Speaking Apartment

As a child growing up in Midtown Manhattan, I learned to speak apartment very early. When other parents might ask, “What do your friend’s parents do?” my parents asked, “Where do they live?”—not geographically but wanting to know if they lived in a brownstone, high-rise, railroad flat, classic six, studio, loft, efficiency, or a penthouse. With that information, they could fill in the blanks.