“Oh yeah,” he says. “Ramsey. Your parents have been working there a while, huh?” He nods toward the factory again.

“As long as I can remember. So, how’s Barry been?”

“He’s good. Barry’s good. Stays with his mom most of the time. He’s excited about his senior year.” He runs his palm over the spotless dashboard. The truck smells brand-new. “I’m gonna have to get rid of this baby, you know that? Talk about humiliating.” He shakes his head.

“Well, I should get back inside.”

“Hey, how’s Huey doing?”

“I think he’s been better.”

“He’s going through hell.” Barry pauses. “We’re all going through hell around here. If Detroit doesn’t learn how to build a decent car, I bet Blaine’s a ghost town by the time you’re twenty-five.”

Silence. The truck’s engine purrs smoothly. I can feel its heat against my thighs and shins.

“I hope things turn around for you. Tell Barry I said hello.”

“Thanks,” he says and nods. “Hey, you like subs?”

“You mean like the sandwich kind?”

“Yeah.”

“Who doesn’t?”

“There’s a great little place up the road in Ypsi.” He points toward Michigan Avenue. “Best subs you’ve ever tasted. They’re open past midnight, Friday through Sunday. Maybe one night after work I’ll take you up for one. How’s that sound?”

Okay, so my freak detector instantly goes into high alert and I’m thinking to myself, get away from the pedophile. Fast.

“No,” I say, “but thanks anyway.”

I turn and walk back toward the cart, totally grossed out.

“Wait,” he says. “Just hang on a second.”

He shifts to drive, catches up with me at the Dumpster.

“I really have to get back inside, sir.”

I grab the cart, ready to slam it into his door if necessary.

“It’s Barry,” he says, “and don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not a weirdo, okay?”

I stare at the asphalt, both of my hands white-knuckled to the handle of the cart.

He says, “It’s just … I never get to see my son, and you remind me of him. That’s all. I didn’t mean anything weird by it, so don’t go telling your old man I tried to pick you up.”

I refuse to look at him, convinced he’s one of those sick old pervs they catch trying to hook up with middle school students in chat rooms.

“See you around, Ramsey,” he says and drives off.

I push the cart as fast as possible toward the front entrance.

————

I end up faking sick to avoid work for the next week. During the seven days I spend alone in my bedroom, I basically wait for my parents to somehow find out what happened that night. I figure either Brenda will change her mind and go to the police, or she’ll tell Huey and he’ll fire me.