Period 8 - By Chris Crutcher Page 0,31

that a lot gets solved when the kids get involved, but he wasn’t in total disagreement with what Justin said to Arney earlier. “Okay,” he says. “But if she doesn’t feel like talking, apologize, turn around, and leave.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” Arney says.

Logs watches as Arney enters the room, approaches Kylie slowly. Kylie looks up, then away. Arney walks closer and puts a hand in the middle of Kylie’s back, kneels, and talks. Kylie nods, nods again. Arney pats her on the shoulder and stands to leave and Kylie puts her head back down on the desk. Arney gives Logs a thumbs-up through the window and walks out.

When he returns to his classroom for the next period, Kylie is gone, but there’s a note on the desk. Thanks, Mr. Logs. I’m okay. I’ll catch up with you today or see you in the morning. Thanks, really.

Paulie walks into Frank’s Diner and sits at the counter. In his opinion, Frank’s serves the best hamburger in town and they make shakes the old-fashioned way; hard ice cream and they give you the container once they pour the glass full. No whipped cream on top and no sprinkles. Just good old vanilla ice cream and Hershey’s chocolate syrup. Topped off with a side of onion rings, there are few greater delights from his limited culinary point of view.

It’s not a popular hangout for kids, which is why he’s here, desiring to sit with his thoughts, gorge, and try to forget Hannah.

Naomi Washburn is working the counter this evening. Naomi’s a friend of his mother’s. She started working at Frank’s three weeks after she dropped out of high school in the middle of her junior year and three husbands and five kids later makes a killer living on tips alone.

“Paulie Bomb,” she says, ready to take his order. She squints, looking closer. “Honey, I’ve seen you looking worse but I can’t for the life of me remember when.”

“Hey, Naomi.”

“What’s going on, baby? You look shot at and missed, and shit at and hit.”

“Tired,” he says. “Been working out pretty hard.”

“Your momma tells me that happens when the world’s collapsing.”

“Yeah, well, my momma’s not exactly Dr. Phil. But I’ll tell you, Naomi, I’m startin’ to think I’m crazy.”

“All you kids are crazy,” she says. Her hand sweeps back toward the one booth filled with other high school students. Paulie nods at Ron Firth. “And you tip like shit. But relatively speaking, you’re probably not crazy. Why do you say that?”

“You can’t tell my mom this, okay?”

“And prove she’s a better psychologist than you give her credit for?”

“I broke up with Hannah.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Wasn’t my idea,” Paulie says, “but the thing is, I’m, like, kicking myself for bringing it on—when I’m not so mad at her for not listening to me I could scream or punch something.”

“Go back to ‘bringing it on.’ ”

“Too long a story,” Paulie says. “I don’t know, I just wanted to explain myself.”

“Would it make a difference?”

Paulie smiles. “Probably not. Good point. Anyway, Arney’s been taking her out. . . .”

“What? That inconsiderate shit,” Naomi says. “Why don’t you kick his ass?”

“I told him okay.”

Naomi’s look turns stern. “Ask me again if I think you’re crazy.”

“It’s gonna happen with someone; she’s Hannah Murphy for chrissake. Might as well be with someone I know.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard,” Naomi says. “Somebody you don’t know, you can run into somewhere and pick a fight. It’s harder to do with a so-called friend, which by the way if he goes out with Hannah, he isn’t. Nobody wants to think about their ex with a friend. If I had time I’d tell you a little about that.”

She’s right. Paulie’s been shocked awake nightly by the vision of Hannah and Arney in the movie parking lot.

“Maybe you should start hanging out with my Karin. An ambitious young man like you would be good for her.”

“I thought Karin was in juvy.”

“She should be out in the next couple of weeks, if she’ll goddamn behave herself.”

“No offense, Naomi, but I’d be terrified to go out with any girl raised by you. I mean that as a compliment.”

The cook slides Paulie’s onion rings and burger under the heat lamp and Naomi places the plate in front of him just as the bell hanging over the entrance rings and three men walk in and sit several seats down.

“Gotta get to work,” Naomi says. “Only other thing I can recommend to a guy in your position is to join up with the