Milosz by Cordelia Strube Page B

Burger King while Christopher orders, sitting at a table covered in wrappings, hoping to appear as though he has just finished a meal. Christopher, order in hand, finds a cleared table by the window. He sets down his food and his paper but touches neither. He checks his cell again, slides it back in his pocket and sits with his head in his hands. Milo had hoped they could make casual contact, giving him a chance to hint at the growing distress on the home front. Minutes pass but Christopher does not touch his food or look at his paper. A squabbling, overfed family swarms the table beside him. The normal boys fling fries at each other. The father slaps their heads. This gets Christopher’s attention. ‘Eat!’ the father orders. Christopher watches them shoving food into their mouths. The pregnant mother stares at the wall, sucking on a pop. ‘Shut up,’ the father commands when the boys try to speak between mouthfuls.
    Christopher leaves the Burger King without his food or his paper. Milo follows with Pablo’s words in his head: Don’t be afraid to love, Milo, it is the one true thing. People afraid to love are lonely, always. Isn’t Christopher lonely? What has love brought him but suffering? Milo can’t think of one real-life lasting love story. The movie stars acting eternal love, between bouts in rehab, are always divorcing in real life. It’s all illusion. So why bother with any of it? Except for Robertson. He must help Robertson.
    â€˜Christopher!’ he calls.
    Christopher, crossing the street without checking for cars, turns his head in Milo’s direction just as a cab, pulling a U-turn, slams into his legs.

hat kind of name is Fennel?’ Pablo asks, stretching out on the couch.
    â€˜It’s a herb,’ Milo says.
    â€˜Who the fuck names their kid after a herb?’ Wallace mutters. ‘Get her to change it, just for the night. Make her Debbie or something.’
    â€˜I’m not even sure she’s coming.’
    â€˜Sabrina,’ Pablo suggests. ‘Or Margarita.’
    â€˜I’m not getting her to change her name. It’ll just get confusing.’
    â€˜We could call her Fen,’ Pablo suggests. ‘Or Fenny. Fenny’s nice.’
    â€˜Call her Fennel,’ Milo says more loudly than he’d intended. Vera’s frying animal parts.
    â€˜Anybody for calf livers?’ she calls.
    Wallace leans towards Milo and whispers, ‘Did you see them in the fridge? She soaks the fucking things in milk then dunks them in flour and fries them.’ He puts his finger in his mouth to suggest gagging.
    â€˜Have you got any cling film, Milo?’ she asks.
    â€˜She means Saran Wrap,’ Wallace explains.
    â€˜Sorry, must be out,’ Milo says.
    â€˜Add that to the list, Wally.’ Wallace begins to cough. He has been coughing regularly since the vacuuming and has even procured a puffer.
    â€˜Something’s not right with your cooker, Milo,’ Vera adds. ‘The heat’s a bit off.’
    â€˜Try putting your head in it,’ Wallace grumbles.
    â€˜What’s that, Wally?’
    Milo hears banging on the back door. Suspecting it’s Tanis, he considers running for cover. Christopher made him promise to tell her nothing. ‘It’ll kill her,’ he wheezed while Milo covered him with his sweatshirt and shouted at the gawpers to back off. A man in a Detroit Red Wings jacket prodded Christopher. ‘Are you a doctor?’ Milo demanded. The Red Wings fan started to straighten one of Christopher’s legs. ‘Don’t touch him!’ Milo shrieked, shoving the man. ‘Nobody touches him until Emergency Services gets here.’ He stood over Christopher, waving his arms. When Christopher lost consciousness, word went around that he was dead, which caused gasping and hysteria. The cab driver sat on the curb shaking his head and praying.
    â€˜The lady from next door would like a word