Page 46 of Cackle

“It was probably a prank,” he says.

“Probably.” I hadn’t considered a prank. If it was a prank, Chris should drop out of school and pursue acting.

“Can’t be worse than Peacoat Bob, though, right?”

Peacoat Bob was the nickname I gave to a kid I had my second year of teaching who wore a black peacoat indoors all year. His name was Tanner Robertson. He was a proud contrarian. A big fan of Ayn Rand. His favorite pastime was trying to make teachers feel stupid by proving his superior intellect.

I’d forgotten all about him.

“Peacoat Bob!” I say.

We chuckle for a moment. I savor it. You never realize how special it is to share a random inside joke until something funny happens and you have no one to tell. Then you realize how much of your life fades away without a witness.

“Hey, do you think you can pay the Internet bill another month? I can transfer you the money. Haven’t had a chance to switch it over yet.”

“Yeah,” I say. “Sure.”

“Cool,” he says. “All right, I just got to the bar. Talk soon?”

“Bar?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought you said you were going to the train.”

“Oh. I must have misspoken. I’m meeting some coworkers.”

“New coworkers?” I know I shouldn’t be asking. I know I should keep my mouth shut. But I can’t help myself.

“No,” he says. “Why?”

“No reason,” I say, making my voice flat, unfeeling. “You never used to hang out with your coworkers.”

“Yeah, well,” he says, “I used to have to be home for dinner.”

I almost ask, What’s that supposed to mean? Except I know what he meant.

“Okay,” I say. “Have fun.”

“Yeah,” he says, sighing. “Bye, Annie. Be good. Jesus loves you.”

I hang up.

I set my phone down on the coffee table and pick up the bottle of wine. I drink until the night goes foggy.

—

I wake up hungover. Late. I don’t bother to shower. A few spritzes of perfume, new clothes. I run out the door with enough time to visit the Good Mug for a latte.

“Same as yesterday?” Oskar asks me.

“Yes, please,” I say. “It was really good.”

“Good enough to be your usual?”

I can’t tell if he’s flirting or just being nice. Neighborly.

I leave a dollar in the tip jar.