Keys to the City: Tales of a New York City Locksmith"Before I became a locksmith, when I sat down for a meal, I sat down for a meal. Nothing except a fire could drag me out of a movie theater. I made plans, often in advance." Now Joel Kostman is beeper-bound: a licensed knight of the Vise-grips, the pick set, the hole saw. On call. He's also a master storyteller whose job provides him with all the material he needs. He arrives on the scene and in no time he's heard about childhoods and children, lovers and fears. He's repaired a lock for five guys dining naked in a steamy apartment on a sub-zero night, he's changed a cylinder for Bugsy Siegel's personal physician. He's worn for a minute a jacket and tie of Eddie Cantor's after rescuing the entertainer's ninety-two-year-old cousin who's lost his keys but kept the wardrobe for decades. "Tank God," the old man cries when he sees his savior on the stairs. "You vill let me in." The New York Times calls Joel Kostman the Doctor of the Deadbolt and quotes him, "New Yorkers are concerned about keeping people out on a very primal level, whether it's an abusive spouse or a creep on the corner. They like to talk. I like to listen." This funny and touching book is the result. As Kostman is letting the locked-out into their cars and apartments, they are letting him into their lives. These are their stories. Ordinary people, star performances. |
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Andy apartment arette asks boxes breath button calls Carlos cello chair CHAPEL OF LOVE Charlie Chevy Impala closes cylinder Dave Winfield desk door opens Eddie Cantor Ethel eyes face father feet fingers finish floor fucking Galicia girl glass Gloria says going gonna gotta Gotti guess hair hallway hands head Herzog says holds Hunter says jobs booked Kantor keys kitchen laughs leans lifts Listen living room Lobsters lock locksmith look Manhattan Bridge Mila minute Miss Herrara Moose Moosie says Mozart musician nods noise numbers Okay Oprah Winfrey Papi pick play push remember Robert Robert asks shit shoulders side sits Slim Jim smiles stare steps street suddenly sure takes talk Tarzan tell Thank There's things turns Vise-grips voice waiting walks wall watch wearing What's window woman wonder Yeah yells