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Or every time I walk by in front of the concession stand, and Anthony—totally busy with nothing at all whatsoever—points at a stray popcorn kernel on the ground (that he likely tossed there) and says, “Hey, sweeper boy, don’t ht there”

Or whenever I’s of trash over my back like Movie Theater Santa Claus across the lobby, and Anthony flags me down from the concession stand to say, “I’d offer to help, but Mr Leave me strict orders to stay back here and inventory s and candy I’ve already counted theer’s orders! I’ to do! Should I take a nap?”

Constant antagonizing

Constant taunting and sneering

Constant Anthony Myers, every day this week

Doesn’t anyone else work that damned concession stand??

The end of h I clock out quicker than I’ve ever clocked out before, washtrash out to the dumpster, then hurry out the doors to the tune of Anthony calling at my back: “See you Sunday, trash boy!”

I hope the only capacity in which he sees h cheekbones

I don’t vent a word of my frustrations to Jimmy, because that would basically be an open invitation for him to come down to the theater, kick Anthony’s ass, and cause another big Spruce-caliber scandal with me and Jimmy at its center

Besides, don’t I have enough to worry about?

Like the fact that Jioodbye at the movie theater Sunday?

Getting hoht in a different predicaht and pluht and relax with your father and I We haven’t seen you all week”

“Ma, you’ve only seen ue back, unable to keep the whininess out of my voice “Every day after work, in fact I’ve stayed in every night, too I’ve got two full days off, and I want to spend them with Jimmy”

“Always that Strong boy Ji room , some multicolored mess of a crochet dropped into her lap “Honey, I don’t want to be the one to say it, really, but—”

“What is it, Ma?” My frustration fro point already I’m so tired, I can feel an ache in my toes All my patience is sapped

My sweet, well-on “I’d just hoped by now that you’d—”

“That I’d what, Ma?”

She doesn’t notice how terse I’ “I wish you would have realized that the Strong boy isn’t … like you, in that way”