Jess Walter

Начало книги

Penguin Books is committed to a sustainable future for our business, our readers and our planet.

The book in your hands is made from paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Poets have to dream, and dreaming in America is no cinch.

—Saul Bellow

CHAPTER I

Another 711

-Here they are again--the bent boys, baked and buzzed boys, wasted, red-eyed, dry-mouth high boys, coursing narrow bright aisles

hunting food as fried as they are, twitchy hands wadding bills they spill

on the counter, so pleased and so

proud, as if they're the very

inventors of stoned-—

And behind the counter, the ever-patient Rahjiv makes half lidded eye contact with me as he rings up another patchouli-foul giggler--It. Reese's Pieces, Pic-6 Lotto, Red Bull and a cheddar jack tacquito--Rahjiv probably thinking: These kids, eh Matt--or maybe not, because Rahjiv doesn't know my name and I don't wear a nametag. I'm just the middle-aged guy who leaves my gunmetal sedan running when I come in after midnight. When I can't sleep. And I've forgotten to get milk at a regular store. Milk for the kids' cereal. In the morning. Before school.

Читать дальше →