Chapter FifteenKeaton
“Gross income is the total income you make from work, without the taxes figured into—”
“I know what gross income means, young lady.” Meera scolds me, swatting the air between us with an aged hand.
I’m helping my sweet-but-fiery little neighbor file her taxes again. This was a tradition I had accidentally initiated three years ago when I first moved into our apartment building. In a casual elevator conversation, she asked me about my evening plans. At the time, she naively assumed that I was as socially (and sexually) active as the women on her favorite sitcoms.
Reluctant to disappoint her but not brave enough to lie, I responded that I had an exciting date with my tax forms that evening. But taxes don’t really bother me. In fact, I’m kind of a numbers person. Numb
