the ride took forever , my sweating palms leaving handprints on the vinyl seats , the sunlight flashing through the struts of the bridge , the taxi meter ticking like a time bomb , and the memory that had struck me in dr. rat 's office replaying , lace 's voice saying again and again : `` except for not having any of my stuff , commuting all the way from brooklyn , and having your heavy-ass cat lie on me all night .