Fast Company by Rich Wallace Read Free Book Online Page A

had an idea. “Let’s all meet for wings or pizza or something.”
    “Or both,” Anthony said. “Villa Roma?”
    “Yeah. Let’s tell the others.”
    Many of the runners agreed to meet at 6:30 at the restaurant. Manny had enough time to walk home, shower, and call Donald.
    And brush my teeth, he thought. His mouth tasted stale and pukey.
    “How’d you do?” Dad asked as Manny entered the house. Sal and his parents were having dinner.
    “Not good,” Manny said. “Went out too fast and fell apart.”
    “Those are the breaks.”
    “Yeah. Okay if I go to Villa Roma? A bunch of people from the team are going.”
    “Sure,” Mom said. “Didn’t you get anything to eat at the meet?”
    “No. I threw up after my race. I couldn’t even think about eating until a little while ago. Now I’m starving. ”
    “Do you want some pasta?” Mom asked. “Or Pepto-Bismol?”
    “Nah, I’m all right. I just need a shower. We got any mouthwash?”
     
    Villa Roma was right in the middle of town, and it attracted a young crowd. Most went there for the pizza and the video games. Manny looked through a stack of freshly washed T-shirts on his dresser, then thought twice and chose a blue button-down shirt from his closet instead.
    Donald had said he’d show up later, so Manny walked downtown alone. The side streets were dark and cold, but the Boulevard was busy with traffic. Most of the restaurants were bustling.
    Several of the runners were already at a big table toward the back when Manny arrived. He waved to Zero and Calvin.
    Sherry and two other girls were there. She pointed to the seat next to her. “Sit here,” she said.
    Manny shrugged and sat down between DiMarco and Sherry. She was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt with TEEN QUEEN written on it in small, glittery beads. Her red hair was down. She smelled like perfume, but not too strong.
    “Anybody order yet?” Manny asked.
    “Just pitchers of soda,” Sherry said. “We were waiting for you and Anthony to show.”
    “There he is.” Anthony was walking over with a big grin. He had his medal pinned to his sweatshirt—third place in the shot put.
    A teenage waitress came over and looked around the table. “Big crowd,” she said. “What’s the occasion?”
    “Anthony won a medal,” said Zero, pointing across the table.
    “So did Sherry,” Anthony said. She’d placed fifth in the girls’ 800.
    “We’re the fastest people in town,” Zero said. “And the hungriest.”
    Manny asked for a hamburger, fries, a strawberry milk shake, and an order of wings.
    “Feeling better, huh?” Sherry said.
    “Feeling empty ,” Manny replied. “I’m two meals behind, at least.” He patted his stomach. “Lots of room for expansion.”
    Sherry laughed. “You missed my race.”
    “Sorry. I was sick as a dog.”
    “Yeah. You turned white.”
    Manny shrugged. “I am half white.”
    “I mean you were pale. Like you were going to pass out.”
    “I know what you meant.”
    Zero pounded his fist lightly on the table and raised a glass of Coke. “A toast to Manny, who did the fastest running of the day,” he said with a big grin. “After his race. From the track to the bathroom!”
    Manny blushed and laughed. Anthony threw a wadded-up napkin at him. Then he opened his mouth wide and said, “ Raaaaalph. ”
    Sherry rolled her eyes. “Are you guys gonna be gross?” “Who, us?” said Zero. “No way.”
    “Just make sure there’s a clear path between Manny and the bathroom,” Anthony said. “Don’t get in his way, Sherry.”
    Manny shook his head with an embarrassed smile. He tapped his chest with his finger. “Guts,” he said.
    “We know,” said Zero. “All over the sink.”
    “Very funny.”
    When the food arrived, Manny drank half of his milk shake before starting on the hamburger. By the time he’d finished the fries, he was full. “You want any of these wings?” he said to Sherry.
    “Maybe one,” she said.
    “Anybody want these wings?”