“Hi, is Jason home?” Kim asked the little girl that opened the door. Anne. Jason’s little sister.
She nodded, wide eyed.
After a moment Kim said, “So, can you call him?”
Another wide eyed nod then she scuttled back into her house screaming “Jason!”
Kim peered into his house. There were pictures everywhere. On the mantel top, across the walls. Pictures of the family on vacation, various sunsets across the globe. Pictures of everything. She’d never been to Jason’s house before. Never really talked to him much. Even though he lived just a block away from her since she was small. Kim kind of felt bad coming here now, just when she needed something. She was sick yesterday and needed a copy of the homework. If she didn’t pass English she would have to go to summer school. Kim shuttered at the thought.
“Kim?” he came to the door. His eyes wide and even wider under his thick rimmed glasses. Jason was a good kid. Had a bunch of friends. One of those kids that no one could hate. He was just too nice for that. Liked to keep on top of class too.
“My mom’s a photographer,”
“Huh?”
“You were looking at the pictures,” Jason said.
“Oh, yeah, they’re cool,” Kim looked at him, “ohmigod! What happened!”
“What?”
“You—you’re crying! Are you okay?”
“What, no, I was, uh, cutting onions.”
“Ugh, don’t worry, I understand,” Kim said.
“Understand that my onions need cutting?”
“No! don’t expect me to believe that! Now, why are you crying?”
“No, really, My mom’s making a salad. She asked if I could do them.”
“Did Rachel break up with you! No way!” Kim gasped, “That’s terrible. You need a hug.” Kim put her arms around him. Jason stood there shuffling half in, half out of his house. he wasn’t really sure what to do with himself.
He sniffled. Wrong move.
“Aw, I feel so bad,”
“No, me and Rachel are fine,” Jason said.
“Did your dog die? Do you have a dog?”
“No I’m—“
“You’re sure you’re fine?—“
“—just cutting onions. “
“Fine, don’t tell me,” Kim said.
They stood for a second and then Kim gasped, “Oh right! I need the English homework!”
“Oh, so just come it, it’s in my bag hold on.”
Kim entered the house. She really wasn’t in the mood of homework right now. She just came to Jason’s and he was crying! She had to tell Madison, like now. Wait, what if it’s something big? She frowned. He really looked down. His eyes all red rimmed. Maybe she should try to help him. No. Not when he was too immature. He wouldn’t even admit to her that he was crying in the first place.
“Uh, here it is,” he said handing her a few papers. “Do you need anything else?”
“Um,” Did any other teacher threaten summer school? She ran a mental list through her head, “no it’s fine.”
They were next to the kitchen. Kim looked in.
“Goodbye then?”
Kim nodded in an obvious hurry to get out. She practically ran out the door. Her head down. She was red. Her cheeks flushed. Obvious embarresment.
There was a cutting board with half an onion cut up into small pieces.
