sleepy city [discontinued]

1 | it's kind of a funny story

london

Of course he was much older than I, three years at least. He was legal, probably 18; the tattoos had proved it (unless he's younger and got them with parent's permission. Doesn't that take more time than just walking in and showing ID to get a tattoo? It seems like a form is a process to fill out and your parent's gotta come too). As I observed him, I thought he was homeless. He looked like it; his clothes were worn and kind of dirty. He also only ate cookies as multigrain Pringles as he read one of the magazines he picked up. I quickly removed the thought from my head once he pulled out a MacBook Air and after realizing how much tattoos cost.

I continued to read my book, It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, as I drank my juice. I also snuck glances at the boy, hoping he wouldn't catch me in the act. He raised his head and I lowered mine to read. He sat on a bench, making his back face the window, and I was in a chair on his right side, about ten feet away from him. I decided to take a look at some magazines, and the one that said Yoga on the front I took back to my seat, feeling like he looked at me a few times.

While catching him stare at me a few times and vice versa, I watched for my Dad out the window so he wouldn't catch me staring at him (or worse, catch him at me). Once I caught him walking, I knocked on the window. He looked back at me, stopped, and proceeded to walk in. I snuck one more look at him, and after my eyes state focused on my Dad's face. I held up the book I wanted as he sat down to observe it.

"This is the one I'm getting."

"Ok. I'm going to look for some magazines." He turned to get up.

"Should I pay for it now or when we leave?"

"It doesn't matter; just use the discount."

"It needs to be renewed." Two days ago, the clerk said that the expiration date was coming soon. My grandpa said he would do it later, but I knew he wouldn't.

"I'll purchase it." I knew he would. I took the time to put the yoga magazine back and look for a book to purchase next time. As I walked away, I hoped Jackson stared at me and saw something he liked.

After no luck, I came back to my seat. Dad wasn't back yet, so I looked at some magazines in the aisle. Nothing interesting. He looked at me as I walked back to my seat, and now Dad was back with my book. He asked for some of my juice; I told him he could have it and what was left of my cookie. He ate it in seconds and I threw the trash away. He thanked me and I acknowledged him with a nod. Then Dad went to go look at more magazines. When he came back to discuss design ideas got the porch, I gave my two cents while trying I indirectly look at Jackson.

Eventually we had to leve. Before then, our glances got more intense; we would look at each other for at least two full seconds before I turned my head. Dad nearly caught me one time.

"Who are you looking at?" Dad turned but he was already typing away at his computer. I think Dad knew I was looking at him, he was giving me the look that said: "No you cannot." Of course Dad had to warn every boy around me that I was off limits and see if I was checking anyone out. There was a woman that partially blocked my view of him. She was very pretty and reminded me of my mom. "I was wondering what you and her babies would look like." My Dad laughed and shook his head. "She's very pretty." I added to support my claim.

Before my Dad reached to open the heavy door, I told him I needed to go to the bathroom. I actually did and Dad said he would be waiting in the car at the front. After I emerged from the bathroom, I tried to get one more look past the bookshelves but I couldn't. I sighed I myself and pushed open the heavy foot. I walked to the car in silence. My Dad pulled off the curb and headed home.

"I enjoyed our day together, Lond." It felt weird when he called be my nickname; only my siblings and friends did that. Raided being at his job and the offices, we went to Chick-Fil-A. The only thing different is that my brother and sister weren't here.

"Me too." I lied.

While looking out the window, I realized that I forgot my blue jacket inside. Dad left me go get it. Jackson wasn't in the bookstore anymore, but 10 numbers on a slip of paper in my jacket pocket were.

@londonzhiloh as herself, picture provided