Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

ultimately abandoned, although it was very romantic.” She started walking again, and we followed her, but I wondered if she would have kept talking even if we hadn't followed her. I couldn't tell if she was doing what she was doing for us, or for herself, or for some completely other reason.
    “During the spring and autumn bird-migration season, the lights that illuminate the tower are turned off on foggy nights so they won't confuse birds, causing them to fly into the building.” I told her, “Ten thousand birds die every year from smashing into windows,” because I'd accidentally found that fact when I was doing some research about the windows in the Twin Towers. “That's a lot of birds,” Mr. Black said. “And a lot of windows,” Ruth said. I told them, “Yeah, so I invented a device that would detect when a bird is incredibly close to a building, and that would trigger an extremely loud birdcall from another skyscraper, and they'd be drawn to that. They'd bounce from one to another.” “Like pinball,” Mr. Black said. “What's pinball?” I asked. “But the birds would never leave Manhattan,” Ruth said. “Which would be great,” I told her, “because then your birdseed shirt would be reliable.” “Would it be all right if I mentioned the ten thousand birds in my future tours?” I told her they didn't belong to me.
    “A natural lightning rod, the Empire State Building is struck up to five hundred times each year. The outdoor observation deck is closed during thunderstorms, but the inside viewing areas remain open. Static electricity buildup is so mammoth on top of the building that, under the right conditions, if you stick your hand through the observatory fence, St. Elmo's fire will stream from your fingertips.” “St. Elmo's fire is sooo awesome!” “Lovers who kiss up here may find their lips crackling with electric sparks.” Mr. Black said, “That's my favorite part.” She said, “Mine, too.” I said, “Mine's the St. Elmo's fire.” “The Empire State Building is located at latitude 40 degrees, 44 minutes, 53.977 seconds north; longitude 73 degrees, 59 minutes, 10.812 seconds west. Thank you.”
    “That was delightful,” Mr. Black said. “Thank you,” she said. I asked her how she knew all of that stuff. She said, “I know about this building because I love this building.” That gave me heavy boots, because it reminded me of the lock that I still hadn't found, and how until I found it, I didn't love Dad enough. “What is it about this building?” Mr. Black asked. She said, “If I had an answer, it wouldn't really be love, would it?” “You're a terrific lady,” he said, and then he asked where her family was from. “I was born in Ireland. My family came when I was a young girl.” “Your parents?” “My parents were Irish.” “And your grandparents?” “Irish.” “That's marvelous news,” Mr. Black said. “Why?” she asked, which was a question I was also wondering. “Because my family has nothing to do with Ireland. We came over on the Mayflower.” I said, “Cool.” Ruth said, “I'm not sure I understand.” Mr. Black said, “We're not related.” “Why would we be related?” “Because we have the same last name.” Inside I thought, But technically she never actually said her last name was Black. And even if it actually was Black, why wasn't she asking how he knew her last name? Mr. Black took off his beret and got down onto one of his knees, which took him a long time. “At the risk of being too forthright, I was hoping I might have the pleasure of your company one afternoon. I will be disappointed, but in no way offended, if you decline.” She turned her face away. “I'm sorry,” he said, “I shouldn't have.” She said, “I stay up here.”
    Mr. Black said, “What the?” “I stay up here.” “Always?” “Yes.” “For how long?” “Oh. A long time. Years.” Mr. Black said, “Jose!” I asked her how. “What do you mean how?” “Where do you sleep?” “On nice nights, I'll sleep out here. But when it gets chilly, which is most nights up this high, I have a bed in one of the storage rooms.” “What do you eat?” “There are two snack bars up here. And sometimes one of the young men will bring me food, if I have a taste for something different. As you know, New York offers so many different eating experiences.”
    I asked if they knew she was up there. “Who's they?” “I don't know, the people who own the