“It just occurred to me,” I said as I was approaching my dad’s building, “during the summer, people occasionally have parties on the roof.”

“Some of those people will be drunk,” Jeff replied, “And tomorrow, when they remember seeing a winged man land on the roof, they will chalk it up to the booze.”

“Yes,” I said. “Others will not be drunk and will question it. I think I’ll do a fly-by, before I try to land.”

[Scene with Scott and his dad, entering house, short conversation, off to bed, getting ready in the morning.]

I walked into the restaurant, expecting to see Katie sitting there alone at a table. She’d look up and see me. She’d smile, we’d embrace and then we’d kiss. Music would swell. Maybe the patrons in the restaurant would applaud. What really happened, though, was that I walked in and there was a whole group of people sitting in a booth. Katie was in the middle. I recognized a couple of people who were sitting with her from our school, but I didn’t really know them. Katie was talking to them, in her usual animated fashion. I caught myself smiling.

“Scott!” Katie said when she saw me. She beckoned me over by making a twirling motion with her hands. I walked over and it all happened so fast.

“You know Blah Blah and Blah Blah?” Katie said, indicating some guy and girl from our class in Coreyville.

“Hey, Scott!”

“Hi Scott!”

I’m pretty sure I waved and mumbled something. Then, she introduced me to this guy, Rico, who was sitting next to her—tall, buff, dark hair, tanned skin, classic good looks. We were sitting there and people were talking about the shows that they’d recently been cast in.

“Blah, blah, Random Show Title,” one person said.

“Oh, yes, I love that one,” someone else said. "I’m doing Other Random Show."

Obviously, I wasn’t paying attention to them. All I could see or think about was that Rico guy with his hands all over Katie. To make matters worse, she liked it. They were sitting right next to each other. I mean, it was like two-objects-occupying-the-same-space-at-the-same-time kind of close. Every once in a while, she’d lay her head down on his shoulders or make googly eyes at him. I got the feeling, too, that he was “marking his territory,” you know? Like, she was his and he wanted to make sure everybody knew it. He didn’t look at me, but I got the feeling that Rico knew it was driving me crazy. Believe me, I was doing my hardest to not look at them. But, no matter what I focused on, I could still see them.

Every once in a while, I’d catch Rico checking out our waitress’s plunging neckline or some other girl in the restaurant. I couldn’t say that I blamed him; I’d noticed the other girls too. Something about him just rubbed me the wrong way, though.

After an excruciating couple of hours, we all said our goodbyes. I vaguely remember hugging people and talking at them for a while, but I was in a daze. I couldn’t tell you what I said. On the walk back to my dad’s place, I had to call Jeff.

“What were you expecting, Scott?” Jeff said when I told him the whole story. “Didn’t I tell you that some jock type was going to snatch her up?”

I hate it when he’s right! “Yeah, you called it.”

“Well, if you’re planning on jumping off Central Bridge, make sure you’ve got your suit on.”

“Thanks for the concern,” I said, sarcastically. “I’m not suicidal... yet.”

“Was he really that good looking?"

"He was all right, I guess," I said. "You know, I look at guys and think they’re attractive, but, not in a oh, he’s so cute! way. Rather, I see them in a oh, great. There’s more competition! way."

As I wallowed in my misery, I walked aimlessly around the city. What could I do? Was Katie a lost cause? What was I doing with my life? Did I really want to go back to Coreyville? I passed by a place called Sullivan’s Department Store and saw the politically-correct sign in the window:

"Stock Person wanted."

"What’s that?" Jeff asked.

"This store has a sign up. Ha! After doing the same job in Atherton’s store in Coreyville, I know what an exciting and rewarding job that is. I pity the loser who ends up with that job."

Then, it occurred to me, "Wait," I said, "I can be the loser to take that job.”

There was a period of silence on the other end, before Jeff flatly responded, “That’s an idea.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said, “it sounds super boring, but you’re going off to college and I’ve been trying to escape Coreyville for forever. I need a job to save up for college next year. If I have to have a boring job, I may as well having a boring job here.”

"They actually put up a help wanted sign?" Jeff asked incredulously. "That’s so last century."

"They also gave a web address," I said. "I’m applying as soon as I hang up."

“What will your parents think? Do you plan on staying with your dad?”

“Sure,” I said hesitantly, “I guess. That seems logical.”

Jeff only responded with, “Hmmm” and then silence.

“ I guess I need to talk to my parents.”

“Yep. I think so.”

I sighed. “Okay, you made your point.”

“What about Katie?” he asked.

My heart began racing at just the mention of her name. “What? What about Katie?”

“Are you entertaining any ideas of a future with her?”

I laughed nervously. “What? I mean, I’ll stay in touch with her, but she’s got a boyfriend now. She’s not going to have time for me.” My mind, however, was already concocting scenarios involving long conversations, intimate dates and her breaking up with Rico.

When I discussed the idea with my dad, he was excited about it. “That would be great!” he said. “I always hoped you might want to move here. We can do things together! Maybe go see a show. You like those plays and stuff. You know, I’ve been living here for years and I’ve never gone to see a live show.”

Wow. This was news to me. I never knew that Dad wanted me to move there. Also, in all the times that I’d come to visit, he never suggested going to see a live show.

“I’ve got to work, of course…”

Yep. I knew it. He was always working.

“… but, maybe I’ll take some time off when you move in and we’ll explore the city.”

“That sounds great, Dad,” I said, “but, I don’t know if I’m going to get the job and I still need to talk to Mom.”

He looked suddenly disheartened. “Yes, of course. First thinks first.”

In contrast, Mom was less enthusiastic when I called her to discuss the idea.

“I don’t know, honey. Maybe. What does your father say?”

“He’s very excited about it.” I said. “Do you want to talk to him?”

“Oh, no,” she said. “I’m sure he is… I don’t know. Maybe.”

In that moment, I was sure that my mother wanted me to stay her little boy forever.

“Look, Mom,” I said, “I haven’t even applied for the job yet. It really all depends on that.”

“That’s true.”

Next Chapter: Chapter Sixteen