Page 104 of See Me

“What?” I open my hands, palms up.

He rolls his eyes. “It’s a reading device. You can download an app right on your phone too. I just need the bigger device cause my eyes ain’t so good anymore.”

“You read? Hmm. So, you can read whole books right on your phone?” I pull my phone out and scroll dumbfounded. I wouldn’t even know where to start.

“That right there is why I’m not taking the job. You need to learn this shit, kid.”

“Why?” I drop my phone to the desk. “I was doing fine withoutit.”

“Oh, were you? Were you fine? You don’t know this shit because you’re either in this office or beating the bag.”

I click on the little blue square and a website comes up requesting a password. “I don’t see how that’s an issue.”

“Is that all you want? If it is, then by all means… continue.”

“What else do I need?” The question comes out rhetorical, but my gut clenches at the thought of himnotanswering it.

Throw me a bone, Coach.

Spell it out for me.

I retrieve the sheet of passwords out of the drawer and type in the one labeledbanking.

Meathead101… bastard.

“You happy with the way things are?” He asks, eyes boring a hole in the side of my head.

“For now.” I scroll through pages of transactions, acclimating myself to this foreign world I should already have immersed myself in.

“Then we’re done talking, ain’t we?” He snaps his paper back into place and leaves the words hanging.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my pants, the weight subsiding from a conversation that should happen, one I want to happen, but relieved it didn’t at the same time. His words still linger in my head.

That girl is nothing but light.

Translation…You’re not.

Enzo slides in the room, almost knocking Benny off his chair. He rolls his eyes, purses his lips,just like Gram, and snaps his paper back into place.

“Hey. I just wanted to give you this before I left.” He drops a package on my desk wrapped in cartoon boobs.

“What? I thought you weren’t leaving until the day after Christmas?”

“My present to myself is a few days in Vegas, alone. Well, hopefully notallalone, but you know what I mean.”

I eye the package. “I don’t even want to know what that is.”

“It’s nothing bad, promise.” He holds up two fingers,scout’s honor.

I peel back the most ridiculous wrapping paper I’ve ever seen and toss it straight in the trash. Inside the box sits a new leather wallet.

Surprised at the gift, and expecting something ridiculous, or offensive, I turn it over and nod in approval. “Thanks, man. That’s really nice.”

He grins. “Open it.”

And… there it is.

I knew this was too good to be true. I find a picture of Enzo, shirtless, riding a moose, which earns him an eye roll, and several gift cards for…Hibachi.

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