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as soon as I got home.” He’d never told Kate about how his father had started drinking again since his mom died (not that she knew he’d had a problem in the first place). “I just completely lost track of time. What are you up to?”
    â€œI had this enormous fight with my mom. She doesn’t want me borrowing the car anymore because, get this, she says I got it too dirty the last time I used it. Remember that big rainstorm a couple of weeks ago? She said I splashed mud all over the fenders. I said, hey, did I make the storm? Blame God. Well, that really got her mad. You would have thought I’d torn a page out of the Bible.”
    Kate was a force of nature. She was strong willed, and spoke her mind, and didn’t put up with any bull from anyone. It was what had first attracted Charlie to her back when they’d had sociology class together and she’d spoken up so freely about stereotypes and “looks-ism” (Charlie still wasn’t sure what “looks-ism” was, but he liked hearing Kate rail against it). And she wasn’t only smart, she was the hottest girl in the school, as far as he was concerned. Mellowing into the thought of her, he said simply, “You’re great.”
    â€œFor what, fighting with my mom?”
    â€œI mean it. You’re really just…great.”
    â€œUm, thanks. You sound kind of out of it. You’re not high, are you?”
    â€œNo,” he lied. She knew he’d smoked pot in the past, and she didn’t like it. In fact, they’d argued about it just a few weeks ago. She had this whole philosophy about how a person who took mind-altering drugs was basically just an escape artist who was dodging the real issues in his life. In a way, Charlie agreed with her. But didn’t people need to dodge stuff now and then? In the end, he’d decided it was easier to lie to her than to argue; she was muchmore articulate than he was, and he could never keep up. “I’m just beat. I worked on the Danforth house all day. They don’t even have the power turned on, so I can’t use the AC. It wipes me out.”
    â€œCharlie Horse is tired,” she said.
    He felt relieved. She only called him Charlie Horse when she was feeling affectionate. “Not too tired to pick up where we left off last Saturday,” he said, grinning.
    â€œI’ll bet.”
    â€œYou were pretty amazing.”
    â€œYou weren’t so bad yourself. Hey, do you want to go to the beach this week? During the daytime, like regular people?”
    â€œYou got it. I’m flexible with my work hours. The Danforths haven’t even moved into the place yet. When do you want to go?”
    â€œHow about Thursday?”
    â€œI’m aallll yours.”
    â€œGood. You really sound out of it. You should go to sleep.”
    â€œI’m going to,” he said. “I’m giving you a big, long good-night kiss.”
    â€œYeah, yeah, smooch ,” she said. “Go to sleep, and call me tomorrow. If I can’t use my mom’s car, I may need you to drive me to the mall after dinner.”
    â€œI am your chariot,” he said.
    â€œYou’re my Charlie Horse.”
    â€œI’m your stud.”
    â€œGo to bed .”
    After they hung up, he rolled over onto his hand again. But instead of feeling charged up about his conversation with Kate, he only felt tired, and before long he dozed off.

4.
(We don’t say that word.)
    Teddy was standing on the sofa with his shoes on, hefting a power drill. “Chowderhead!” he said loudly when he saw Sam emerge from the back of the house. “Where’ve you been?”
    â€œTrying to sleep. Until a laundry basket crashed into my door.”
    â€œYou should have seen Big’un here fly!”
    Chowderhead. Big’un. Teddy had a knack for getting on Sam’s nerves. He was slightly pear shaped, and his weight was stabbing his shoes down into the