Then they turned and walked off fast. Brandon waited until they were gone. Then he crouched down and started picking up the kid’s books.
One of them was a library book on engines. Same sticker on the spine he used to carry himself. Yours? Yes, sir.
Brandon handed it back. The kid stared at him. His hands were shaking. His voice was barely a whisper. Why’d you help me?
Brandon set the books on the backpack. He knelt down eye level with the kid. He said it quietly. Three words. We don’t forget.
The kid didn’t understand yet. But Brandon could see him filing the words away somewhere safe. He’d understand one day.
Brandon reached into his back pocket, pulled out a business card from the shop, handed it over. You like engines? The kid nodded.
Come by on Saturday, 8:00 in the morning. Bring that library book. I’ll teach you. The kid took the card with both hands like it was made of glass. Yes, sir.
Brandon, not sir. Yes. Brandon.
The kid hoisted his backpack and started walking the other way. After 10 steps, he looked back. Brandon was still there.
Brandon nodded once. The kid nodded back. Then he ran.
Brandon walked the long way back to the shop. Late afternoon light across the rooftops. He passed the old Sunoco station on 5th Street.
Different owner now. Fresh blue paint over the wall. But underneath the new coat, if you knew where to look, you could still see the faint outline of a winged motorcycle wheel and a name half eaten by sun.
Brandon didn’t look. He didn’t need to. Through the front window of the garage, Maylene was at the counter with a customer writing in her ledger.
She glanced up, saw him, lifted her hand. He lifted his hand back. And he kept walking home.
