by David Skuy
Lionel looked out the window. A couple of guys were yelling at someone outside the Uptown.
“Foster and Tanner are getting into it,” Brent said. “C’mon Fergus.” He grabbed Fergus by the arm and pulled him outside.
Lionel put his hands between his knees and slumped down. He was tired from his run. Stupid thing to do. Bus was right there.
“Hey, Lionel. Your pizza is ready,” Big Ray said.
Lionel got off the stool and pulled his money out.
Big Ray shook his head and held the box up. “Don’t worry about it. Glad to see you back. This is on me. Say hi to your mom.”
“Thanks,” Lionel said quietly.
“Don’t let him bother you,” Big Ray said. “He’s had a few tonight. He gets like that.”
“He doesn’t bother me,” Lionel said. “Bye.”
“You take care,” Big Ray said.
Lionel headed home. He walked past the café. The lights were out. Manuel had closed up the garage also. Everyone was home. Deepak and Afonso were probably at a party. They were popular kids. He continued along until he hit a red light. Cars whizzed by and he had to wait. The pizza smelled good, especially the sausage.
The traffic cleared and he crossed. A few minutes later, his building came into view. He scanned for any Hombres and then jogged across the street.
“Hey, bro. Spare a brother some pizza,” a man’s voice rang out.
He stepped out of the shadows, the same man who’d stolen his money.
Lionel gripped the box tightly. If he was going to eat this all himself, he needed to make a run for it now.
The man rubbed his hands together and grinned. “What kind did ya order, boy?”
Lionel looked down at the pizza. This wasn’t him anymore. He was a runner.
“Take it,” Lionel said. “And you can have the rest of the Coke.”
“Thanks, brother. You want a piece?”
“I’m not hungry.”
Lionel walked slowly to the elevators.
He sighed and shook his head. The elevator wasn’t coming — or it was broken again, more like it. He started up the stairs, two at a time. The third-floor landing had garbage stuffed in the corner and a bunch of beer bottles lined up on the stairs. He pushed the door open for his floor, stormed into his apartment, and immediately turned his console on.
He got through the first two sections easily and headed up the castle hill. The dragon would come from the right and he readied the ranger with a grenade launcher.
He was hungry, but he ignored the pangs and kept playing. The dragon flew down and the ranger let the grenade go. The dragon burst into flames and the ranger jumped over the moat filled with alligators and charged into the castle. A mass of demons grinned at him from the top of the stairs. The ranger sprayed them with machine-gun fire, and soon the floor was littered with demon parts.
“Too bad, so sad,” Lionel said.
Some owls scurried past and he collected them for points. He’d be at the top of the tower soon. He had to jump down, and then he’d be facing the skeletons, the ogre, and the vultures. The controller was working fine now. He felt unstoppable.
Why couldn’t life always be like this? He’d run and game. What else did he need?
The two skeletons ran at him from behind a tree, their bones rattling. He made short work of them with a vicious sweep of his sword. The ogre then made his mad charge across the field. The ranger pulled out his machine gun. He jumped on his horse and set off in a gallop. The ogre jumped.
“Yeah, baby!” Lionel cried with glee.
He’d cut the ogre in two with a hail of bullets to his midsection. The ogre lay on the ground, blood seeping from him. Lionel made the horse rear back, the ranger shaking his gun in triumph. The vultures were calling out in their hideous voices, but he knew they’d never reach him in time. He pushed the button and the ranger took off into the forest. He paused the game. He wasn’t feeling that well — kinda queasy. Maybe he should eat something. He burped. Probably drank the Coke too fast. He burped again. He felt sick.
He un-paused the game and the ranger started riding through the forest, but ten seconds later, he had to pause it again. He was going to be sick. Made no sense. He hadn’t eaten the pizza. He ran to the washroom and dropped to his knees.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m.
A light crossed his face and Lionel groaned. He opened his eyes.
“Lionel, honey? I wanted to check on you.”
He groaned again and rolled onto his side.
“Do you still have that migraine?” his mom said.
“Yeah, a little,” he mumbled.
He didn’t really, but he also didn’t want to get out of bed. His mom would believe he was sick so he could miss school next week; then he had to pray they’d forget about him. He’d spent half the night trying to figure out how he could get transferred out of English and math. He would quit school rather than be there with Kiana or Nick. He was serious this time. He didn’t care what Ryder said, or Whellan, or anyone.
“I’m sorry about yesterday.” His mom came over, sat on the edge of his bed, and began to stroke his hair.
He closed his eyes.
“I had that bookkeeping test. I felt bad about leaving you for that long.”
“I just slept,” he said.
“Poor thing. Did you take a pill?”
He shook his head.
“Okay … but take one if you need to. Anyway, after class I went out for coffee with someone from the class, so that was why I was a bit late.”
He opened his eyes. “Who’d you go with?”
“A friend … from class.”
“A guy friend?”
“Yes, Lionel, a guy friend. But don’t worry, not another Brent. He’s nice. He has two kids. His wife passed away a few years ago and he wants a job where he doesn’t have to work such long hours. He was in construction.”
