Common Bodies

/ 8 /

[Frank]

Noon-

Hours of reading and solving equations and I was about to blow up. I needed a break.

"Gerard?" I asked.

"Ready to explode?" He grinned.

"Can we take Lulu for a walk, explore the city, anything-" I pleaded.

"How 'bout we head to the sandwich shop and get some food. It's about a 25 minute walk. Then we can go to the park." He smiled. "Sound good?"

"Yes!" I slammed the text book of US history and ran to get my shoes.

-

The shop was exactly 25 minutes away, just like he said.

"... pickles, green peppers, and olives." I finished my order.

I still need a job.

"Excuse me, sir. Are you hiring?" I asked politely.

"All we need is a dish washer, minimum wage, but money is money." The old man said in his thick Jersey accent.

"May I have an application?"

"You know what? I've been looking for a few months, you can have it. I still need you to fill it out for paper work but consider it yours." He smiled jubilantly.

"Thank you sir." I reached over the counter to shake his hand and he pulled me into a hug.

"That's how we do it at Popi's Sandwich Shoppe."

I turned to Gerard and giggles excitedly.

"I got a job!" I reached my hand out and have him a high-five.

"Good work. What are you doing?" He asked.

"Just dishwashing. But money is money." I repeated.

"Great are you ready to go to the park?"

"Yup."

-

Our walk was quiet and peaceful. No distractions, no stress.

"Oh, I totally forgot." He pulled a box wrapped in newspaper out of his back pocket. "This is for you."

I quickly tore it open and revealed a phone.

"Gerard..." I looked at him, "How much was this?"

He sighed, "It doesn't matter. I need a way to contact you when I'm in school or away to check on you."

"But you didn't need to get the most expensive one..." I awed in glory and observed the very fragile object.

I hugged him, "Thank you Gerard."

"Anything, anytime Frank." He smiled and pulled me closer.