Chapter 3

Phil continued, “So when all the rats infected with the Asian Black Plague came flooding into Europe, what did they find? No cats, amirite? Hence death everywhere. Now, what’s the lesson in that?” Phil glared at me.

The radio answered, “‘Black Cat’ by Janet Jackson!” And it blared out music.

“Damn straight,” Phil said, eminently satisfied.

I was still confused.

After Phil dropped me off with a wave and a trailing, “See ya!” I stood on the corner with my head spinning. He had a point, but I wasn’t sure what it had been. He was sure a funny pastor, which made me chuckle. I wondered if what he’d said about making changes would be something I could do in my own life, and if it would make things better—or worse.

But what was the point there, short term change, long term change. Did they balance each other out? Balance, maybe that was the word I wanted. Phil had said something about balance, but I thought he’d meant the new shocks he’d put on the car.