A Cigarette Lit Backwards by Tea Hacic-Vlahovic

Author:Tea Hacic-Vlahovic
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2022-09-20T00:00:00+00:00

TIME-OUT

Time-Out united everyone: sorority girls, frat boys, professors, dropouts, blue collars, white collars, dog collars, punks, preps, bimbos, junkies, PhDs, immigrants, tourists, townies, stoners, soccer wives, horny dads, hookers, cops, criminals, Christians, crackheads, hairdressers, and hobos. They didn’t have grilled cheese, just southern comfort food served cafeteria style. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, grits, collard greens, sweet tea, pecan pie. Everyone loved it because it was cheap, easy, and always open. Even at midnight on Christmas.

Bob got mashed potatoes with gravy. I tried not to gag watching him chew food that didn’t need chewing. “A fat girl asked me on a date.” He stammered, “I don’t know if I should go.”

“Why wouldn’t you? Because she’s fat?” I picked at my biscuit.

“No, she’s cute. But she seems boring.”

“How so?”

“Like, uninteresting?” Gravy clung to the side of his mouth.

“Not into comic books?” I teased.

“Hmm . . . I see your point.”

“Go on the date.”

“You’re telling me to go on a date while on a date with me?”

“What’s the big deal? I’m also seeing someone.”

“Trippy Dope?”

“Stop.”

“Kidding. Anyway, you’re too young to be on a date with me.”

“You’re right. We can’t be seen together.” I looked over my shoulder. “We should go to your place.” I was paranoid, but not because of the age difference. What if Dexter popped in for a biscuit? What if Charlie stopped by for sweet tea? They all loved this place, even Ashley. For all I knew Jake was around the corner. If he caught me lying about plans it would be a disaster on top of my current social shitpile.

Eat up, fucker.

“What’s the rush? I wanna show my underage groupie off.” He gloated.

“Seriously? If you mention that again I’m out.”

“I won’t bring it up again . . . tonight.”

I’d met Bob after my shift, like he wanted. I told Mom my piano teacher canceled lessons and told my piano teacher I was sick. I told Jake I was going to a movie with Mom. I told Mom I was going to a movie with Lucy. I needed a break, I needed a breakthrough, I needed to lose my virginity to Bob.

Bob finished his baby food and went to the toilet, where he must have noticed the gravy on his face, since he walked out without it. Was he glad I didn’t tell him? Or embarrassed I let him keep it there so long? Would this ego death prevent him from getting it up? I wondered as he walked me home.

Bob lived in one of those classic Rosemary Street houses: brick walls and a triangle roof. Charming and snug, with wooden floors and peeling paint. The air was musky, like the windows hadn’t been opened in too long. I was like, “Your roommates aren’t home?” He told me he lived alone. I didn’t know anyone who didn’t have roommates or parents. Dexter didn’t count, he was never home alone.

“Make yourself comfortable, I’ll get drinks.” He fumbled around the kitchen. I sat on the couch and turned on the TV. Static on every channel.

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