AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No thanks.”
“You sure? We have tea.”
Tea actually sounded great. Since losing my coat I couldn’t shake the chill in my bones. “I’ll take a hot tea.”
“How about you?” he asked Barrett.
“How about a phone?”
The man laughed and Barrett mimicked the sound with a cranky lilt. When the guy walked away I nudged him. “Be nice or they’ll kick us out.”
“Oh no, whatever will we do then?”
“I’m not going back to the cold car.”
When the guy with the ponytail returned with two hot teas, I gratefully accepted mine. It was warm and my stomach needed something to silence the stress grumbles.
“Bleck!” Barrett grimaced. “This tea’s bitter as shit.”
“Really? I think it’s sort of earthy and calming. I mean, I’ve had better, but it’s not terrible. At least it’s warm.” I stared for a long time at the nap of the carpet as I sipped from the mug. “Do you think this is shag?” I dragged my foot over the brown fur.
“Shag?” Barrett repeated, cocking his head. He looked ready to fall asleep as he leaned into my side. “Shaaaaaaaaag.” He laughed. “Shhhhhhhhhh-ag.” He laughed harder.
“What’s so funny?”
“Shagagagagagagag. I don’t know.” He slid his foot out from the loveseat and dragged it next to mine. “I’m thirsty. My tea’s gone.”
I became very aware of my tongue. “Mine too. Here. Have another fruit snack.” We continued to contemplate the carpet as time lost all meaning.
“Yo.” Darnell stood over us, the single syllable of his speech coming out like the slow note of a Whitney Houston song.
“Sup, dog?” I said, doing my best Randy Jackson. Randy had something to do with Whitney, right? Or was that Mariah? “I fucking love Christmas.”
“Did you guys eat that whole bowl of gummies?” His voice faded like a dream.
Suddenly everyone was there but far away. I was trapped in some sort of soundproof barrier safe enough to make Nixon jealous. No matter what I said, no one could hear me. “It’s like super-Watergate. We’re invisible.”
Darnell spoke, but I couldn’t hear him. I laughed and looked at Barrett, but he was staring really hard at his fingernails. I snorted and pushed him, then he looked at me and gasped.
“Meyers? When did you get here?”
“Oh, fuck,” Darnell said his voice coming closer again. “We’ve got a green out, people!”
“Darnell,” Barrett laughed. “Where’s your… thing?”
“My what?”
“Your…” Barrett mimed something long and slender, then patted his lips. “You know. The stick. With the noise.”
I squinted one eye as my lip lifted like Elvis. “Spear? Yodel? Javelin! Spoon.” I tried to guess at whatever game he was playing. “Animal or mineral?”
“No, you can’t eat it,” Barrett said itching his ear. He suddenly flinched when he noticed the lamp to his right. “When did that get here?”
Widow’s peak came over. “Why are your friends laying on my floor?”
“Hey, we are on the floor.” I laughed, shoving Barrett who was talking to a lampshade. “You’re in love with that light.”
“The shade’s so fringy. D’you get this at Bergdorf?”
