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“TJ is a McPherson,” Toby points out “Y’know Your new best friend at T&S’s And —Ji”

I snort “I’ that fact quickly”

Toby rises froain “Yeah, I’d better go Still have to walk home” He looks at me “Will I still see you later?”

It’s like he’s afraid every tiie’s at eleven, every time”

Every time

I ht have been reckless a countless ae my friends to step outside their norms I’ve had a tendency to inspire et others into trouble But one thing I have never done is broken a promise When I make one, I keep it at all costs

I think it’s that level of loyalty that really speaks to Toby, for after I say those words, a look of warht now, out here in this park, with the wind in our hair and so circles around a tree, and a fa another picnic table several yards away, and a couple guys playing Frisbee I want to take hiain

Instead, I give hirunt, “Well, see ya,” then head off

I’m half a melted popsicle, sticky and in puddles by the time I make it home My mom is out so room I hear a distant, “Hey there, son,” as I ascend the steps “Hey, Dad,” I call back before heading straight for the shower to clean up And while the hot water bathes hts of Toby’s lips floodmind All the blood inso myself of every bit of frustration that’s built up over the past two days Toby’s lips His soft hands His cute butt in those gym shorts It takes me literally a minute and a half

Long after I’m dried off and dressed,up so with the Porters for dinner,” he tells ot some plans of your own?”

“I got plans” I scribble away as I solve for x

My dad leans against the desk, arood at math”

“Not really”

“You are It goes hand-in-hand with art, I think The way you hs happily “Y’know, it would mean a lot to your mother and I if you came to dinner with us”

“I’rowls iry,” I amend

“Coet right back to your night, whatever you plan to do Please”

It has crossed ht or where I went after school When I look up fro out the ith his eyes full of thoughts, soives way

And with a change of my t-shirt to a button-down, I’m at once in the back seat of my parents’ car as we drive into town My dad keeps up a chipper attitude as he drives us, chatting on about so to do with an article he read, while my mother peers out her , her eyes cold and hard The restaurant is quite a bit of ways down a long road that isn’t quite a highway, and after parking the car, a sign with “Nadine’s” across it in bright, curly lettersreveals that we’re at thefro suits or dresses We’re brought to a big table off to the side where Mr and Mrs Porter are already seated, happy to receive us Mr Porter’s belly is squeezed into a brown suit, and his bald head shines with the light fro of a lady whose own coldness makes my mother look as ware handlebar mustache frames Mr Porter’s thin lips, and while his eyes appear welco, his voice carries a more-than-obvious hint of condescension, like everyone auto, and the world is a plate from which he’ll feast and sample whatever he pleases