Angry Young Man by Chris Lynch

Author:Chris Lynch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Published: 2011-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

NIGHT AND DAY

My alarm goes off at quarter to six, like it does every workday. I slap it on top of its sleep-shattering head, like I do every workday, getting another ten minutes of snooze-button reprieve. I always use the full ten.

In two minutes my eyes pop open like they are spring-loaded and I sit right up in bed.

He’s not home.

Alexander never came home.

My first response, which I am sure I share with the spirit of the entire universe, is one of unbridled delight.

My second response, personal to myself alone, is, “So, what was wrong with me?” How on earth does—of all people, come on now—Alexander break the Carly code so quickly after I was so comprehensively unsuccessful at it?

I won’t have to wait long to find out, because as soon as I formulate the question, he appears in the room.

“You dog,” I say with undisguised admiration and, even more generous, envy. “How the hell did you manage it?”

“What?” he says wearily, lying right down on his bed with his clothes on.

I swing my legs over and plant my bare feet firmly on the floor between us.

“You know what. Carly, what. How did you so easily go where no man has gone before?”

“Be quiet, Robert, okay? You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, I do.” I get to my feet and lean over him. “I can smell you. Your whole body chemistry has changed already.”

He gives me a good mighty shove that topples me backward onto my bed again.

“You know nothing about me, or my body chemistry, so just stop right there.”

“Jeez, kid, I live in the same room with you. I know all. I know more about you than you do.”

“Wrong,” he says, closing his eyes.

“Really? Don’t you think I know you’ve spanked more monkey than any mother monkey ever—”

“That’s it. I’m leaving again.” He pops right up, and sweeps out of the room.

I hear him start the shower. I start getting myself dressed. Then he sweeps back in again while the shower is running, and gathers some new clothes. I brush past him, inhaling his musk once more.

Stronger than I realized, actually.

“Jeez. Is that what that scent is, Xan? It’s kinda . pungent.”

His glasses are off, back in the bathroom. He wheels on me and the eyes are really wide, really wild, really meaning it.

“Shut up, Robert. Do you get me? Shut yourself up, now.”

And for one of the rare moments of my life, I take that advice.

By the time I come out dressed for work, he has left the shower, and the house again. Ma emerges from her room and joins me for coffee.

“Did I hear your brother leave already?” she asks.

“I think you did, yeah.”

“To work?”

“I guess so. I guess he’s extra motivated because he still doesn’t have any money.”

Ma’s face mostly disappears inside her oversize coffee mug. The echo of her voice is also oversize in there when she makes her sound, “Hnn.”

I sip my coffee. Take a bite of toast. I offer her a bite, though I know she won’t touch food until coffee number two is under way.

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