Pretty.
He wondered what the girl’s name was.
At the time, he figured that he’d probably never find out.
It was a week or so later when Hound caught up withhim.
“Reckon this is for you,” his stepdad-not-stepdad hadgrunted, handing him an envelope in a Ziploc.
Hound said nothing more.
That was just like Hound.He always knew what to do, say,how to be.
So he took off and left Jagger to it.
Jag never asked him when he was there, or why.It wasn’t asurprise Hound visited his father’s grave.
They were brothers, after all.
Jagger pulled the envelope out of the baggie and saw it saidFor the Guy Across the Way.
The writing wasn’t girlie.Each letter was straight up anddown, deep impressions in the strokes, taking space.It had personality but itwas so perfect, it was a little eerie.Like it wasn’t handwritten, but insteadsome font pretending to be handwriting, printed out on a printer.
It said:
J-
Thanks for the advice.
Dad says you’re right.
And you’re wise.
You hang loose too.
-A
Jag really wanted to know what “A” stood for.
But he’d have to wait a while to find out.
The next time Jag saw her, it was two, three monthslater, outside an Arby’s.
She was with her family.
Or what was left of it.
Jag was going in.
She was coming out.
He stopped dead the second he saw her.
She did the same.
Her father and brother didn’t notice and kept walking totheir car.
Jag moved to her where she was standing on the sidewalk,waiting for him.
