SO YOU FINALLY GOT A PHONE?
The phone chimes when the text from Lily comes. I’m out of Solitary, feeling like I can breathe a little better, eating a sausage-and-egg biscuit at Bojangles. When I first came here not long ago, I made a joke about the name, but the food is no joke. It’s greasy goodness.
Buying breakfast and driving out here with little left in my gas tank reminds me that I need to get a job. Or rob a bank.
Maybe you can just get a wad of cash from your new benefactor.
I think for a moment about what to respond to Lily.
NOW I NEED A JOB.
I wait for her response. It comes quickly.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR TODAY?
I pop the last bite of biscuit into my mouth, then smile and wipe my hands. I drain my iced tea, which I’ve decided might be the best morning drink ever.
NOTHING MUCH.
Which is my way of saying I’m doing jack squat and I’m texting you because I desperately want to hang out.
WANT TO GO SIGHTSEEING?
For a second, I wonder if this is a joke. Her sarcasm. Yeah, sure, let’s go look at some trees and rocks.
I want to text something like every day in summer school there is a sight to see, and it arrives when you walk in the room.
But that is about the corniest line ever.
SURE, I text.
DON’T SOUND SO EXCITED. I WAS GOING TO GET HARRIS TO GO WITH ME.
I type back, my thumbs not used to texting or this phone.
I’M SURE HARRIS WOULD ENJOY SEEING THE SIGHTS WITH YOU.
I wait.
I’M SURE YOU WOULD ENJOY IT EVEN MORE.
I smile.
I’M SURE I WOULD TOO.
THAT’S A GOOD BOY.
I just laugh. Breathe in. Feel alive. My mind taking it all in.
I’m her little pet.
WHAT TIME? I text.
NOON.
OKAY.
CAN YOU WAIT THAT LONG?
Again I smile and shake my head.
I’LL TRY, I say.
ANTICIPATION IS A MARVELOUS FEELING. ENJOY IT. SEE YOU AT NOON.
SEE YOU.
I stare at the iPhone. It’s only around nine, and I’ve got three hours to kill. Three hours to anticipate seeing her. Three hours before we go sightseeing.
Three hours before who knows what.
And yeah. It feels pretty marvelous.