Chapter 9

I want to shrivel up and die because of the awkward scene. Instead, I quickly stand, drop money on the table for the salad, and bolt after him. Don’t look back. I won’tlook back.

* * * *

One block away from Salad Tyme, I call out, “Jamie, that wasn’t very nice back there!”

He’s about ten feet in front of me, heading to my apartment on Lotus Avenue. He’s half running and half walking, pissed.

Thunder sounds overhead. A lightning bolt skies across the heavens near the lake. Rain begins to spit down from the darkening clouds.

He cocks his head over his right shoulder and yells, “That guy is an ignorant fuck!”

I want to disagree with Jamie, but it will only make the situation worse. Sometimes, it’s better to keep quiet about such issues, just to subdue a person from erupting even more than they already have.