In Parched Gardens: Book 1

Chapter 8: It Wasn't A Long Appeal

"Isaac said he'd like to come, but he can't because he's stoppin' by the library," Fin said, shrugging.

"Library?" Evan replied. "Are you serious?"

"I guess so," Fin answered, holding his arms open, palms up. "You remember how often he was there in high school."

"Yeah, I guess," Evan said. "If that's what he wants to do."

Fin and Evan walked out of one of the backdoors of the grocery store as they talked. Fin walked deliberately slowly, not wanting to bring any attention to his healing wound. Crossing through the parking lot behind the grocery, they walked casually west on 2nd Street.

"He could've still walked with us part way there," Evan said, a little confused. Shaking his head, he chuckled unexpectedly. Motioning to Fin, he asked, "Remember when we made it to the regional game our senior year?"

Fin thought immediately back to the baseball game. He'd been so nervous about it. Really, he always got nervous before games. But he never knew why. They weren't even that important to him. Maybe it was the crowd, or the expectations, or something else. "Yeah," Fin started. "One of the most embarrassing games of my life, I think."

"Well that pitcher was like 6'5'', 225. I've never ducked that hard at a curve-ball in my entire life," Evan said. "So don't be too embarrassed." He paused for a moment. "Then again," he started, "there was always, 'I got it, I got it...'" he said, mimicking Fin calling a pop up at second base and tripping over the bag.

"Yeah, ok... thanks," Fin said. "That's exactly what I'm talkin' about."

Evan laughed. "Anyway, remember Isaac on the bus ride there and back?"

Fin tried to imagine it. "I think I blocked it out," Fin answered, good-natured.

"Oh, you'll remember when I tell you. That bus ride was at least an hour long," Evan started. "And the whole way there, everyone was talking or listening to music... but not Isaac. That kid sat in the very back row with his chemistry textbook, studying for the final we had that week." Fin laughed, remembering. "And on the way back..." Evan continued.

"His English textbook wasn't it?" Fin interrupted, the memory returning to him.

"Yep, Mrs. Connell would've been so proud," Evan answered. "Everyone else was sittin' there all sad, or trying to distract themselves by talking, but Isaac was glued to that textbook." Evan paused for a moment, thinking. "Yeah, I was kinda irritated about that, until I found out how well he did on the exams... Then I was even more mad," Evan finished, smiling.

Fin was smiling also. "Yeah, he's kinda always been weird like that," he added.

"I guess goin' to the library makes a little sense," Evan said, "for that guy anyway." The two of them turned south on Concord Street and walked along Southbend Park on their right. A warm Friday evening in late June, several young children played in the park as their parents watched, talking. One of them was laughing as they went down the spirling red slide and several more ran around the base of the play area in the park. Across a grassy clearing a little ways, a couple of older children, probably around middle school or early high school, talked as they rocked slowly on some of the swings there.

"I know me and him have talked about it, but I can't remember what he studied in college?" Evan asked Fin.

Fin thought back to countless conversations he and Isaac had had over their younger years about where they were going to college, what they were going to study, and what they were going to do with the rest of their lives. "English language and literature," he answered.