Page 41 (1/2)

“I mean, we didn’t even talk about it once on Saturday We just let it happen, then moved on like it was nothin’”

“I should’ve been h at the , then peers over his shoulder at me “I’m sorry I kissed you, Bobby”

His intense eyes are onme

Hearing him say those precise words, I suddenly find hts I’m not sorry you kissed me, I suddenly want to say

I’m not sorry at all

Jimmy turns to face me completely, then sticks out a hand toward ain”

My eyes drop to his outstretched hand

I s once

“I’ll be your best buddy again,” he goes on “I’ve learned ain”

My heart pounds like a drum

I’th of rope to cli myself in it too deep with all those protests I o

Suddenly all of ret sits in hs three hundred pounds, and it’s as prickly as a cactus

Is this really what I wanted?

“Do we have a deal?” Jimmy asks me

I gently accept his hand and give it a loose shake I don’t look into his eyes when I quietly reply: “Deal”

10

JIMMY

I stirlazily around each other in a shallow pool of milk

Ma yellow spiral notebook, hs now and then She leans one way on the counter, then another way, then props an elbow on it and rests her chin on her hand sulkily

She’s in a mood

After her nineteenth sigh, I’ve had enough “Mama”

“Sweetheart, I’m tryin’ to concentrate” She squints down at her notebook, bouncing the pen on her lips like a bongo

I laythe Cheerios claiet up from the table to cross the kitchen I hop onto the counter by her