s having an abortion?”
“Ah, no, she-”
“Honey, it’s OK. You don’t have to cover it up.. I had an abortion there two years ago. And they’re one of the few clinics here in Manhattan that open up pretty early.”

The waiter comes over.

“What are you having Sir?” He asked.
“I will have the steak and scrambled eggs, and with a glass of mimosa.”
“Will that be all?”
“I need a refill love, another glass of bellini!” Candice ordered.
“I’ll be right back with your order.” The waiter politely replied.

For some reason, Candice noticed that my mind was somewhere else.

“What’s wrong sweetie?!” She asked.
“I’m just a little worried about not having a fulltime job!” I replied.
“Don’t you have a job right now?”
“I do, but it’s for a temp agency, I need something permanent.”
“Hmm.. Let me think, I think I may know some people at the Soho House, would you be interested?”
“Well yeah,”
“I tell you what, I’m gonna make some phone call after this and maybe they could get you started to work there next week?”
“Honey, My name is Candice Oxford, ask the bartender there who am I and then he’ll tell you four straight martinis, one Johnny Walker, and one Jack Daniel’s!”

I then started smiling at Candice realizing that I’m almost close to her drinking habits. The more brunches she and I had, she became my surrogate mother. I eventually found out that her own mother arranged her marriage when she was just seventeen to a millionaire lawyer who works with gold mines from around the world. She told me that she resented her mother at first but as she got older, she started to appreciate what she’s done to her. It wasn’t that she’s a gold digger, maybe her mother was, it was a tactic for survival. Considering the fact that her father left them before she was even born. She grew up dirt poor from Camden, New Jersey.

The waiter finally comes over with my order of steak and eggs and morning booze. I wolfed it down since I was hungry and haven’t had that kind of breakfast for quite some time. After I finished eating, I drank my glass of mimosa and looked outside. It started snowing, watching the snow fall felt therapeutic for me.

“Do you need any money? Candice asked me.
“Of course I do, I’m practically unemployed.” I replied.

Candice picked up her HERMES bag and took out a roll of one hundred dollar bills. I was very surprised how generous she was to me and started to think what could she be expecting from me in return.

“Here, take it.”
“Candice, I’m not really sure if-”
“If what?! You’re flat broke correct?”
“Yes, I just think that it’s a little too soon for you to loan me some money”
“Lorenzo, it’s not a loan! First seventeen years of my life was spent in a trailer park van. I had to eat oatmeal every night for dinner. Not to mention that I had to buy my dresses at Salvation Army because I couldn’t afford to go to Macy’s! So just take money before I change my mind!”

I took the roll of one hundred dollar bills. It was nine hundred dollars in total.

“Thank you, Candice. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome honey. Even if you didn’t ask, I knew you needed that money more than I do. Anyway, I have to go, I’m having another brunch with my husband at Le Cirque. I will see you soon.”

She kissed me on the forehead like I was twelve years old and left. I looked outside the window again and the snowfall got thicker. For some reason, I started to enjoy every winter in New York City. It’s like a mysterious lover that only becomes a serious affair for one season each year. If I didn’t tell myself that I’ve been lucky in my pursuit of survival in Manhattan, I’d be lying. Destiny and fate always protected me from failure despite all the obstacles and setbacks. Winter became my lover, it’s my lucky omen.

TO BE CONTINUED….