all backing up, so I know youâve not been drinking it.â
âSorry, Pops,â you say. You both know you have no intention of drinking the V8.
For a while the two of you merely crouch there, facing the decaying skull of a creature that was once as big as both of you. Are you waiting for it to speak? You look like you are waiting for it to speak. It probably wonât, you know.
âSchool called,â Pops says.
âAs they do,â you say.
âYou need to go, Will.â
âI do go.â
âYes, but you need to go all the time.â
âOh. Okay.â Like this is news to you. You both also know this is not likely to happen.
âHave you been stealing stuff from the school, Will?â
âNo way. Did somebody say that? Who would say that?â
âFella named Jacks. Shop teacher.â
âThose were mine. I made those.â
âBut they are really school property, yes?â
âTechnically. He just wants me to make a stupid gnome for his mother. She can steal them but I canât.â
âSo just make the stupid gnome. Then go back to what you want to do.â
A monster wave builds and builds, and the two of you are pulled, watching the rearing up, the building and cresting and crashing of it. Tide coming in now, and the frothy fingers come touching the tuna just slightly. Wonât be long.
âRight, then after that he wants me to make her a whirligig. Itâs not going to end.â
âSo speed it up. Make him a gnomeygig.â
You smile, but you donât half mean it. It is not lost on you, where you are at, and why you are at it. You know, donât you, Will? And Pops knows, because he is one of the architects.
âIâm not a fucking case, Pops.â
âItâs not like that.â
âYes it is. Iâm in the fucking rehab ward. Iâm in with thedead-enders. Everyone there is either stupid or dangerous or hiding out. Itâs for people who donât want to go to normal school. I want to go to normal school, Pops. Why did you stick me in there? I donât belong there. Iâm supposed to be a pilot.â
Now he stands, and backs up. âTideâs coming in fast now,â he says, to make like that is what he is backing away from. The wave comes closer this time, coming up all around the jaw of the tuna, giving it a white Abe Lincoln beard, and you wet shoes. âCome back out of there, Will. You are wet enough already.â
You get to your feet and take a couple steps back.
âStop scratching, dammit,â Pops says.
You are taxing Popâs patience again, Will. Must you do that? Are you aware you are doing it? Of course you are. You know this is hard for him. You know he is trying. You know what he can and cannot do. He is renowned for what he can and cannot do. Why do you want to make it harder than it already is?
Could it be harder than it already is? For either of you?
âIf Iâm going to be stuck in occupational therapy, in special programs âdid you know that, Pops, that they call that special programs ? Of course you did. But did you know that itâs called Hopeless High by the locals? Bet you didnât.â
You think? You really think he didnât know? Debatable. Do you want a debate?
âListen,â Pops says carefully, but not quietly. He has to growl somewhat to beat the crash of the surf, but also, he has to growl to beat you. âYou agreed. We had an agreement. You were going to try. So. Try.â
The agreement . Remember the agreement? If Pops was going to agree to be stuck with you, then you were going to agree to try and get normal? Sure you recall.
âI am trying.â
âNot really. You have your fatherâs gift for drama.â
Oh. We can ignore that. Do you do yourself any favors if you react? You donât have to. Will, you donât have to. Are you rising to the bait? Your tuna friend rose to the bait. Look at
Alaska Angelini, A. A. Dark