Cruel Comix was small, but it had everything we love. Independent comics and lots of manga, older editions and collections. It also had good board games, new and used, and some toys. I’m not a comic book expert. You know way more than I do, but I think even you would be impressed.

Rigmor’s brother, Nils, was helping a customer when we came in. Nils looks like Rigmor, but he’s older, maybe nineteen or twenty, and his white hair is shorter, and he has glasses and a thin neck, and he looks like he should manage a comic-book store.

There were a few customers in the store—older guys, mostly, some with beards and some wearing all black clothes. Finally, some people in Stony Butte who didn’t look like they mountain biked and ran and skydived every single day. These guys looked like they knew their way around a game console, which I found relaxing.

Nils didn’t say anything to us until his customers left and it was just the three of us in the little store, which was crammed full of stuff, but in a good way.

“Rigs,” he said. “How was your day?”

“My day was fine. His day, not so much,” she said, pointing at me.

I felt my eyes bug out. What was she doing?

“Oh yeah?” said Nils. “What happened?” Nils is very pale, and he looks like he makes a point of staying up late.

“Some stuff at school,” said Rigmor. “It reminded me of you.”

I didn’t like where the conversation was going even though I didn’t completely understand what she was talking about.

“Oh, sorry,” Rigmor said, noticing my face. “I forgot to introduce you. Rodney, this is my brother, Nils. Nils, Rodney.”

Nils held his long, skinny hand out for me to shake across the counter.

“So what’s going on? With the bad day? Or maybe you don’t want to talk about it?” said Nils. “I can just give you a tour of the store.”

“His dad is J. Crederman,” said Rigmor.

WHAT WAS SHE TRYING TO DO TO ME?

I stared at her. Maybe this was all some big setup and she was just as mean as Macii. I should have gone straight home.

“Oh.” Nils’ voice was all worried, like she just told him I was not toilet trained or something.

“And, of course, Macii had to tell everyone. Rodney just moved here.”

“I see,” said Nils. He adjusted his glasses, which were big and a little smudged.