Page 69 - Demo

Ken and Sid exchanged glances, and then looked at Rhonda to say something. Rhonda nodded, confirm- ing she heard Sonny’s explanation. Sonny decided she was worth sharing his company.
Sid said, “Mr. Lindsay said you live at some place for kids with—” Ken poked him in the ribs to make him stop.
“Sid, shut up,” Rhonda said. “Sonny, sit down, please.”
Sonny sat down next to her, looked across the table strewn with food wrappers and cups, and said, “Yeah, shut up, Sid.” Ken burst into laughter and Rhonda joined him, so Sonny laughed along with them, but Sid was not happy about being made fun of and told them he’d wait in the car until they were done. As Sid left, he took out his cell phone.
“He’s an asshole,” Sonny said.
“Yeah,” Ken agreed, “he can be an asshole, but he’s a nice guy. We’re all nice people, Sonny. We probably didn’t give you the best impression of us, but, look, I’m a teacher, Sid’s a dentist and Rhonda’s a dental assistant. We like kids and we work with kids all
the time, but today we were so fixated on shooting and impressing Rhonda with our expert marksman- ship”—he chuckled—“we didn’t think about how hard your job is and that you’re not paid very well and that maybe your boss isn’t very sympathetic to your situation, you know?”
“So is that what you guys were doing?” Rhonda asked Ken. “Trying to impress me?”
“Rhonda, Sid and I both think you’re great, you know? I know you and Sid met first but I would really like the opportunity to get to know you better—just you and I, you know, without the Bermuda Triangle arrangement. That’s all. He may be a better shot, but I’m a better sport.” He turned to Sonny. “And a better tipper, right, Sonny?”
“Yeah,” Sonny said. “You like her?”
“I certainly do,” Ken said.
“Do you like him?” Sonny asked Rhonda.
“That’s none of your business.”
“I told you about the cash box,” Sonny reminded her.
“Yes, you did,” she replied, and smiled at Ken. “I like Ken. As a friend.”
“Sonny looked into the backseat,
feeling the presence of someone there, but it was vacant, except for Rhonda’s neatly folded red sweater.”
(continued on next page)
62