suıʞʍɐɥ oʇ ǝɯoɔlǝʍ sƃuıɥʇ ɹǝƃuɐɹʇs

Chapter Nineteen: The Mall Rats

sʇɐɹ llɐɯ ǝɥʇ
uǝǝʇǝuıu ɹǝʇdɐɥɔ

June 30, 1985

Robin and I were standing behind the counter, she handed the couple in front of us their ice cream cones while I was shutting the register. Steve was in the back on his break. Well, he was more like avoiding having to work. When the couple walked away curly brown hair came into view. Dustin smiled at us, "hi,"he said. "Hi," Robin said back. "I'm Dustin," he introduced himself. "I'm Robin." Dustin looked behind her, smiling, "pleasure to meet you." He looked at me, "uh, is... is he here?" He asked. "Is who here?" Robin asked.

Before I could say anything Steve burst through the door that led to the back room. "Henderson. Henderson! He's back! He's back!" Steve said excitedly, looking at me and Robin. "I'm back. You got the job!" Dustin said. "I got the job!" Steve imitates a trumpet and they do their little special hand shake. I crossed my arms over my chest and laughed. "How many children are you friends with?" Robin asked Steve. Steve sighed and gestured at Robin. "He's my brother," I told her and she nodded.

After I made Dustin the S.S. Butterscotch sundae Steve, me, and Dustin sat at one of the tables. I sat beside Steve, who sat between me and Dustin. His arm was behind me on the back of the bench seat and I was leaning into him. I hadn't had much time to catch up with Dustin since after I picked him up from Camp and dropped him off at home I had to go to work. Then I ended up staying at Steve's last night. Dustin told us about him having a girlfriend named Suzie. He met her at camp.

"No, no. No way. Hotter than Phoebe Cates? No," Steve said. Dustin just hummed as he ate his sundae. Steve laced his other hand with mine under the table, rubbing small circles on the back of my hand. "Brilliant, too. And she doesn't even care that my real pearls are still coming in. She says kissing is better without teeth," Dustin told us. Steve looked at me and I just shrugged.  Wow. Yeah, that's great. Proud of you, man," Steve said. "Yeah, Dusty. That's ro... That's kinda romantic," I said, giving him a smile. "That's like... Wow."

"Hm. So do you really just get to eat as much of this as you want?" Dustin asked. "Yeah. I mean, sure. It's not really a good idea for me, though. I gotta keep in shape for the ladies," he said and I nudged him. He laughed and kissed my temple. "Yeah, and how's that working out for you?" Robin asked as she was cleaning off tables. I laughed and gave her a thumbs up. "Ignore her," Steve said. "She seems cool," Dustin said. "She is" "She's not." Steve and I said at the same time. "So, where are the other knuckleheads?" Steve asked Dustin. "They ditched me yesterday."

"No." I looked at Dustin, "what? I'm sorry, Dustin. I wish I would have known I wouldn't have stayed with this idiot last night," I said. Steve gave me a pouty look and I gave a kiss on the cheek. "My first day back. Can you believe that shit?" Dustin asked. "Whoa. Seriously?" Steve asked. "I swear to God. Mm. They're gonna regret it, though, big time,
when they don't get to share in my glory," Dustin told us. "Glory? What glory?" I asked him. Dustin moved a little closer to Steve, "So, last night, we're trying to get in contact with Suzie..." Steve and I nodded our heads. "And, uh..." he whispered something we couldn't understand. "What?" Steve asked.

"Uh..." he said it a little louder but we still didn't catch what we thought we did. "Just speak louder," Steve told him. "I intercepted a secret Russian communication!" Dustin yelled. I sank down in the booth as everything went quiet and people looked our way. lJeez, shh. Yeah, okay, that's what I thought you said. What... What does that mean?" Steve asked. "It means, Steve, we could be heroes. True American heroes." They were both smiling, "Huh." "Mm-hmm?" Dustin hummed. "American heroes," Steve said, nudging Dustin a little. I just shook my head. "Just think, you could have all the ladies you want and more."

"More?" Steve asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer. "More," Dustin said. Steve smiled at him, "I like more." Dustin nodded and hummed. I let out a sigh, "What's the catch?" I asked. "No catch, I just need your help," Sustin told me. Steve looked at me then back to Dustin, "With what?" He asked. Dustin pulled out a Russian to English dictionary, "Translation."

Deciding I didn't want any part in Dustin and Steve's little Russian translation attempt I stayed out front with Robin. I soon regretted that decision when Erica, Lucas's younger sister and her friends walked up to the front counter. They were asking for free samples, well it was mostly Erica asking for the free samples. "Can I try the peppermint stick?" She asked. I was like the hundredth time she's tried it. Or at least that's what it feels like. "Haven't you already tried the peppermint stick?" Robin asked. With he usually sassy tone she said, "yes, and I'd like to try it again."

"Steve!" We both called. We both just wanted to go to the back and let him deal with it. While Robin stormed into the back I gave Erica another sample of the peppermint stick. Steve came back out just as Erica left. I leaned on the counter by the window while he served customers. The window opened and I turned around, "we've got our first sentence," Robin said. "Oh, seriously?" Steve asked. "Yeah. The week is long," she said in a Russian accent, not a good one either. "Well, that's thrilling," I said. "I know, but, progress." She shut the window and went back to translating with Dustin.

I walked over to the front counter as Steve handed Max and El their cones. "Having fun shopping, girls?" I asked. They both nodded. "Well, we'll have to go together sometime," I told them. "Wait a second. Are you even allowed to be here?" Steve asked El. No. The answer was no. She probably shouldn't be here. Max and El just laughed and ran off.

After the mall closed and everyone was gone the four of us stood in the back room and read out the message that Robin was able to translate so far. "The week is long. the silver cat feeds, when blue meets yellow in the west." The mall was completely empty and dark. The only lights being the neon ones around the mall. "I mean, it just...it just can't be right," Steve said, closing the gate to the shop and locking it. Robin and Dustin were going back and forth about this Russian message. Steve and I walked behind them, fingers laced together.

Steve suddenly stopped beside the horse ride. "Hey, Steve.What are you doing?" I asked. "Uh, it's a quarter. I need... Do you have a quarter?" Steve asked. I shook my head as Dustin and Robin walked over. "Sure you're tall enough for that ride?" Robin asked. "Quarter!" Robin gave him one and he put it in the ride. "You need help getting up, little Stevie?" Robin laughed. "Shh! Would you three just shut up and listen?" he said. We listened but I had no idea what he wanted us to hear. "Holy shit. The music. The music!" Dustin said.

He took out the recorder and played the message. In the background you could hear the same music."I don't understand," Robin said. "It's the exact same song on the recording," I told her. "Maybe they have horses like this in Russia," she said. Steve shook his head, "Indiana Flyer? I don't... I don't think so. This code, it... didn't come from Russia. It came from here."