Американские боги
Chapter 8
BytheendofAugusthewasswimminglengthafterlengthinaneasycrawl,divingfromthehighboard,ripeningtoadeepbrownfromthesunandthewater.InSeptember,hehadreturnedtoschooltodiscoverthattheboyswhohadmadehimmiserableweresmall,softthingsnolongercapableofupsettinghim.Thetwowhotrieditweretaughtbettermanners,hardandfastandpainfully,andShadowfoundthathehadredefinedhimself:hecouldnolongerbeaquietkid,doinghisbesttoremainunobtrusivelyatthebackofthings.Hewastoobigforthat,tooobvious.Bytheendoftheyearhewasontheswimmingteamandontheweight-liftingteam,andthecoachwascourtinghimforthetriathlonteam.Helikedbeingbigandstrong.Itgavehimanidentity.He’dbeenashy,quiet,bookishkid,andthathadbeenpainful;nowhewasabigdumbguy,andnobodyexpectedhimtobeabletodoanythingmorethanmoveasofaintothenextroomonhisown.
NobodyuntilLaura,anyway.
Mr.Ibishadprepareddinner:riceandboiledgreensforhimselfandMr.Jacquel."Iamnotameateater,"heexplained,"whileJacquelgetsallthemeatheneedsinthecourseofhiswork."BesideShadow’splacewasacartonofchickenpiecesfromKFC,andabottleofbeer.
TherewasmorechickenthanShadowcouldeat,andhesharedtheleftoverswiththecat,removingtheskinandcrustycoatingthenshreddingthemeatforherwithhisfingers.
