Lighting the World by Merle Drown

Author:Merle Drown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, family, young adult, teen, high school, adolescence, new hampshire, psychological fiction, gun violence
Publisher: Whitepoint Press

As he popped his card into the time clock, he saw there were few dishes left to be washed. There was, however, much more to be done. Rich told him the milk dispenser had to be reloaded, which meant lugging the heavy refill from the cooler, hoisting it up to face level, and sliding the narrow white hose through the handle. No sooner had he finished that then he had to empty the garbage outside and rinse the cans. The line cook, first telling him to clean his hands spotless, had him peel potatoes until his thumb started to ache. By now it was time to take the ice cubes out to the waitresses stations and load the bin at the bar. He'd kept busy for two hours without washing a dish or saying hello to Maria.

His feet wet, head pounding from the noise, he stood by the Hobart, sliding in plastic trays of dishes, watching the temperature gauge steady itself at 157, and wondering how many layers of skin he'd burned and sealed at this job. If he were to touch Maria's soft cheek, she'd feel rhino hide and he'd feel nothing. In Vermont he would find a better job.

His feet still wet from the floor water, he finally sat with Maria, she with a coffee and he with a Coke. She told him about going from her counselor to a social worker. She said she was sorry she'd missed his visit on Sunday, but she'd been busy tracking people down and making arrangements to escape Steven Blanchard. "Even yesterday I left work early to—"

"I know," said Wade, "because I stopped here to have supper with you."

It won the smile he wanted to see and the pat on the hand that soothed his heart. Inside his shirt pocket he could feel the napkin, which he'd slipped into a baggie to protect it from dishwasher steam and his own sweat. No matter how tough his hand grew, he'd always feel her in the sweet package against his chest.

"I am going to leave home," she said. She spoke without slurring or sliding around it or even lowering her voice. "Whatever it takes."

In case he couldn't get to Vermont or Maria wouldn't want to go, Wade had planned an alternative. Knowing Uncle Andrew would approve of planning made it seem almost a duty. "I found an interesting place," he said. "We could go there for a picnic tonight."

She looked at him closely, her fingers running through the dark hair by her temple. "All right. I could use a break. Only, how will I get home after?"

"I got it covered," Wade said. He felt strong. He had conquered Shawn, making the drive-in safe for Maria. He had planned this out. "Trust me."

During the dinner rush, as he pulled case after case of dishes from the stand and ran tubs of silverware through the Hobart, he foresaw a problem. By the time they got done with work, it would be dark and he'd need flashlight, food, and his cooking gear.

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