Free It's. Nice. Outside. by Jim Kokoris Page A

Nice. Outside.”
    I opened my menu. “Yes,” I said petulantly, “I suppose.”
    â€œNice! Outside!”
    I closed my menu, glared at him. “Okay, fine, okay, it’s nice outside, whatever. It’s perfect. Now, just drink your water and please try to be quiet. I need to think.”
    â€œWhy. Mad?”
    â€œI’m not mad.”
    Ethan eyed me suspiciously. Anger always fascinated him. Though he frequently misread it, confused it with other emotions, he liked to explore its root cause, which, more often than not, was him. “Why. Mad?”
    I took a deep breath. “I’m not mad. I’m worried. It’s not your fault. I’m worried about Karen. And your mom is upset with me. Why, I don’t know. Your mom is something else sometimes. She just…”
    He searched me with his big brown eyes.
    â€œListen, I’m not mad at you. I love you.” I reached out and patted him on the top of his hand.
    â€œShut. Up. Idiot.”
    I opened my menu again. “Let’s just eat, okay?”
    We had just finished ordering when my phone went off.
    â€œDad, where are you?”
    Mindy. Another problem orbiting my cluttered universe. “Oh, it’s you.”
    â€œMom says you’re only in Kentucky.”
    â€œMom says you’re only in New York.”
    We didn’t say anything.
    â€œWhy are you only in New York?” I asked.
    â€œWhy are you only in Kentucky?”
    â€œI’m closer to South Carolina than you are,” I said.
    â€œI don’t know about that, Dad. I just checked Google Maps and, technically , if I stand at the southernmost point of my apartment and lean—”
    â€œMindy! Just get down there. Things are hard enough.”
    There was another silence.
    â€œSo how is he?” she asked. “How’s he doing?”
    I glanced up. The “he” in question was now absorbed by his nails. “Busy.”
    â€œWhat’s he doing?”
    â€œHe’s doing a crossword puzzle. Here, talk to him.”
    Ethan looked up from his fingers, surprised, and took the phone after I thrust it at him. “Hi!” He listened intently, his eyes narrow in apparent thought. Then he said, “Shut. Up. Idiot,” and handed the phone right back to me.
    â€œAlways good catching up with him,” Mindy said.
    I took a swallow of coffee, wished it were stronger. “So, what’s going on with your big sister? What’s this about some kind of fight?”
    â€œNo idea what’s going on.”
    â€œNothing?”
    â€œNothing.”
    I took another gulp of coffee. “When are you coming down?”
    â€œSoon.”
    â€œHow soon?
    â€œI’m trying to figure out my travel.”
    â€œMindy, please just book a flight! You’re not going to another planet. You’re going to South Carolina.”
    â€œThat’s another planet, Dad.”
    â€œThey picked this date around your schedule. Do you remember that? They waited until you were off for the summer so you could attend.”
    â€œI never asked them to do that. Besides, she doesn’t even want me there. She’d just be embarrassed if I weren’t there.”
    The waitress placed our orange juice down on the table, and Ethan attacked his glass.
    â€œYou’re her sister. Her younger sister, and you should be there. And don’t come empty-handed. Make sure to bring something. A wedding gift. Buy something.”
    â€œI hope she’s registered at Newark Airport, because that’s where I’m flying out of.”
    â€œMindy.” I shook my head and pried Ethan’s juice away from him. It was a huge glass, and he was draining it fast. “You know, I have it hard enough.”
    Mindy was quiet. “How’s he been?”
    â€œYesterday was bad.”
    â€œHow bad?” Her voice changed, softened. When it came to Ethan, we usually circled the wagons.
    â€œBad. He just