Page 63 of Rhymes with Metaphor
Chapter 16: Dog Days
The next morning, Joelwent to the library to hunt up some more Delany and came out holdingThe Mad Man.
“That’s not the best book to read when you’re discovering yourself,” said Reg.“I don’t want you to lose your innocence yet.”
“Too late.”
“No, my little one.”Reg stroked his face.“It’s not.”
“I’m not little.Statistically speaking, I’m above average height.”
“You’re a nerd, Joel.”
“Yes,” said Joel emphatically.
Reg convinced him to read the Shakespearean sonnets next.Joel began and kept reading them over lunch.
“What do you think?”said Reg.
“I like them more now than I did in high school when I was forced to read them.”
Joel finished the sonnets and moved on to Shakespeare’s plays.
Juliet called Joel every day.Joel would always go off on his own to take these calls, returning subdued or peevish and fidgety, always seeming younger and shy of touching Reg afterwards.
“Have you told her?”Reg asked him once.
“It’s none of her business.”Joel threw himself into a chair.
“You don’t have to answer your phone whenever she calls.”
“She’ll worry if I don’t.”
“Tell her you’re all right, but you’re busy, and you won’t be answering your phone every day.”
“She’ll still worry.”
