Aakil Dhoti sits at his computer,
pushes a flashing button on his huge
switchboard. "Hello, Visa, help you?" He purrs,
offering the card customer refuge
from fraud. "We cancel purchase, you okay,"
he's learned to say. Another blinking light:
"Bank of America. Yes...Show today
rent check went through." He smiles, having eased plight.
He nibbles dhal, gazes out the window
at the Kolkata street below. "This is
Con Edison. Power's turned off? You know
it's not burned fuse?" Payment solves the crisis.
Hanging up, he breathes deep. Thinks of his spouse.
A red light. "Welcome. You reach The White House."
Roger Armbrust
September 25, 2007
