Chapter 17

           IwaswayearlywhenIgotthere,soIjustsatdownononeofthoseleathercouchesrightneartheclockinthelobbyandwatchedthegirls.Alotofschoolswerehomeforvacationalready,andtherewereaboutamilliongirlssittingandstandingaroundwaitingfortheirdatestoshowup.Girlswiththeirlegscrossed,girlswiththeirlegsnotcrossed,girlswithterrificlegs,girlswithlousylegs,girlsthatlookedlikeswellgirls,girlsthatlookedlikethey’dbebitchesifyouknewthem.Itwasreallynicesightseeing,ifyouknowwhatImean.Inaway,itwassortofdepressing,too,becauseyoukeptwonderingwhatthehellwouldhappentoallofthem.Whentheygotoutofschoolandcollege,Imean.Youfiguredmostofthemwouldprobablymarrydopeyguys.Guysthatalwaystalkabouthowmanymilestheygettoagallonintheirgoddamcars.Guysthatgetsoreandchildishashellifyoubeatthematgolf,orevenjustsomestupidgamelikeping-pong.Guysthatareverymean.Guysthatneverreadbooks.Guysthatareveryboring—ButIhavetobecarefulaboutthat.Imeanaboutcallingcertainguysbores.Idon’tunderstandboringguys.Ireallydon’t.WhenIwasatElktonHills,Iroomedforabouttwomonthswiththisboy,HarrisMackim.Hewasveryintelligentandall,buthewasoneofthebiggestboresIevermet.Hehadoneoftheseveryraspyvoices,andheneverstoppedtalking,practically.Heneverstoppedtalking,andwhatwasawfulwas,heneversaidanythingyouwantedtohearinthefirstplace.Buthecoulddoonething.ThesonuvabitchcouldwhistlebetterthananybodyIeverheard.He’dbemakinghisbed,orhangingupstuffinthecloset—hewasalwayshangingupstuffinthecloset—itdrovemecrazy—andhe’dbewhistlingwhilehedidit,ifhewasn’ttalkinginthisraspyvoice.Hecouldevenwhistleclassicalstuff,butmostofthetimehejustwhistledjazz.