Boy21 Read Online Free PDF Page B

gracefully without shaking the house too much, mostly because he’s so tall that he doesn’t have to leap that high, but also because he’s obviously athletic. There’s a very determined look on his face—it’s like his eyebrows are trying to meet for the first time at the top of his nose.
    After ten minutes or so, he pulls the blinds, turns out the lights, and sits next to me.
    “Pretend you are in outer space,” he says.
    It’s so absurd; I almost want to laugh.
    I have no idea what it’s like to be in outer space, but I know that I’ve never felt quite like I do at this very moment. Maybe I should feel scared or at least alarmed, but Boy21 seems pretty harmless, so I just sit and stare.
    What else can I do?
    After a few minutes of absolute quiet, I think about why Boy21 might be arranging stars in his bedroom. Maybe he likes being in control of his own little universe, being able to arrange things how he wants, like a god or something? Maybe he likes pretending, like a little kid would. I’m not sure, but I don’t mind either.
    The only other person I have ever sat alone with in the dark is Erin, and since I always want to kiss her, I never get to just enjoy the quiet shared silence.
    It’s nice to sit with another person, although I’m not sure why.
    As crazy as this will sound, I’m really enjoying just being with Boy21.
    There aren’t many people my age who will join me in voluntary silence. Most kids in my high school talk nonstop and are always moving.
    The stickers glow an otherworldly green and I have to admit that I like looking at them.
    We just sit silently for a long time, which feels kind of
right
somehow, even though my skin is sort of tingling in this weird way.
    “Boys?” Coach says as he opens the door, letting in the hall light and breaking the spell. “What are you two doing in the dark?”
    “Stargazing, Earthling,” Boy21 says.
    “Oh,” Coach says, swiveling his head to admire Boy21’s many constellations. “Time to go, Finley.”
    “Where is your dwelling pod, Earthling known as Finley?” Boy21 asks when I stand.
    “Five twenty-one O’Shea Street,” I say. “Across town.”
    “I will appear to you later tonight.” Boy21 offers me his hand, which is twice the size of mine.
    I shake it and give Boy21 a questioning squint, but then Coach says, “Nice to see you again, Boy21. I look forward to our next meeting.”
    We say good-bye to the Allens and then Coach is driving me home.
    Watching the neighborhood go by—the sagging row homes, potholed roads, trash blowing around, tree bark tagged with graffiti—I wonder if Boy21 will really visit me tonight.
    Just for a laugh, I imagine him landing in our tiny front yard, maybe in a personal-size flying saucer, which would probably just fill the center circle of a basketball court. His spaceship has a green dome on top that opens up like an Easter egg. “Hello, Finley!” Boy21 says in my mind. “Let’s go cruise the galaxy!” I have to hide my smile from Coach.

10
    “SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF RUSS?” Coach asks.
    Here’s what comes to mind: It’s like Russ has created a force field of weirdness around himself, but as that sounds like crazy talk, I keep my mouth shut.
    “It’s a lot to take in at first,” Coach says. “My guess is that some of it’s just an act to keep certain people at bay. I think he might be pretending to protect himself, but what do I know? The boy’s been through a lot. I appreciate your coming tonight. Do you think you could maybe show Russ around next week when school starts?”
    “Of course.”
    “And keep Russell’s secret too?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    When we pull up to my house, Coach shakes my hand and says, “You’re a real good kid, Finley. You do know that, right?”
    I smile and hop out of the truck.
    Inside Pop’s playing War with Erin at the kitchen table. Their stacks of cards are just about even. Pop slams each card like he’s trying to karate chop a board in half, while Erin