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“I have a younger brother. I’m his guardian now because my mother doesn’t care about anybody but herself.”
Artie nodded as if he understood. “Your daddy?”
“Never met ’em,” I said.
“Probably best,” he said. “The ones that don’t come around aren’t worth teaching their kids anything. You look like you turned out pretty good regardless.”
I shrugged.
“You don’t think so?” he asked.
“Now Artie, you didn’t talk this much when I applied. I wasn’t expecting twenty questions.”
Artie’s head fell back as he laughed. “I’ve finally met someone who talks less than me. One thing at a time then.”
A few customers came inside, mostly friends of Artie’s, a couple of college kids searching for old records for one of their classes. I liked the calm pace and silence of the place.
I waved bye to one of Artie’s friends and noticed a lamp sitting in the front window, the shade made of teal glass, and my interest piqued. The price tag read twenty, which was more than I could afford until I was paid.
“I found that in an antique shop in Houston. You like it?” Artie asked, leaning against his cane.
“Uh, yeah, I can’t get it until I get paid, but can I set it back so no one will buy it?”
Artie eyed me. “Looks a little girly and you don’t look like that type. Are you buying it for someone?”
I laughed. I’d broken Josie’s lamp, and it made me think of her. She had tons of teal in that graffiti painting of me, and some of her room décor matched. “Yeah, my roommate, I broke hers.”
Artie grinned. “Living with your girlfriend already.”
“Well, she wasn’t my girlfriend—,”
“But she is now?” Artie asked, lifting a hairy brow.
“I guess you can call us that. We have a long history, I know her from Zachary.”
“Take it,” Artie said. “Take it to her tonight and tell me tomorrow how she likes it. And don’t go breaking your girl’s stuff. They don’t take too kindly to that.”
“Believe me, I know,” I whispered, noticing one of the stores across the street as a light turned on in the setting sun. It looked like an art gallery.
Artie noticed and scoffed.
“Not a fan of art, Artie?” I asked.
He shrugged and used his cane to walk back to the counter. “Not of his. He bought that several years ago, and he is a pompous ass. Tried to buy my store from me, wanted to make this entire strip into a gallery. I told ’em to go to Hell.”
Shadows moved across the wall through the glass of the store adjacent to us. “Well, looks like he bought the two stores on the opposite side of him. Does he bother you?”
Artie waved his hand at me, which told me no. “You go ahead and clock out, and bring that lamp to your little lady friend.”
I ran my index finger down the length of the teal glass and smiled. “Thank you, Artie. I’ll pay you back when I get paid. And thank you for the job. Is there anything you need me to do before I leave?”
He thought about it. “Nah, I’m closing up soon. See you tomorrow.”
I drove toward my apartment with a feeling of pride in the pit of my stomach. I’d never been spoiled and given anything, but juggling school, football, and work made me feel accomplished. I grabbed Josie’s lamp and barreled up the stairs to my apartment.
The smell of food hit me when I walked inside. Josie stood in the kitchen with Frankie who hovered over a book. “Homework already?” I asked.
Frankie tossed me a look and rolled his eyes.
