Free Lights Out by Jason Starr Page B

shifting back toward the TV.
    Christina leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek.
    ‘Don’t wait up for me, Daddy.’
    Christina and Ryan were heading toward the door when Al said, ‘Hey, Ryan.’
    ‘Yeah?’ Ryan stopped but didn’t look back.
    ‘You still paint houses, right?’
    ‘Right,’ Ryan said extending the /sound, as if saying,
Yeah, and what’s it to you?
    ‘My cousin Arnie’s finishing his basement and’s lookin’ for a painter,’ Al said. ‘You interested?’
    ‘Tell him to call my boss,’ Ryan said.
    ‘What’s the name of your company again?’
    ‘Pay-Less Painting. It’s in the book.’
    Ryan and Christina left the house. The late-afternoon sun was bright in Ryan’s eyes, making him squint.
    ‘Where’re you parked?’
    Ryan jutted his chin toward his car up the block, but didn’t say anything.
    Ryan went around to the driver-side door and let himself in. Christina opened her own door, making a face because Ryan hadn’t let her into the car first.
    ‘Sorry,’ Ryan said.
    Christina sat down, still looking pissed off, as Ryan started the engine. They pulled out of the spot and drove up the block in silence.
    ‘What’s wrong?’ Christina asked.
    ‘Nothing.’ Ryan turned onto Avenue M.
    After a few more seconds o silence, Christina said, ‘You’re not still upset about—’
    ‘No,’ Ryan said quickly.
    ‘You’re sure? Because I swear it really doesn’t bother me. I mean, I know how much pressure you’re under and—’
    ‘I’m just sick of your fucking father dissing me all the time.’
    ‘He wasn’t dissing you.’
    ‘See? That’s why I can’t tell you what’s wrong. ‘Cause you always get like this - defending him.’
    ‘But he didn’t do anything wrong.’ ‘How about all that housepainter bullshit? He disses me like that every time I’m over your house.’
    ‘He was just offering you business.’
    ‘Bullshit. He knows I don’t own the fucking company. He was just looking for a chance to get a couple licks in.’
    ‘Licks in about what?’
    ‘My baseball career falling apart. He thinks it’s a big joke, saying, “You still paint houses, right?” with that big smirk on his face.’
    ‘I don’t think you’re being fair.’
    Ryan rolled his eyes, then shook his hear and bit down on his lower lip in frustration. He should’ve known better than to talk negatively about Al to Christina. Although the guy was a lazy bum and was obviously using Christina for the money she pitched in for bills and to clean up after him like a fucking maid, she couldn’t see any fault in him.
    Ryan slowed at the stop sign. A bunch of kids in do-rags passed in front of the car. One of the kids glared through the windshield at Ryan and Christina. Then he said something to his friends and all of the kids laughed, looking back toward Ryan’s car.
    Ryan hit the gas and drove on.
    ‘I’m so sick of this,’ Christina said.
    ‘You started it, not me,’ Ryan said.
    ‘I mean all these gangs - not being able to go out at night. You know a lady on my block was raped in her own house last week? I didn’t wanna tell you about it ‘cause I was afraid you might get worried about me. It was one of those home invasions. Two guys just broke into the house, raped her, and stole everything. It’s so scary - I can’t wait to get out of Canarsie.’
    ‘You can’t run away,’ Ryan said.
    ‘What’re you talking about?’ Christina said. ‘You said you wanna move to Long Island or Jersey. . . . Now you wanna stay?’
    ‘I didn’t say that.’
    ‘Then what’re you saying?’
    ‘I didn’t say anything.’
    Ryan hit the brake at another stop sign and Christina, not wearing her seat belt, jerked forward. She gave Ryan a look, then put on her belt as Ryan drove on.
    ‘You know, you don’t have to be ashamed of what you do,’ Christina said.
    ‘Who said I’m ashamed?’
    ‘I didn’t mean
ashamed
I just.. . I mean, it’s not your fault that you can’t play baseball