4

 

        We didn’t become instant friends.

        I’m not sure we became friends at all.

        But nodding acquaintances fits since we nodded at each other whenever we happened to be in the same place. And that was often.

        I ran into him almost everywhere and at the oddest moments, he was always in a hurry to go somewhere else as if someone was always chasing him, which I learned was generally the case.
        Then one afternoon, he popped out from under a parked car as I walked by.

        He looked dirtier than usual, his jeans, t-shirt even his hair bearing streaks of grease.

        Smaller than I remember, he looked like some naughty kid half my age, though I learned later, he was as old as I was.

        “What are you doing under there?” I asked.

        “What do you think I’m doing?”

        “Fixing your car.”

        “I ain’t fixing nothing and this ain’t my car. I’m collecting parts to sell to a chop shop downtown on Straight Street.”

        “you mean you’re stealing the parts?”

        “Shush, will you,” Puck said, sliding the rest of the way out from under the car. He took his time climbing to his feet as he glanced this way then that. “You shout like that and I’ll have the cops all over me. – and I’m in no mood for their grief today.”

        “I didn’t mean to shout,” I said. “I just never figured people stole so – well, openly.”

        “How did you figure we did it – at the stroke of midnight?”

        “Sort of.”

        “You’re a pussy.”

        “What?”

        “You heard me.”

        “Are you trying to start a fight?”

        “Maybe,” he said. “You ought to be afraid of me, you know. I’m dangerous.”

        “You don’t look dangerous.”

        “Well, I am. And I think I look it.”

        “You just look dirty to me.”

        “There you go with that shit again. You’re really starting to piss me off.”

        “I don’t mean to.”

        “You don’t mean a lot, do you?” Puck said advancing towards me.

        “Please, I don’t want to fight.”

        “Why not,” Puck said. “Didn’t anybody ever make you fight before?”

        “Sometimes at school.”

        “And what do you do about it?”

        “I made them stop.”

        Puck frowned. “I don’t get you.”

        “Let’s not talk about it,” I said. “I’m more interested in the car.”

        “You like cars?” Puck asked.”

        “Sure.”

        “Ever drive one?”

        “Sometimes.”

        “You’re full of shit – you’re too young.”

        “I’m 16.”

        “In this state you need to be 17 to drive legal.”

        “My uncle lets me drive his GTO.”

        “GTO? Now I know you’re full of it.”

        “No, really. He just bought the car a few months ago.”

        “This I’ve got to see. Go get it.”

        “I can’t,” I said.

        “I knew you were full of shit.”

        “I mean I’m only allowed to drive it when my uncle is around.”

        “And he’s not around? How convenient.”

        “He’ll be back later after he’s done with work. I can drive it passed here then.”

        “Okay, I’ll be here, but if I’m standing her for nothing and you don’t show up. I’ll really be peeved, you hear me?”