Free Picture Not Perfect by Lois Lavrisa Page B

should decline the invitation to join. With us being new in town, we didn’t want to come on too strong. Maybe next year. Unless, of course, we move to our chalet in France.” She ran a long finger along the glass display case. Her eyes were wide as she gazed inside.
    “Can I get you something?” She looked thinner than when I first met her a few weeks ago. She said she'd transferred here from some private boarding school in Maine.
    “Our chef is off tonight, and I am such a mess in the kitchen. You know having had servants, it’s so hard to even figure out how to make something as simple as a sandwich. I’m all thumbs.” She gave me a weak smile.
    “Hey, I’ve got a sandwich in the fridge. Why don’t you just take it?” I said.
    “Oh, no. You don’t have to give my anything. I can pay for it.” She dug into her purse. “Rats. I must have left my wallet at home.”
    I reached into the fridge, took out my bagged dinner, and handed it to her. “Please take this, I insist. Are you okay?”
    “Huh?”
    “You are just getting so thin.”
    “Yes.” She twisted a piece of her hair. “You can’t be too skinny or too rich.”
    “I think you look perfect the way you are. You don’t have to go on a diet.”
    “I’m not on a diet.” She clutched the white paper bag. “Thank you. I’ll get you the money as soon as I can.”
    “No, I won’t take it. Plus, it’s my free meal.” I decided it was now or never. “Listen, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been meaning to ask you, what are you doing this weekend?”
    “Not sure.”
    “Are you busy Saturday night?” I asked. My words felt thick and stuck like peanut butter in my throat.
    She cocked her head to the side. Her eyes slit. “Why?”
    “This is super short notice and all, and I would have asked sooner, but I’ve been saving up and…well… what I’m trying to say is, would you like to go to prom with me?”
    Her eyebrows raised and her mouth opened.
    Shoot. That was not the response I wanted.  She did not look happy.  Was she mad that I dared ask? Or was she just surprised? “I mean, I know I’ve only known you a few weeks, but this is senior prom. And I would love to take you.”
    “No. I mean, I can’t go. I have to go now. Really, I am so sorry.” With that, Gabrielle turned on her heels and went out the front door.
    What happened? Did I push too hard? Maybe she was breaking up with me. I wished I could call her, but she didn’t have a cell phone. She said her dad was getting her a new smart phone, but it was on order.
    I let out a big sigh, my feet feeling like lead. Maybe, if I kept myself busy cleaning, I could forget about being shot down by my girlfriend. I wiped the white Formica tables and turned the black wrought iron chairs upside down on them, then got the mop out of the cleaning closet. All the while, I thought about Gabrielle.
    By the time I finished mopping, it was time to lock up.
    My girlfriend turned me down for prom and I was broke and hungry.
    And I had to wear a stupid paper cap. Life sucked.
    As I walked toward the door, my eye caught a patch of red on the poster wall. Red wall paint I shouldn’t be able to see.
    Something was missing.
    Then I knew what was gone.
    A twelve by twelve inch shadowbox, which held an original signed script from a famous motion picture, as well as a five by six inch black and white picture of Leonardo’s great grandfather with the two original founders.
     
     
     

Chapter Two
     
    By the time the police completed taking my statement, it was almost midnight. Stanley Leonardo, the owner, had been called to the store as well. The police wanted to see if they could get videotape from the surveillance camera.
    “The security camera broke down last week.” Stanley scratched his head. His glasses slipped down his long skinny nose as his salt and pepper hair fell on his face.
    “I’m so sorry about all of this,” I said to Mr. Leonardo as the police walked around the store.
    “That was