Sasquatch in the Paint by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Page A

up?”
    â€œYes, Dad. Just getting some water.”
    â€œOkay.” Pause. “You all right?”
    â€œFine, Dad. Just thirsty.”
    His dad’s concern, even when only half awake, made Theo feel even guiltier. Not to mention he was adding lying to spying. Some “perfect son” he’d turned out to be.
    On the other hand, his dad should have told him about this whole online dating thing. Was he shopping for a new wife? A mother for Theo? Theo had a right to know.
    It looked like Theo wasn’t the only one with a secret identity. Theo would have to keep an eye on him.

“CIGARETTE?” Gavin asked, expertly shaking his pack so a single cigarette poked out about an inch. He offered it to Theo.
    They were walking to the park to shoot baskets while Theo’s dad and Grandma Esther made lunch and argued about politics.
    â€œPass,” Theo said, waving the pack away.
    â€œStill playing the role of Good Negro.” Gavin said “Negro” sarcastically, which Theo guessed was the only way anyone said that word these days.
    â€œI’m not playing any role, Gavin. I just don’t want to suck on a burning stick stuffed with poison. Especially just because a bunch of wrinkly old white dudes in shiny suits who never were cool a single day in their lives tell me that it’s the cool thing to do. Feel me?”
    Gavin laughed. “Yeah, I feel you, little cousin.”
    Gavin had been calling Theo “little cousin” since they were little kids, even though Theo was now half a foot taller. However, Gavin was about forty pounds heavier than Theo, and every single one of those pounds was chiseled muscle. The muscles were even bigger than the last time Theo had seen him. His biceps strained against the sleeves of his too-tight black T-shirt. When he walked, his pecs shifted around as if he had ferrets under his skin fighting to break out.
    â€œWhat’s with the muscle-head thing?” Theo asked. “You on steroids?”
    â€œI don’t need steroids, just hard work. Grandma bought me a set of used weights at a yard sale. Plus I do sit-ups and push-ups three times day.” He dropped to the ground and did ten perfect push-ups. He jumped up and grinned. “Your turn.”
    â€œWhat’s the point?” Theo said dismissively, though he was a little jealous.
    â€œShowbiz, cuz, and simple mathematics. LL Cool, Kanye. All those guys perform with their shirts off. Girls go thermal. Sells downloads. I’m getting ready for my career as a world-famous recording artist. Kinda like you studying for your SATs.” He looked over Theo’s skinny body and laughed. “I can show you how to bulk up some. Right now you look like a strong fart will send you into orbit.” He stuck a cigarette between his lips and lit it.
    Theo didn’t like the way Gavin had made him feel like a little kid so easily, so he started in again with what he knew best: facts. He pointed at Gavin’s cigarette. “Did you know that there are over four thousand chemicals in tobacco smoke, sixty-nine of which cause cancer? Each cigarette contains chemicals found in batteries, industrial solvents, insecticide, toilet cleaner, sewer gas, and rocket fuel.”
    â€œRocket fuel?” Gavin nodded, pleased. “Guess that’s why I like it so much. Gives me energy. Better than Red Bull.” He took a deep drag on his cigarette and blew the smoke out. “Or it could be the sewer gas. I’ll get back to you on that.”
    That was Gavin. Never took anything seriously.
    Theo ignored him, bouncing the basketball as they walked. On every previous visit, Gavin had tried to get Theo to go to the neighborhood park to play basketball. Theo usually refused. For one thing, Gavin’s friends thought it was great fun to pick on Theo. For another, Gavin was always suggesting things that could get them in trouble. The last time he’d tried to talk Theo into