14PLAYLIST:walking on sunshine
I SLIDE ONTO THEbench seat at the picnic table.
Me: Nothing much, you?
Myles: went surfing this morning and hung out at the beach for a while. just got back
Me: You and your surfing
Me: There’s no beach at the White House, you know. What are you going to do when you’re POTUS and need to blow off steam? Gonna install one of those surfing simulators on the south lawn?
He doesn’t reply right away, and I’m starting to wonder if I need to clarify what the acronym stands for, but then another message comes through.
Myles: can I tell you something?
Me: Sure
Myles: I hate that that’s in the yearbook
Myles: the president thing
Me: Really? Why?
Myles: it’s like, people have this expectation of me
Myles: why would people think I’d be a good president? or that anyone would want me there?
I frown, surprised.
Me: Why wouldn’t they? You’re smart and friendly and a total baller.
I toss in that last one in the hopes it makes him smile. Myles Ford being self-conscious is like making clam chowder with tomatoes. It’s not right.
Myles: bahaha
Myles: because being a baller is all that matters
Myles: no need to understand economics, world politics, or to perfect the firm but friendly handshake
Me: Meh
Me: You’ve got 18 years to get that stuff figured out. The baller life can’t be taught.
Myles: it just seems like my valedictorian brother would be the better choice. Maybe even the homecoming king brother
Me: I will 100% vote for you for homecoming king.
Me: I’ll sneak in two votes
Myles: please don’t, i don’t want to have to stand up there in front of the whole school
This is the second time Myles has brought up his brothers like that. Does he feel inferior to them or something? And why wouldn’t he want to be homecoming king? Is Myles… shy?
Me: I get that. I wouldn’t want to either.
I figure he might appreciate a subject change, so I type out,So tell me truthfully—how do you like working at Pearl’s?
Myles: I like it a lot
