Stupid Fast

Chapter 32: THE MOUND AGAIN




I bought an iPod with my paper route money, and I started carrying my school backpack filled with fruit from Kwik Trip and protein shakes and water bottles, and I’d go up there—and being up there became the best home I ever had. When the weather was good, I’d stay forever. I’d run myself totally out of energy, and I’d sweat and sweat (thankfully, Jerri had purchased a giant jug of laundry detergent in May, so I could clean the pee-stinker clothes) and then drink water and eat and take naps and listen to rap Cody gave me. I’d just relax, breathing, growing my body hair, running like the Road Runner, getting largely muscled (weights helped too), thinking about life and whatnot, but mostly not thinking at all. All the while, I’d look over all three states, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, far below me.

You’re an adult, and this is what you do. Meep meep.

Aleah did take some nights off practicing. She even drove around with me, Cody, and Karpinski a couple times. Karpinski thought she was really hot, which wasn’t surprising. What was surprising? Aleah liked Karpinski. That stunned me.

“Oh my God, he’s funny!” she said.

“Really?”