Lionel closed his eyes again. “I saw Brent on Friday.”
“Okay.”
“He told me to tell you he has a new car and a new girlfriend.”
She sighed. “Good for him.”
“I think he’d been drinking at the Uptown.”
“Not a surprise. Let’s forget about him.” She sighed again and began stroking his hair. “Actually, let’s not. I’m embarrassed about that, and I shouldn’t have put you through it. I was so down, so sad, not sure why, and he was someone who happened to be around. I know it sounds pathetic, but I guess I thought any man is better than no man. Definitely wrong. Anyway, we went to Binny’s Café. I finally got there. It’s such a great place, and when I told them I was your mother, they made such a fuss over me and wouldn’t let me pay for anything — and they showed me the room you cleaned up. My goodness, they’re big Lionel fans over there.”
He raised himself on one elbow. “Not all of them,” he said.
His mom’s eyes narrowed. “They did mention something about Friday night. You left a party?”
“I was feeling sick.”
“They sounded a bit worried,” she said.
He lay back. Kiana had texted him, but he wasn’t falling for it again. Deepak and Afonso had texted a few times too, asking where he was.
“Poor Lionel. Are you hungry?”
“I could eat.”
Truth was he’d been so upset about the party he’d barely eaten yesterday. He was starving, actually.
“How about a little hot cereal?”
He nodded.
“Anyway, let’s get out of that bed, and it wouldn’t kill you to take a shower — and if you’re not up for a run, at least you should take a walk. You could visit your friends at Binny’s. Some fresh air would be good, even if you have a headache. Might make it better. You shouldn’t be cooped up in this bedroom for another day.”
He was getting
bored, but he sure wasn’t going to Binny’s! Kiana must’ve told her parents the story and they’d misunderstood it as him just leaving the party. It made him sad to think he’d never see Binny and Gwen again. They were nice people. He’d also never see Deepak or Afonso or Georgina.
“I’ll get up, Mom,” he said. “Give me a sec.”
She patted his arm and left. Lionel swung his feet out of bed. He felt a bit dizzy and the headache was still there, but not as bad as before. He actually felt pretty good. Maybe he would go for that run. A shower was a good idea. He hadn’t taken one after running home Friday.
He took a quick shower, dressed, and sat down to eat. He was so hungry he felt sick.
“So … I was speaking to Gwen,” his mom said, sitting down with him. “She told me you organized the running club, the Marketeers, and also you’ve been helping out at the shoe store and the garage, and that you’ve done a great job.”
He didn’t need to be reminded of the Marketeers.
“She also told me how much your work upstairs meant to her family and how much happier Binny is,” she said.
Lionel shrugged. “All I did was throw out some broken furniture.”
She hesitated. “Are you going to take that walk?” she said.
“Maybe later. I’ll game a bit,” he said.
He didn’t want to blow his cover.
“Why don’t you walk first?”
“Don’t feel like it.”
“Lionel, it’s not healthy.”
“It’s Sunday. I’m … still kinda tired.”
“You were in bed all day yesterday.”
“I know.”
“Lionel, are you … Is something wrong? You’re not … yourself.”
“I’m just sick. No big deal.”
She rubbed his arm. “You know you can tell me anything.” She paused. “Are you feeling a little … anxious? Maybe you should take one of your pills. Remember, the doctor said you shouldn’t wait until you’re really upset. I could set up an appointment next week.”
She wasn’t going to leave him alone. “Okay, how about I go for a quick walk and see if I feel better,” he said. “I don’t need a pill, honest.”
She leaned over and gave him a kiss. “Promise to tell me if you’re not … feeling yourself. It’s okay to admit it. There’s nothing to be ashamed about.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“Do you want more cereal?”
He shook his head and went to get changed. She began to clean up. He threw on some sweatpants and a hoodie and left.
The recycling was gone from the hallway. He felt bad about that. Donna must’ve done it herself. He’d messed up.
He waited for the elevator for a minute.
“As usual,” he muttered, and headed for the stairwell.
“Lionel, there you are,” Donna called out.
She had a bag slung across her shoulder — and she was limping badly.
“Are … you okay?” he asked.
She waved him off. “It’s nothing. I’m so clumsy. I was carrying out some recycling yesterday and I fell. What do you kids say, my bad?”
That didn’t help with the guilt.
“Sorry about that. I wasn’t feeling well,” he said.
“Your mom told me you were ill. Don’t worry about it. It’s good to see you’re feeling better,” she said.
The elevator opened.
“A miracle,” she laughed.
She began walking back, but she was moving very slowly. She was going to miss it.
“Ach. Being old is a pain.” She waved her cane at the doors. They were closing.
Lionel slipped by her and threw his arm between the closing doors. They popped back open.
“My hero,” Donna cried out. She walked in and gave his arm a squeeze. “Thanks. I probably would’ve had to wait another half an hour.” She looked out. “Are you coming down or going back home?”
She’d seen him walking away from the elevators. “Go ahead. I have to talk to Mom.”
