This is the writer's voice, new fiction from The New Yorker.

I'm Deborah Treesman, fiction editor at The New Yorker.

On this episode of The Writer's Voice, we'll hear Laurie Siegel read her story, Ladies' Lunch,

from the February 27th, 2017 issue of the magazine.

Siegel is the author of five novels, including her first American and half the kingdom,

which was published in 2013. Now here's Lori Siegel. Ladies' Lunch

It mattered that Lottie's apartment was commodious.

Lottie liked to boast that when she lay in bed and looked past the two closest water towers,

past the architectural follies and oddities,

few people noticed on Manhattan's rooftops. She saw all the way to the Empire State Building.

On the velvet sofa in Lottes living room, from which she could observe the Hudson River traffic

as far as the George Washington

bridge, the caregiver sat watching television.

"'Get rid of her,' Lottie said.

"'Sampson dropped his voice as if this might make his mother lower hers, as soon as we find

your replacement. "'And I'll get rid of her

lottie said sam said we'll go on interviewing till we find you the right one who will let me eat my

bread and butter mom sam said bread turns into sugar as you know very well, and don't care, Lottie said.

If she lets you eat bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, she'll get fired.

Good, said Lottie.

Sarah, Sam said to the caregiver, I'll take my mother to her ladies' lunch, if you'll pick her up at 3.30?

That okay with you? Sarah asked Lottie. No, said Lottie.

...