I don’t like hearing the sort ofyes sirsthat were socommon when I was in the service. Even worse is being called by my last namesince that’s what people were always shouting at me when we were in the thickof it, scrambling for our lives, wondering if the guns being fired around uswould be the ones that finally took us out.
“Yes, Reese,” he says.
It’s like training a goddamn robot.
I close the hood of his car. “Just act cool, and I’ll drive youhome.” I start for my car, but then turn back around. He hasn’t moved. He standsthere, staring at me, as if he’s surprised by something. “You fucking coming?”I ask him.
“You’re serious?”
“What part of that sounded like a joke?”
“Sorry. I’m just…Never mind.”
I lead him to my car. We hop in. He notices how I tuck theprosthesis on my right leg under my left leg to drive.
I’m not thrilled about him seeing me like this, but he alreadyknows, so what the fuck do I have to hide? We head onto the main road. He sayshe’s staying off Moreland in East Atlanta, which is on the way to my house inGrant Park, so I won’t have an issue dropping him off.
We have a twenty-minute drive before we get to his place, so Ikeep my country music turned up—Travis Tritt—hoping I won’t have to worry aboutmaking conversation with him.
“I hear you were in Iraq,” Jay says.
“Just because you saw my leg doesn’t mean you have to chat withme about it.”
“I’m sorry. I just…If I’d known…”
“Wouldn’t have changed how you lost it today.”
He silences and waits a few minutes before saying, “Look,Tyler’s just been kind of a dick, and that’s why I—”
“You let me worry about Tyler. It’s none of your businessanymore. My only suggestion to you is to not make any more enemies.”
“Easier said than done. Seems like that’s all I ever make.”
I’m not surprised. The guy clearly has a chip on his shoulder.“It’ll serve you to remember that.”
“What?”
“I’m just saying if you make enemies everywhere you go, it’sprobably not because there’s a problem with everywhere you go.”
“You saying Tyler was right?”
“Nope. Everyone has a way with dealing with shit like that, butmost people don’t resort to flipping the fuck out is all I’m saying.”
Jay looks like he’s about to start a fight with me over it, so Isay, “That was some friendly advice from a boss to his employee, so I suggestyou keep your lips sealed and act appreciative of it.”
He’s quiet again, though I suspect he’s less than appreciativeof my suggestion. I don’t care. From what I can tell, he’s trouble. And that’snot what we need at the factory. If he doesn’t straighten up, he’s getting thefucking boot.
I won’t stand for his fucking attitude. Although, his attitude,his uneasiness…those are the things that remind me of Caleb. Ever since heinterviewed, he reminded me of my bunkmate—my best friend in the whole goddamnworld. And despite how careful I’m trying to be, I know that’s why I’m reallyhelping him.
3
Jay
I don’t know what Reese said to Tyler, but it’s been a weeksince the incident, and Tyler hasn’t teased me or been an asshole. But asfriendly as Reese was the other day, he hasn’t gone out of his way to be anynicer to me. Greets me like he would any of the other guys—with a nod and notso much as a friendly smirk. I can see why everyone falls into line under thisguy. He’s intimidating as hell. When I was in the car with him and he wasbasically saying I brought this kind of shit on myself, I wanted to argue withhim, but I didn’t want to stir his rage again. I saw what that looked like, andit freaked me the hell out. I’m one to get angry. I’ll explode during asituation like the one with Tyler. What happened to Reese is so far beyondthat. It wasn’t just like he lost his mind. It was like he knew he had andwasn’t sure he could control himself.
I sit by myself at a table in the break room, taking fifteenminutes to grab a drink from the vending machine. With my earbuds in, I listento an old Louis C. K. special. I have a bunch of comedy specials downloaded onmy phone that I like to listen to—Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Joan Rivers,Rita Rudner.
Reese walks in, looking particularly agitated as he fidgetsabout. He’s rattled, as though something’s just happened to him.