She pointed at him. “You going for a run?”
“Um … yeah.”
“How’s the watch?”
She pointed at his wrist. He’d gotten into the habit of wearing it and had put it on without thinking when he finished his shower.
“It’s great. Yeah … awesome. It keeps good time.”
“Wonderful. I’m glad. Enjoy your run.”
The doors closed. He had to laugh. The elevator finally comes and he can’t take it.
“Hello stairs,” he said out loud.
He headed over, rubbing the back of his neck. A walk was actually a good idea. He thought about the conversation with his mom in his bedroom, and what Brent had said to him. She wasn’t the same person Brent knew. Whether it was talking to that Andrea woman, or this bookkeeping course, she’d changed. She was way happier and more positive. She’d started to cook — and bake — and sometimes he caught her singing to herself. She didn’t even watch tv that much anymore.
She kept telling him he was the reason. That she saw him running, and getting in shape, and cleaning his bedroom, and decided she hadn’t been a good mother, and that she felt especially bad about letting Brent into their lives. Lionel couldn’t help but wonder if this new guy didn’t have something to do with her feeling better.
At least one of them was doing well.
He checked that Donna wasn’t in the lobby. He didn’t want to run into her again. Then he’d have to lie about why he didn’t take the elevator. The coast was clear and he left. When he stepped outside he heard a bang. Donna was recycling. He ran in the opposite direction as fast as he could.
“Lionel! Yo! Wait up.”
Georgina waved from across the street. She wore black leggings and a black top with a zipper in the front. He had no choice but to slow down. She ran over to him.
“Hey, Georgina. How’re the muscles today?” Lionel said.
That was their private joke. She was skin and bones.
“Sore and ready to go,” she said, like always.
Something was different about her today. Lionel took a closer look. “Your earrings … and your other stuff,” he said. “Did you lose them?” She wasn’t wearing her piercings. She only had one pair of earrings, and they were normal. Then he noticed her hair had been cut shorter and wasn’t as black. She was almost like a new person.
She laughed nervously and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I decided to tone it down a bit. I don’t want to terrorize the customers.”
“It suits you,” Lionel said. “Looks good — not that you didn’t look good before,” he hurried to add.
“You’re sweet to say that,” she said. “But I get it. Maybe I was overdoing the Goth a bit. Do I need twenty-five earrings, two nose piercings, and one in my tongue?”
Lionel agreed, but he wasn’t going to say it. Fortunately, she continued.
“I started dressing Goth in high school. I went to a new school in grade nine. I had no friends, not that I had a ton in my primary school, which made it kinda scary. I tried fitting in and meeting people, or maybe I only pretended too, but anyway, before long I was kinda alone, eating by myself all the time, hanging in the library at lunch, all those cliché things. It was definitely not a good time. Got worse when a few of the girls decided it was fun to pick on me. I noticed there was one group of kids that no one picked on — the Goth kids. They hung out at the front of the school and smoked cigarettes when the teachers weren’t looking. I bought myself some black clothes and black boots and pierced my ears, and one day, I just joined them. For a week no one talked to me; they didn’t tell me to leave either, and eventually they just accepted me. After that I kept going until I was hard core.”
Lionel listened intently. He knew all about trying to fit in.
“I don’t think the oth
er Goths really liked me, but it’s not like there were hundreds of kids trying to get into their little club; you’re basically in as long as you wear the right clothes. Not all the Goths were self-destructive, but some were, and we began drinking by the end of grade ten and then … well … then I lost interest in school and began failing. I acted like I didn’t care, and dropped out when I was sixteen. My parents and I were basically fighting all the time by then, and I got tired of it, and my parents got tired of my behavior and staying out late. Anyway, I started working at the café when I was seventeen and moved out.”
“Well … I guess you’re doing okay then,” he said.
She made a sour face. “Not sure of that. Since we’ve been running, I don’t know, I’ve started thinking about my life,” Georgina said. “It’s like running is the only time I think clearly, without distractions. I like running with the Marketeers, but I think better when I’m on my own. Does that make sense?”
He nodded.
“I started running at night — long runs,” Georgina continued. “Not fast like you, but long, and I just think about things, how I feel, whether I’m happy or not, my family.” Georgina tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve made some bad decisions, I think, and it started with me dropping out of school. I’m thinking that maybe I’m still letting those girls bully me. They made me change the way I dress, the way I talked, and acted, and then they made me quit school.” She looked at Lionel closely. “I guess I’m tired of being afraid.”
She began bouncing lightly from foot to foot. “Were you sick? We went for a good run yesterday. Kiana said you were at some party and left.”
“That’s what she said?” He’d had enough of Kiana’s garbage. “Not exactly. She invited me to a party and … she bet Nick, this guy, that she could get me there … for five bucks, and … she thought it would be funny.”
Georgina stopped bouncing. “Not understanding you. What are you talking about?”
“Kiana, she tricked me into coming to that stupid party — to make me look dumb in front of everyone.”
“Why would she do that?”
“So everyone would laugh at the fat loser who wasn’t actually invited?”
