Daniel liked stocking the aisle ends at Pathmark. In addition to the unobstructed view of the cashiers-of which Katie Millar was one-he usually stacked the sale items into intricate patterns, a more appealing labor than just placing boxes on an aisle shelf. He designed the stacks so that there would never be too many extractions from one area, thus bringing the construction down. Daniel employed pyramids, helixes, double helixes, and a few shapes of his own invention, which he was unaware that engineering students spent entire semesters on. The patrons deconstructed these temples of frugality without realizing they were part of a preordained strategy.
Daniel finished setting up boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios just as Adrian polished off his third low-fat ice cream sandwich.
“Your shift’s over,” Daniel said. “Don’t you have anything better to do than to watch me work?”
“Nope.”
Daniel glanced at register three where Katie Millar scanned items and made small talk with the locals.
“Well, go home or something,” Daniel said.
Adrian looked like the Antarctic explorer whose mission commander just ordered him to go for a stroll in the middle of July. Daniel glanced out the store’s big front windows at the clear night sky, but from his expression it was obvious Adrian saw a blizzard.
“I ain’t botherin’ no one. So what happened in Conklin’s office?” Adrian asked, changing the subject.
“He slung some bullshit. No, that’s not right… first he bored me to tears, then he slung the shit.”
Daniel thought about the actions that led to his predicament. The real world vanished when he drew pictures. His mind took him to better places, where the lines between good and evil, right and wrong were crystal clear. It was like stepping into a different universe.
“The school’s going to tell Clyde he owes them five hundred dollars for the desks,” Daniel said.
Adrian perked up. “No! Can’t you talk them out of it?”
“Only if I come up with the money by Monday. How much you got in your pocket?”
Adrian checked his pockets. He looked like a lost cause with crumbs on his lips and collar and cream dotting his ample chin. Daniel rolled his eyes.
“Hello… sarcasm,” Daniel snapped, handing his friend a napkin.
“Oh,” Adrian blinked, “no need to get snippy.”
“Sorry.” Daniel stole another glance at Katie. She saw him, smiled, and waved before resuming her scans.
“Conklin always hires his cousin to do carpentry jobs,” Adrian said. “Guy can’t keep regular work ’cause of the hooch.”
“Alcohol seems to screw me no matter who’s drinking it,” Daniel said.
“Spend the night at my house,” Adrian offered. “You can walk home with me.”
Daniel cocked a suspicious eyebrow at his friend. “Not for nothing, Ade, but you wouldn’t by any chance be in trouble with them Grundy boys again?”
Adrian’s face dropped all pretenses. “They got it in good for me, Danny.”
“Take a swing at them for once, Ade. Jeez, you outweigh both of them by twenty pounds.”
“I can’t. I don’t know why I get so scared. My feet don’t move. I feel heavy, like in a dream when you can’t run.”
Daniel felt a momentary disgust toward his friend. If only his own problems came in the stature of the Grundy boys.
“Ade, what are the odds that the Grundy boys are lying in wait for you, tonight?” Daniel asked. “They’re probably home tonight watching WWE SmackDown. I think their aunt’s in a cage match.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Why are you so sure they’re looking for you?”
“I didn’t let them copy off my math test.”
“You suck at math.”
“I got a C plus. They didn’t do as well. Like it’s my fault they’re stupid.”
“So, let them cheat.”
“Mama said it ain’t right to cheat or help a cheater.”
“Then let Mama come get you. Go home.”
“Aw hell, you just wanna walk with Katie alone after shift.”
“It’s the only chance I get anymore. She’s having lunch with the ‘in’ crowd these days.”
Daniel realized how much he had taken Katie for granted over the past two years. He thought they would be buds forever. Things were changing. As his desires for girls grew, he noticed Katie’s new interest in facial hair, driver’s permits, cars, and a voice in the low-octave range-all things he lacked. She was still friendly, but always asking him for his locker room-privileged facts about one guy or another: What does so-and-so say about me? Is so-and-so still seeing what’s-her-face? It was clear she saw Daniel mainly as a search engine.
“I appreciate your offer to sleep over, Ade, but that’ll just piss Clyde off more. He’s already madder than a hornet on good days.”
“Dan, please,” Adrian begged. “I’ll walk behind… or, up front. I won’t listen. Just don’t make me walk home alone.”
The shift was over. Katie began cashing out. Daniel threw the last few boxes on the pile and headed for the employees’ room.
“Danny?” Adrian implored.
“Fine. Walk behind us. Don’t talk.”
Daniel launched into a trot and nearly ran over his crush flying through the employees’ lounge.
“Jeez, Dan. Slow down,” Katie said. Her hazel eyes had a calming effect, even when she didn’t mean to. Her long auburn hair had developed a distinct scent of its own. Daniel was both numb and energized in her presence.
“Sorry. I was hoping to catch you.”
“Well, make it quick. I’m getting picked up.”
“Cool. Can I hitch?”
“Not my mom. Josh Lundgren.”
“Captain Baseball? What makes him so special?”
“He’s got a motorbike.”
“Oh. I was hoping we could talk.”
“About?”
“Uh… well, sorry about your blouse. The one you got ink on.”
Katie smiled-cancer and AIDS would be cured, Israel and Palestine would settle, and solar energy would be practical-to Daniel, everything would be okay.
“I heard you got sent to Conklin,” she said.
“Yeah.”
“Well, don’t worry. I switched desks in most of my classes so it won’t happen again.”
It was a bomb. Another perk of being Katie’s friend severed. No more secret notes. No more lingering scent from the previous class, her residual warmth on the seat. He couldn’t think of anything to say. Should he ask her not to switch? Promise never to draw again?
Instead, he said, “I see.”
“Look, Danny… I don’t know how else to say this, but… you got to stop watching me-in the hall at school, at lunch, here at work-I can feel your eyes on me. It makes me uncomfortable. I care about you, but not the way you want me to. I don’t see you as a ‘guy.’ No!.. I didn’t…”
“I know what you mean,” Daniel whispered. The shrill beep of a scooter horn cut through the thin store windows.
“I hope we can still be friends,” she said.
“Sure. Of course.”
Katie danced away to Josh’s persistent tune. Daniel waited for the world to end. It stubbornly continued, so he grabbed his coat and left. Adrian followed.