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“We have different ideas of fun, Jos.” I survey the room, it looks better than when we got here. Half of it, anyway. With a sigh, I go to the right side and start putting the books in the plastic bins. Toys for the younger ones that tag along in the other. “Because it sounds like your idea of fun is interrogation.”
“It’s fun.” She raised her hands. “Okay, no interrogation.”
“I’ll text—” I stop as my phone starts to ring. “Hello?”
“Is this Miss Reed? I’ve got a problem with Andy . . .”
I try to calm the over-emotional parent and promise to help find the boy. When I get off the phone, Josie leans on the broom she’s grabbed. “One of ours?”
“No, a kid from one of my classes. He’s thirteen and gets bullied.” I swallow past the tightness in my throat that hurts. “I gave his mom my number at the last parents’ evening. I don’t think she knows about the suspension. But I’m pretty sure I know where he is.”
“I’ll finish up here and meet you for that drink. Tucker’s Bar and Grill?”
“Sounds good.” I give her a hug, and then I take off.
I let Diego know where he can meet me if he wants, and then I get out of the car and cross to the old, closed-down movie theater. Pushing the graffitied boards to the side a little more, I head in.
The place has power, as they’re going to start remodeling it into a Hoyts, which is a crying shame.
He’s down the front, head bent over an iPad, the glow of the screen washing his face in shifting colors. “Hey, Andy.”
I sit two rows behind him, giving him space.
He keeps watching the anime on his device. Then he sniffs, pawing at his nose and eyes. “Dan and the others were mean. Said my mom’s awhore.”
Her drops his voice with the last one and I force my anger down. “Because she’s a hard-working single mom?”
I have very choice words about these sixth formers who come from the moneyed part of town. Words I have to keep locked in. The biggest problem is this kid here’s smart, and he’ll go places if he works at even a quarter of what the bullies do. And probably get scholarships.
The only reason we decided not to skip him ahead a grade is it can be more isolating, and Andy doesn’t need that.
“Maybe.”
Which means yes, and they said worse. Jesus, even if she did use her body to make money to support her kid, I respect that more than I do the moms of the bullies whose time’s spent on hair and spas, nails, and shopping sprees.
“You know what? Don’t listen to them. She called me because she loves you and worries.” I lean on the row in front of me. “Can I trust you?”
His eyes get big, and he nods.
“I have a safe activity place, hang out joint. It’s at the church hall on Elroy Street, but lots of kids go there and you can tag with some of them after school. You can even do your homework or read. Pretty much anything. You know Xan?”
“Yep.”
“He’s pretty cool and he’s bigger than those kids, so I’m sure he’ll walk with you. His sister joined the group tonight.” I make a mental note to talk to Xan. He’s pretty much in charge of his little sister and I know him as a friend of Jay’s, pre gang. The kid got a job, so his time is stretched, but he’ll do it.
“You think?”
“Yeah, Andy, I think he will. Now, let’s get you home.”
* * *
I’m running late to meet Diego, and I can’t shake the feeling of being followed as I drive there. It’s silly, and this is a busy part of town. Lots of people are heading here, a bunch of cars.
It’s the end of the workday, almost the weekend and people want some fun.
Still . . .
I can’t shake it. As I step into the bar, it’s like I’m being watched.
