So Different Read Online Free PDF Page A

forever. I’ve always loved her,” she added, her shoulders no longer shaking. She let herself hiccup, a sign that her tears were winding down.
    He finally managed to remove her hand from his ass and the other from his neck, and stepped back. She had her hands covering her face now and had turned her back facing away from him. He watched her take a deep breath, gathering her composure, he imagined.
    “Promise me you’ll think about it? That you’ll hold onto the card?” he said to her back.
    “I will,” she said, turning toward the sound of a bus. “I’d better go,” she said, hurrying away.
    “See you,” he said, watching her hurry to meet the bus that was making its way to the stop. He watched her get on board before turning and leaving. It was more serious than he originally thought. He’d discuss her with his pops again, and see if there was anything else they could do for her. The way she held on to him and ran her hands over his body made him feel a little weird. He wasn’t sure what that had been about.
    * * *
    “So how did it go with Mariah?” his pops asked him at they sat at the table with his mother, eating dinner.
    “It’s worse than I thought. She told me her boo had broken her arm before, and that she’s afraid to leave.”
    “Her boo?” his dad asked. The elder Barnett turned away from Adam and looked at his wife. Oddly, she smiled in response to his dad’s expression.
    “Boo is an endearment. It means her loved one. That’s new-school talk, Pops,” Adam said.
    “Huh. So what are you going to do now?”
    “I don’t know. What can you do when someone needs help, but doesn’t want to accept any?”
    “I’ll call her, talk to her. Let’s see if that helps,” he said.
    “Thanks Pops,” he said, sitting back in is chair. “I don’t understand women like that. You’ve seen her. She’s pretty underneath all of her colored hair and tattoos. Why do women tolerate that type of treatment?”
    “Don’t know, son,” Adam Sr. said.
    “It’s good of you to try and talk to her,” his mother said, reaching and placing her hand on his.
    “Changing the subject for a moment, I need a favor from you,” Adam Sr. said, waiting for Adam’s attention. “There is this event I usually attend once a month, the last Saturday of the month. But your mother wants me to go to some dinner party this Saturday night instead. Fund raising for what, dear?”
    “Homeless shelter,” she said.
    “I would like for you to go in my place. Would you mind?” he asked, looking at Adam Jr. “Me and a few of my retiree friends usually go. I purchase four tickets every season.”
    “Sure. Go where?” he asked.
    “The roller derby. We are one of the many sponsors for a team,” he said.
    “The roller derby? Didn’t know that was still around. Wasn’t that on TV ages ago? A fake sport where men and women push and shove and fight, right?” Adam asked.
    “Yes, but it’s a different sport now. It’s all female. I like to go and show my support. It started up again in Austin in 2000, locally grown, and I try to support the locals. The passes are in my desk. There’s four of them. I haven’t been able to talk your mother into going yet. Take your buddy Michael with you. There is a bout scheduled on the last Saturday of each month. I missed the exhibition in January, but would really appreciate it if you make this one for me. You should try and enjoy yourself. Have you been out since you’ve been home?”
    “I’ve been giving it more and more thought lately,” he said.
    “Perfect timing, then,” he said, giving a smile to his wife. “Don’t forget, it’s important,” his pops said, seriously looking at him.
    “Sure,” Adam said.
    “I’d like for someone from our place to represent us. If you don’t go, let me know. I’ll get your sister to attend. She and her friends like going. She told me there is man potential everywhere.”
    “No, I’m good. I’ve got this. Didn’t know the