Chapter Four

“Tommy, It’s Mindy” Tommy stopped, in the middle of the telling of the story in which they had scared the widow by hiding a racoon they had found in her cellar. They didn’t realize that the racoon would try to attack the widow. She wasn’t injured, but she put up such a fuss that they found the guilty party and were punished like never before. However, afterwards, CK heard his father in the other room laughing his heart out, like CK had never heard before, for his father found the widow unbearable and stuffy, for she always stuck her nose up at everyone else. This was before the oil suprise.

Tommy hopped over his seat, spoke a few okays into the receiver, and walked back to the table in a slower gait that he had got up in.

“Everything ok?” CK asked, worried that something horrible had happened, overthinking the situation, as was his habit.

“Oh no it’s all good, Mindy just needs a ride” CK said. They looked at each other for a few seconds, the only awkward moment in the night.

“Well,I guess i’ll see you tomorrow” said CK, without the enthusiasm of just a few moment before, but he had known something would cut his time with Tommy short.

“Yeah, yeah, how long are you staying?” Tommy said gratefully, thankful that the silence had been broken.”

“One or two days, haven’t decided yet,” said CK.

“Yup. Yeah, sounds right.” Tommy paused “Well, good seeing you, CK” Tommy said, once again returning to the adultlike way of talking, much different than when they were trading stories.

“Yeah, good seeing you too, Tommy” Tommy said, truly meaning the statement; his mood had been greatly improved by the conversation. Tommy proceeded to grab his jacket off the booth where they were seeing. The pool players were long gone by this point. He walked to the door, paused for a second, looked back and asked if CK was good getting home.

“Yeah,I can walk back, i’ll enjoy it.” CK responded. Tommy smiled.

“Don’t get lost,I don’t think your all your high falutin smarts could help you out with that” he joked

“Yeah, yeah Go pick up Mindy” said CK endearingly, not as bothered by the joke as he usually was. He actually had gotten lost once trying to get home, but he was much farther that   time.

“Well, see ya cuz,” said Tommy.

“See ya Tommy.” Tommy walked out of the bar, And CK could hear his car door closing and the start of the engine. He turned around, facing the now empty booth seat, and ordered another beer.