Glass (Crank 2)

I have to admit some part of me really enjoyed Brad’s

kiss. Maybe I’m turning into a pervert. [Join the club!]

Now Brad hands me a present, small and cheerful

in its shiny purple foil wrapper. Inside is a music box,

handcrafted of cherrywood, intricately inlaid with gold

leaf hearts. It plays “Für Elise,” my favorite Beethoven.

My eyes lock with his, and what I find glittering

there makes me slightly uncomfortable. “Thank you.

It’s beautiful. How did you know I love this song?”

Brad shrugs. It reminded me of you. He unhooks his eyes

from mine, and his looking away draws a tinge of regret.

Trey clears his throat. Don’t you want my present?

“You mean there’s more?” I smile. “Of course I do.”

He hands me a plain brown sack. Sorry. Didn’t have time

to wrap it. Inside is a pipe—blown glass, milky blue swirls.

Luckily, the girls are distracted by toys. I drop the pipe

back in the bag. “Maybe we should break this in?”

Trey looks at Brad. What time are we supposed to be at

your mom’s for dinner? I probably shouldn’t smoke first.

I glance back and forth between Trey and Brad. “You’re going

somewhere for dinner?” [Well, duh. Isn’t that what families do?]

Brad nods. Uh-huh. My mom always does Christmas dinner for

the entire family. We’re supposed to get there around one.

I look at Trey, waiting for an invitation to join them. But he

just says, I hope she made pecan pie. I love that shit.

I Keep Waiting

But it’s almost noon, and still

no invitation. We go upstairs

so Trey can put on a button-up

shirt. Finally, I get brave enough