Chapter 35

We hadn’t even played any of our favorite big box store games at Cost-Mart, like floor tile hopscotch or freezer door ventriloquism, where we’d open and shut the doors to make it look like they were speaking. There was no bumper carts competition, or even, “P is for Patrick, G is for Goose,” where we’d shout out each other’s names whenever we went by an item that started with the same initial. Instead of Pancake, my nickname could have ended up something like “Pantyhose Patrick!” or “Pickle Pat!” after Goose shouted both loudly enough for everyone in the store to hear one time.

As for the pharmacy, putting in mirrors was Goose’s suggestion.

“I do like to look at myself,” I said, trying to lighten our moods, when we started to unpack the ones we’d bought to affix around the space.

“I like to look at you, too, Patrick O’Hanlon.”

“Not as much as I like looking at you, my little love camel.”