Handed Down
#10 Unready
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"Look, I know you don't want them. Mom said I had to bring them over. Just take them," Jake argues.
Marco looks down at the box of clothing Jake's outgrown as if he expects Jake to reveal it's all a really unfunny joke. Finally, he looks up at Jake and cocks an eyebrow.
"Mom said you don't take them, they're going to Goodwill. She figured you'd want first dibs on the good stuff. I mean, there are some nice t-shirts in there. I don't always dress like a dweeb."
Marco laughs at that for a moment, then scoots the box with his foot into the hallway. "Jake, when you're not dressing like a dweeb you're dressing like a dork. Now can you get these out of here?"
Jake sighs. "Mom says we need to look good for our first year of middle school, and you know, with your dad…"
Marco gives Jake that silencing look that says he knows exactly what Jake means and just doesn't need hear it. He breathes deeply, then grabs the cardboard box by the edge and drags it back into the living room. Jake exhales in relief that this isn't going to turn into some really awkward moment with tears or yelling – not that Marco ever does that, but Jake always worries, just a little, when this sort of thing comes up. It's been less than a year and he's been trying not to make it obvious he's treating Marco with kid gloves, trying to figure out if Marco needs them. He turns to leave, giving a little wave.
"Jake?" Marco calls.
"Yeah?"
"What, what, what am I going to do with a Phil Collins t-shirt?"