Rain

•8•

Pete is about to throw away his shirt after 2 washings. The concrete has dried and it is practically glued onto the shirt. Guess he didn't think that one through. He pauses above the trash can. He looks down again at the navy blue stained shirt. This is a memory...well, a memory of a memory. He has to keep it. After folding it up, he places it in a shoebox, under his bed. It's a bright orange Nike one. Very new and not worn like his other boxes. He searches his messy floor for a sharpie, which he finds by his desk, and labels the box "Memories."

He probably has 10 other boxes labeled like this but this...this is different. A new kind of memory. He just can't explain it yet.

"Pete!!"

Pete shoves the box back under his bed and heads downstairs.

"Yeah?"

"You're going back to the doctors for a checkup on your head."

Pete cocks his head. "It's been like 3 days..."

"Doc said we should check up so you don't stay out of school any longer than you should."

Pete rolls his eyes.

"Grab your shoes, buddy, let's go." His dad jingles the keys.

Pete walks back upstairs and grabs his shoes. As he heads down he puts them on and sloppily ties his shoes once downstairs.

"You gonna brush your hair?" His mom attempts to smooth out the back.

Pete finger brushes his hair and smiles. His mother just shakes her head and laughs. "Get out of here." She playfully shoves him forward.

"Bye mom!" He calls as he heads out the door.

Right away his gaze goes to Patrick's window. He can see Patrick, sitting by his window, writing down in the work notebook. He's writing more lyrics. Pete feels the urge to read them. Help him. He instead keeps his mouth shut and slides into the passengers side. Patrick doesn't even notice the car starting. He's so engulfed in writing and thinking. Pete wonders if Patrick is adding onto his lyrics.

Or if they're complete new ones.

———————————————————

"You're fine."

"Wait already?" Pete can't hide is sadness.

The nurse looks at him. "Yeah...it was minor and you had three days."

"Oh."

"You can go back to school tomorrow." She flips the papers back down on the clipboard and opens the door.

Pete shuffles out of the room and to the waiting room.

"Hey buddy, what's the news?" His dad pats his back.

"Going back to school."

"Yay!"

He notices Pete's unhappy face.

"Boo?" He puts a faux frown on.

"Yeah...boo."

"Well at least your brain is fully functional!" Pete's dad ruffles his hair.

They walk out of the office and into the car. Pete looks out the window, remaining quiet for most of the ride.

"Aren't you excited?...you get to see your friends."

"Yeah...I just like the freedom I guess."

His dad nods. "What'd you do today? On your last day of freedom?"

Pete's breath catches in his lungs. He can't just say he wrote his name in an off-limits construction site?

"I...hung out with Patrick."