Page 169 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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Pow!”

I laugh a little until

I recall something else.

“But I remember you said

Nathan, Kwesi, and Kojo

could all throw a punch.”

“Yeah, into the punching bag.

Come see for yourself sometime,” he says.

“It might be a good outlet

for that temper of yours.”

I feel embarrassed by this.

Everyone around me thinks

I have an anger problem.

I brush it off with a joke.

I repeat what Mum said:

“Every weekday at school.

Bouldering on Saturdays.

Surely you see enough of me already?”

“I could never see enough of you,” Matt says,

and I can’t tell if he’s joking or not.

I examine Matt’s serious-looking face,

and wait for him to crack a smile.

I see tears welling in his eyes.

“What’s up?” I ask again.

“I was so scared when you fell...”

Matt starts to sob.

I reach out my left arm

and Matt falls onto the left side of my chest

and I hold him in a half embrace.

I slowly rub Matt’s back with my left hand.

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