Bright Lights, Dark Nights

Free Bright Lights, Dark Nights by Stephen Emond

Book: Bright Lights, Dark Nights by Stephen Emond Read Free Book Online
Authors: Stephen Emond
girl—yeah, they’re cute, but I like someone who’s a little quirky, who maybe I can click with in a way that not everyone else in the world does. Does that make sense?”
    â€œI’ll give you that one,” Naomi said as we circled back to the front of the building. “Hey, listen, I should get inside. But about that kissing question—”
    â€œNo, don’t,” I said. “Forget it. I didn’t mean to make things weird. I don’t even know what I was—”
    â€œNo, I made it weird. It was a knee-jerk reaction,” Naomi said, fiddling with her pocketbook strings. “I like to be up front and real, and I don’t want to leave it like that. I didn’t mean to sound rude or anything, and I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings. But between you and those guys at the concert, I guess it’s just my night or something.”
    â€œThose guys were lame,” I said. “You can’t group me in with them. Where are they? I’m gonna kick their—”
    â€œI’m just embarrassed—that’s all,” Naomi said. “I’ve never really kissed a boy or anything like that, and I don’t think you’re supposed to really ask—”
    I scooped her toward me, my heart beating like it took up my entire chest. I leaned in and kissed her on the lips, closed mouth, but held it for a second. I didn’t know if that was the right move or what, but I wanted to hold her closer and longer.
    â€œI have one question left,” I said as I let her go.
    â€œOkay…” Naomi said, laughing at the discomfort of it all. She looked back at the door, probably hoping no one in her family was around. I was looking at my feet but made a point to look up.
    Her eyes were reflecting the streetlights behind me.
    â€œDid you have fun?” I asked.
    She nodded. “That’s an easy one. Good night, Walter,” Naomi said, walking backward as if she were drunk, still in a silly mood. “Thanks for taking me.”
    I stood in place and watched Naomi go inside. I watched the door close, jealous I wasn’t on the other side of it. I felt light on my feet but glued to that one spot. The moon was close to full and the streetlights were bright, and it felt like the middle of the day, like the fireworks at Disney World. I spun away from Naomi’s and started to walk home, almost as if I were drunk, too. I smiled and waved to a passing couple. I smiled at everyone I passed on the walk back home.

    *   *   *
    I got home to find Dad consoling Rosie on the couch, a box of tissues on the coffee table. She blew her nose into one of the tissues.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” I asked, closing the door behind me.
    â€œHey, Walter, leave us alone for a minute, would you?” Dad said.
    Rosie shook her head. “No, maybe he can help. It was a teenager, I think,” Rosie said. Her makeup was running from the crying.
    â€œGood, that’s good. It was a kid,” Dad said. He had his hand on her back, sitting right beside her on the couch, hunched in. “Was he black?” he asked. “I’ve heard things, some black kids doing this.”
    â€œI think so,” Rosie said, nodding. I took off my coat and sat down in the chair beside the couch. On the other side of Rosie, I could see her face was bruised—she’d been hit or something.
    â€œYou think so?” Dad asked. “You didn’t see what color he was? Sorry, that was rude. Take your time.”
    â€œHe was black,” Rosie said. “He had a hat, too, red hat.” She took another tissue from the box and blew her nose again.
    â€œWalter, get something for Rosie’s eye,” Dad said. “Get an ice pack and a cloth.” Then to Rosie, “So go over this one more time for me.”
    â€œI went to bed early, a little after nine,” I heard Rosie say as I went into the kitchen. “Long day. So

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