*****
I’m smoking a cigarette and Max is looking across the yard at nothing that I can see. The house across from us is dark. The people that live there are one of the few families that I don’t know. New to a neighborhood filled with people who’ve known each other for fifty plus years. They stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. They keep to themselves. I’d only ever seen them apart, a man and a woman, middle aged. They don’t come out much but I never put much thought into it. At noon Mrs. Anderson brings sandwiches out for lunch. I think she’s thrilled to have someone else around. We invite her to eat with us out on the porch and she gleefully accepts.
I like old people. They have the greatest stories and once you pass a certain age all the bullshit is gone. Old people keep it real. At three I feel like I’ve worn out my welcome so I tell Max I’m going home. I’ll see him tomorrow for school. He pulls me in his arms as we stand on the porch and I only have a moment to think about Mrs. Anderson who was sitting right inside of the door in her recliner. I’m sure she can see us but Max doesn’t seem to care.
“Call me later?” He says looking down at me with that sly smile I am fast learning to love.
“Sure thing,” I say and kiss him on his cheek before taking off down the sidewalk.
My house is dark and for the first time that I can remember I feel alone. My grandmother had been my constant companion my whole life and while our time together consisted nothing more than her watching the fuzzy channels that we could pick up, while I sat next to her reading my latest novel, I miss her.
Since school is out I guess I can count myself lucky at being given an extra day to study for my test. I sit down and pull out my pack of cigarettes deciding to take one last moment to enjoy this great day. I light my cigarette and take a long drag off of it. Three cigarettes later and I still haven’t started studying. I can’t stop thinking about Max. With a heavy sigh I shake my head, trying to clear it of dark smooth skin that smells like nature at its best. It’s time to hit the books. Max will have to wait.
To my surprise I do study, the fog known as Max lifts and clears the way for me to get my school work done. I even double check the homework I did the night before. Finished with studying I decide to take a nap before my mom comes home. I’ll fill her in on my day. Maybe we’ll cook dinner together.
All the time I spent out and about with Max has me in a good mood. I go into my room and turn the fan on next to the bed, peel out off my cut offs, take off my bra and lie down after throwing the covers to the side. I’m asleep before my head touches the pillow.
Chapter Five
Lupa (Second Edition) Page 7
