And it is Marcie from junior high school in suburban Cleveland who happens to stop in and happens to see him.

“I didn’t know if it was you. I couldn’t be sure. You look so much older and bigger but of course your red hair…it’s one thing that’s the same. It’s the giveaway,” Marcie gushes with a smile. They exchange pleasantries and catch up. He’s the staff, he’s a barista, he needs to be nice, and why not be nice anyway?

Yes, she has a job in the city, in ad sales for Google, and besides Google headquarters in California, this is really the only place to be.

And the next week it is Marcie and Meghan, clearly not an accidental appearance this time, clearly planned so Meghan can see him too. Meghan who works in publishing and is Marcie’s roommate on the Upper East Side.

And obviously word went out because he soon gets a call from his parents, who he has dutifully resumed talking to every week, now that he has his own cell phone again. “Hey, we heard! And you never said a word about it. You’re working at a GreenGirl? Is that right?”

Oh Jesus.

“Just a couple of shifts, Mom. Just to get me out of the apartment and out of Emily’s hair.” They have heard about Emily. Haven’t met her, are eager to, but don’t want to intrude.

“A GreenGirl,” says his mom.

“Good coffee,” says his dad.

They so obviously are trying not to pass judgment, so obviously trying to let him live his life and not be critical, but it has the reverse effect, making him feel worse about where he is in life.

His dad is a successful contractor with thriving businesses in the suburbs of both Cleveland and Austin. High-end homes. A peerless reputation for construction quality. Moves equally comfortably on the golf courses of exclusive clubs and out on the job with Ukrainian sheet rockers and Irish framers and Nicaraguan painters. A man’s man—who nevertheless reads the latest fiction at night and the latest thinking on Buddhism. An impossible role model.

It’s a prosperous business. One Zack could easily slot into. His dad would never ask or insist but would welcome him completely if he decides that’s what he wants. Which he doesn’t.

His mom is in her third term as mayor of their little town of Moreland Hills. Successful, well loved. Opponents have stopped running against her for the time being. An impossible role model as well.

Only two failings, Zack would argue, and he would also argue that they aren’t really failings at all.