Michael always answered first.
One afternoon, we had stayed to go to the movies.
He arrived twenty minutes late.
I crossed my arms. “You have forgotten.”
"No." He pointed to the gas station across the street. “Mrs. Donnelly had left the keys inside the car.”
I Sighed. "You helped her."
“He was melting the ice cream.”
"You missed the trailers."
He smiled. “They’ll make more movies.”
I tried not to laugh.
I didn't get it.
That was Michael. I honestly believed that anyone who was having a bad day deserved their full attention.
Sometimes he would make me crazy. Most of the time, I made me want it even more.
***
The night of the prom came with such a pleasant temperature that no one needed a jacket.
My mother cried while she was picking up my hair. My father pretended not to be excited, until he mistakenly called Michael a “son.”
