‘Come on in,’ Hodges says. ‘I have Cokes. Unless you’d prefer a beer.’
‘Coke’s fine. I bet Odell would appreciate some water. We walked over. Odell doesn’t walk as fast as he used to.’
‘His bowl’s still under the sink.’
They go in and toast each other with icy glasses of Coca-Cola. Odell laps water, then stretches out in his accustomed place beside the TV. Hodges was an obsessive television watcher during the first months of his retirement, but now the box rarely goes on except for Scott Pelley on The CBS Evening News, or the occasional Indians game.
‘How’s the pacemaker, Bill?’
‘I don’t even know it’s there. Which is just the way I like it. What happened to the big country club dance you were going to in Pittsburgh with what’s-her-name?’
‘That didn’t work out. As far as my parents are concerned, what’s-her-name and I discovered that we are not compatible in terms of our academic and personal interests.’
Hodges raises his eyebrows. ‘Sounds a tad lawyerly for a philosophy major with a minor in ancient cultures.’
Jerome sips his Coke, sprawls his long legs out, and grins. ‘Truth? What’s-her-name – aka Priscilla – was using me to tweak the jealous-bone of her high school boyfriend. And it worked. Told me how sorry she was to get me down there on false pretenses, hopes we can still be friends, so on and so forth. A little embarrassing, but probably all for the best.’ He pauses. ‘She still has all her Barbies and Bratz on a shelf in her room, and I must admit that gave me pause. I guess I wouldn’t mind too much if my folks found out I was the stick she stirred her pot of love-soup with, but if you tell the Barbster, I’ll never hear the end of it.’
‘Mum’s the word,’ Hodges says. ‘So what now? Back to Massachusetts?’
‘Nope, I’m here for the summer. Got a job down on the docks swinging containers.’
‘That is not work for a Harvard man, Jerome.’
‘It is for this one. I got my heavy equipment license last winter, the pay is excellent, and Harvard ain’t cheap, even with a partial scholarship.’ Tyrone Feelgood Delight makes a mercifully brief guest appearance. ‘Dis here black boy goan tote dat barge an’ lift dat bale, Massa Hodges!’ Then back to Jerome, just like that. ‘Who’s mowing your lawn? It looks pretty good. Not Jerome Robinson quality, but pretty good.’
‘Kid from the end of the block,’ Hodges says. ‘Is this just a courtesy call, or …?’
‘Barbara and her friend Tina told me one hell of a story,’ Jerome says. ‘Tina was reluctant to spill it at first, but Barbs talked her into it. She’s good at stuff like that. Listen, you know Tina’s father was hurt in the City Center thing, right?’
‘Yes.’
‘If her big brother was really the one sending cash to keep the fam afloat, good for him … but where did it come from? I can’t figure that one out no matter how hard I try.’
‘Nor can I.’
‘Tina says you’re going to ask him.’
‘After school tomorrow, is the plan.’
‘Is Holly involved?’
‘To an extent. She’s doing background.’
‘Cool!’ Jerome grins big. ‘How about I come with you tomorrow? Get the band back together, man! Play all the hits!’
Hodges considers. ‘I don’t know, Jerome. One guy – a golden oldie like me – might not upset young Mr Saubers too much. Two guys, though, especially when one of them’s a badass black dude who stands six-four—’
‘Fifteen rounds and I’m still pretty!’ Jerome proclaims, waving clasped hands over his head. Odell lays back his ears. ‘Still pretty! That bad ole bear Sonny Liston never touched me! I float like a butterfly, I sting like a …’ He assesses Hodges’s patient expression. ‘Okay, sorry, sometimes I get carried away. Where are you going to wait for him?’
‘Out front was the plan. You know, where the kids actually exit the building?’
‘Not all of them come out that way, and he might not, especially if Tina lets on she talked to you.’ He sees Hodges about to speak and raises a hand. ‘She says she won’t, but big brothers know little sisters, you can take that from a guy who’s got one. If he knows somebody wants to ask him questions, he’s apt to go out the back and cut across the football field to Westfield Street. I could park there, give you a call if I see him.’
‘Do you know what he looks like?’
‘Uh-huh, Tina had a picture in her wallet. Let me be a part of this, Bill. Barbie likes that chick. I liked her too. And it took guts for her to come to you, even with my sister snapping the whip.’
‘I know.’
‘Also, I’m curious as hell. Tina says the money started coming when her bro was only thirteen. A kid that young with access to that much money …’ Jerome shakes his head. ‘I’m not surprised he’s in trouble.’
‘Me, either. I guess if you want to be in, you’re in.’
‘My man!’
This cry necessitates another fist-bump.