Free Playing with Matches by Brian Katcher

from her face. “Well, that’s not true. My dad came in from out of town and took me to dinner.”
    Why was she telling me such a bogus story? Her mom wouldn’t have lied to me.
    “You see, Leon, my parents split up last year. It got pretty bad there at the end.” Amy pulled a cigarette pack out of her purse, but it was empty. She threw it onto the floorboard.
    “At any rate, Mom acts like Dad never existed. She won’t talk about him, not even to me. She should have told you I was out with him, but instead she lies to a complete stranger. It really pisses me off sometimes.”
    I fought the urge to drape my arm around her bare shoulders in a friendly gesture. At least she had ditched me for a semilegitimate reason.
    “I’m sorry, Amy.”
    “Nothing to do with you.” Amy stared at the steering wheel, her face blank. “But I’m not as self-centered as you might think. And I really didn’t mean to cancel on you like that.”
    Press the advantage?
“Well, maybe I could give you a call.”
    She shook her head. “Leon, I’m not really dating anyone right now. My parents are still fighting over alimony and visitation, all that crap. You don’t want to get involved.”
    Actually, the idea of an emotionally fragile, needy Amy appealed to me. I pictured her crying with her head in my lap.
Just let it all out, Amy. Just tell Leon all about it.
    With an inner sigh, I returned to reality. “I just meant, if you ever need to talk, give me a ring. I’m a good listener.”
    Amy reached over and hugged me (a sisterly embrace, but still). “Maybe I will.”
    Exit Leon, stage right. I waved as she pulled out of the lot.
    So Amy was my friend. And Melody was my friend. Samantha was my friend (whether she liked it or not). So many girls were my friends. It was like I was a homosexual who still liked women and had no dress sense. Which isn’t like being a homosexual at all, I guess.

    “Hey, Mom, I’m home! Did you…”
    Mom looked up from the novel she was reading. “Have you been smoking, Leon?”
    “No!” Mom’s eyes bore into me. “I, uh, was hanging out with a smoker. That’s probably what you’re smelling.”
    “I see.”
    I opened the fridge door to avoid Mom’s accusing gaze. No one could smell your sins like a mother. It was disturbing.
    “So, Leon,” she continued, in a milder tone, “I got an interesting letter from your school today.”
    I dropped the soda I was grabbing. “It was all Johnny’s idea!” I babbled. “He swore it was water based and would wash right off!”
    “What? I’m talking about the school newsletter. What are you going on about?”
    “Nothing. Newsletter, you say?”
    She scowled at me, then laughed and shook her head. “Yes. So the spring formal is next month, I see.”
    I took a swig of my soda. “So?”
    “I was just thinking that if you’re going, we probably should see about a tux for you.”
    I crushed my can before remembering it wasn’t empty. “Mom, I’m not going.”
    She handed me some paper towels. “You say that every time there’s a dance. Leon, someday you’re going to wish you did more in high school than hang out at the Taco Barn.”
    Mom didn’t understand me at all. She honestly believed I was alone by choice. Of course, I didn’t think she had the slightest idea how unpopular I was when I was in junior high.
    “Mom, drop it. There’s no one for me to take.
No one.
Understand?”
    “Fine.” She smiled. “Oh, Melody called. She said to pick her up at six-thirty this Friday, unless you wanted to have dinner first.” With a smug grin, she returned to her book.

12
    “IF WE SHADOWS HAVE OFFENDED…”
    M elody lived in one of the few remaining agricultural belts in our school district. In other words, way out in the sticks. It wasn’t easy trying to read her directions and drive on the narrow two-lane road at the same time.
    This was not a date. I was picking up a friend to see a show and maybe grab a bite to eat. Just the same as I’d do