Summary

In “Gods,” when Carlisle is 24, her father Robert’s partner James tells her about meeting his student Alex in his dance class “at an Upper West Side New York City studio” (2). James was immediately impressed by Alex. After class, Alex asked James to be his mentor while he was “in New York for the summer” (5).

Carlisle hears the story from both James and Alex. When James tells her, they are in their “usual positions at Bank Street,” where Robert and James live (6). Although Carlisle lives in California, in her heart, Bank Street is her home (6). For James, the mentor relationship with Alex was important, but he is unsure if it was worth it.

In “Summons,” 19 years later, James calls Carlisle to say Robert is dying. She can visit when he gets out of the hospital. Carlisle struggles with the idea of “a...