Arnon Grunberg

The mouse

Another location

Yesterday afternoon I went to Western Union to transfer some money to Europe.
Western Union is definitely a different universe. Seediness and recession seem to be perpetual there and even manage to come across as comforting.
A teller told me: “We are open but Western Union is already closed.”

“I will come back tomorrow morning,” I said.

This morning a teller told me: “We have problems with the mouse.”

“The what?” I said.

“The mouse,” the teller answered. “You know the mouse. Western Union is closed because the mouse broke down. Go to another location or come back later.”