Hear the Wind Sing

29

In just one week, the Rat’s condition worsened. Partially due to the onset of autumn, probably also due to some girl. The Rat didn’t breathe a word about any of it.

When the Rat wasn’t around, I grabbed J and tried to shake him down for a little information.

“Hey, what’s up with the Rat?”

“Well, you know as much as I do. It’s just because it’s the end of the summer.”

With the start of autumn, the Rat’s spirits always fell. He’d sit at the counter and stare at some book, holding up his end of our conversation only with oneword answers. When the evening came and that cool wind blew, and the smell of fall could be felt, the Rat stopped drinking beer and started gulping down bourbon, feeding limitless amounts of coins into the jukebox and kicking the pinball machine until the TILT light lit up and J got flustered.

“He probably feels like he’s being left behind. You know how that feels,” said J.

“Yeah?”

“Everyone’s leaving. Going back to school, going back to work. Aren’t you headed back yourself?”

“Yeah.”

“So you know what I mean.”

I nodded. “And the girl?”

“It’s been awhile, so I don’t remember so well.”

“Did something happen between them?”

“Who knows?”

J mumbled something and went back to his work. I didn’t press the issue any further. I went over to the jukebox, put some change in it, picked a few songs, then went back to the counter to drink beer. Ten minutes later, J came back over and stood in front of me.

“Hey, the Rat really didn’t say anything to you?”

“Nope.”

“Weird.”

“You think so?”

He kept polishing the glass in his hand as he thought it over.

“He really seemed like he wanted to talk to you about it.”

“So why didn’t he?”

“It’s hard for him. He feels like you’ll give him a hard time.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“It just seems that way. He’s felt that way for a long time. He’s a real easy-going kid, but when it comes to you, there’s something there…I’m not saying anything bad about you or anything.”

“I know that.”

“Anyway, I’ve got twenty years on you, and in that time I’ve seen quite a bit. ‘Cause of that, this is, well, it’s just…”

“You’re worried.”

“Yeah.”

I laughed and drank my beer.

“I’ll try and talk to him.”

“I think that’d be good.”

J put out his cigarette and went back to work. I got up from my seat and went to the washroom, washed my hands, and looked at my face lit up in the mirror. Then I went back and spaced out as I drank another beer.