So that’s what they did. I don’t hold nothing against her.
—You didn’t see anybody when you were living in the city?
—I was conditional in the city. I had to go back to the house every night. But there was a girl I’d go see sometimes, at lunch or maybe in the afternoon … Anyhow, that was kind of a business deal. You know?
—For sure.
Lee buckled his belt and said: How about you? Are you Sylvester the Cat?
—Not really. There was one I just met. She was pretty interesting. She goes to another high school, so I didn’t know her before I quit. She plays the piano.
—Go show her a good time.
—It’s not like that. She’s … a friend. Maybe. That’s what I think it is. It’s not a problem. I’m not sticking around here much longer anyway.
Lee went back into the bathroom and ran a comb through his hair. He slapped on some more of the Aqua Velva.
—Think I look okay?
—Sure you do, said Pete. I’ll give you a ride up.
—You don’t need to do that.
—I don’t mind. I like driving. I’m cut out for a long road trip.
Outside, the clouds had dissolved and there was a bright quarter-moon some distance above the horizon. They got into Pete’s car and drove up to the restaurant. Not far away, up River Street, the limestone face of the library was lit by floodlights on the lawn. This was new. Across the street, Lee could see where his father’s general store used to be. It looked like it had been turned into a place that sold household appliances.
—See that place? said Lee.
—What, the place where they have the washing machines in the window?
—Yeah. That was the place where your granddad used to have his store. Right there. I remember sweeping up and mopping the floor when I was a little kid.
—Grandma doesn’t ever talk about him, said Pete.
—No, he’s been dead a long time. Most of my life. He worked way too hard, was his problem. Now look at what they got there. Washing machines and vacuum cleaners and TVs. I’ll tell you what, Pete. One of these days I’m going to walk in there and buy myself a TV.
—I thought you didn’t like TV, said Pete.
—I don’t. But I sure as hell like the idea of being able to walk into a store and buy one. One of these days. Hey, I’ll see you soon, buck.
Lee got out of the car.
—Lee …, said Pete.
Pete was holding something out. Lee looked more closely and saw that it was forty dollars.
—What’s this?
—I figured you might not have a credit card and maybe you don’t have a lot of cash on you. This isn’t the cheapest place.
—I don’t need your money, Pete.
—It’s, like, a loan. Pay me back later. It’s no problem.
Lee set his teeth together, shifted them side to side. But he lifted his hand and took the kid’s money.
Helen was already inside the restaurant, sitting at the bar, having a cigarette. She was wearing a dark jacket, a short skirt. She smiled as Lee walked up to her. Her lips were painted vivid red and her hair was puffed up big.
—It’s the lady who’s supposed to be fashionably late.
—You’re right, said Lee. Goddammit. I’m sorry.
She laughed and tapped ash off her cigarette. He looked at how her legs showed in the skirt.
—Don’t worry about it, Brown Eyes. Let’s sit.
They took a table by the window. The interior of the restaurant was candlelit and only a few of the tables were occupied. A steward came to show them the wine list and to ask them about drinks.
—I’ll have a Tom Collins, said Helen.
—For yourself, sir?
—Do you have Coca-Cola? said Lee.
—Yes, sir. We have Coca-Cola.
—That’s what I’d like, boss.
The steward left them.
—I quit drinking, said Lee.
—So, you have some self-discipline, said Helen.
—Maybe I just wouldn’t know what kind of fancy drink you’d get here.
—Never mind these guys. It’s all for show. I’m sure I saw that same waiter at the mall in a pair of sweatpants.
They studied their menus. She made quiet hmms of
—You didn’t see anybody when you were living in the city?
—I was conditional in the city. I had to go back to the house every night. But there was a girl I’d go see sometimes, at lunch or maybe in the afternoon … Anyhow, that was kind of a business deal. You know?
—For sure.
Lee buckled his belt and said: How about you? Are you Sylvester the Cat?
—Not really. There was one I just met. She was pretty interesting. She goes to another high school, so I didn’t know her before I quit. She plays the piano.
—Go show her a good time.
—It’s not like that. She’s … a friend. Maybe. That’s what I think it is. It’s not a problem. I’m not sticking around here much longer anyway.
Lee went back into the bathroom and ran a comb through his hair. He slapped on some more of the Aqua Velva.
—Think I look okay?
—Sure you do, said Pete. I’ll give you a ride up.
—You don’t need to do that.
—I don’t mind. I like driving. I’m cut out for a long road trip.
Outside, the clouds had dissolved and there was a bright quarter-moon some distance above the horizon. They got into Pete’s car and drove up to the restaurant. Not far away, up River Street, the limestone face of the library was lit by floodlights on the lawn. This was new. Across the street, Lee could see where his father’s general store used to be. It looked like it had been turned into a place that sold household appliances.
—See that place? said Lee.
—What, the place where they have the washing machines in the window?
—Yeah. That was the place where your granddad used to have his store. Right there. I remember sweeping up and mopping the floor when I was a little kid.
—Grandma doesn’t ever talk about him, said Pete.
—No, he’s been dead a long time. Most of my life. He worked way too hard, was his problem. Now look at what they got there. Washing machines and vacuum cleaners and TVs. I’ll tell you what, Pete. One of these days I’m going to walk in there and buy myself a TV.
—I thought you didn’t like TV, said Pete.
—I don’t. But I sure as hell like the idea of being able to walk into a store and buy one. One of these days. Hey, I’ll see you soon, buck.
Lee got out of the car.
—Lee …, said Pete.
Pete was holding something out. Lee looked more closely and saw that it was forty dollars.
—What’s this?
—I figured you might not have a credit card and maybe you don’t have a lot of cash on you. This isn’t the cheapest place.
—I don’t need your money, Pete.
—It’s, like, a loan. Pay me back later. It’s no problem.
Lee set his teeth together, shifted them side to side. But he lifted his hand and took the kid’s money.
Helen was already inside the restaurant, sitting at the bar, having a cigarette. She was wearing a dark jacket, a short skirt. She smiled as Lee walked up to her. Her lips were painted vivid red and her hair was puffed up big.
—It’s the lady who’s supposed to be fashionably late.
—You’re right, said Lee. Goddammit. I’m sorry.
She laughed and tapped ash off her cigarette. He looked at how her legs showed in the skirt.
—Don’t worry about it, Brown Eyes. Let’s sit.
They took a table by the window. The interior of the restaurant was candlelit and only a few of the tables were occupied. A steward came to show them the wine list and to ask them about drinks.
—I’ll have a Tom Collins, said Helen.
—For yourself, sir?
—Do you have Coca-Cola? said Lee.
—Yes, sir. We have Coca-Cola.
—That’s what I’d like, boss.
The steward left them.
—I quit drinking, said Lee.
—So, you have some self-discipline, said Helen.
—Maybe I just wouldn’t know what kind of fancy drink you’d get here.
—Never mind these guys. It’s all for show. I’m sure I saw that same waiter at the mall in a pair of sweatpants.
They studied their menus. She made quiet hmms of
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