Chapter 7
Whatsa Matta?
The next day, Mush was very detached. He avoided talking to Olivia and the rest of his friends. Kid approached him about it while they were selling papers in Central Park.
"Hey Mushy…is dere anything you wanna talk about?" he asked when Oliver was out of earshot.
Mush looked down at his papes. "No, why?"
Kid shrugged. "You been kinda distant and not yaself lately. Whatsa matta? Ya sick or somethin?"
"I'm fine…really," he replied, shaking his head.
"Listen, Mush, I ain't gonna let up till ya tell me what's goin on," Kid said, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"No, you listen to me," Mush said, pushing Kid's hand away angrily. "You'se always meddlin in me business. Why can't you fellas leave me alone once in a while, huh?"
Kid was taken aback. "I'm just consoined aboutcha, kid. We all are. Ya ain't been yaself and we wanna know why."
Mush sighed and stepped back a few steps. "Maybe I'se in love wid someone I can't be in love wid," he muttered, throwing the few papers he had left on the ground as he trudged away.
* * * * *
"And den he says, 'Maybe I'se in love wid someone I can't be in love wid!'," Kid Blink told Jack and Racetrack. They were discussing the problem with Mush over dinner at Tibby's. "Can ya'se believe dat?!" he exclaimed.
Jack sighed in exasperation. "Who's he in love wit?"
"Maybe he ain't in love at all, maybe he just said dat ta throw us," Race shrugged.
"No," Jack shook his head. "Mush don't lie. At least he neva has."
Racetrack tried to make sense of it, his mind always looking for a solution even when he wasn't playing cards. "He been seein any goils lately?" he asked Kid.
"None dat I know of," he replied. "You could ask dat Oliver, he been spendin more time wit him den me." Kid sounded almost jealous. "He barely says two woids to me, but he'll be chattin away wid dat Oliver. It makes me wondah…"
Jack looked at his friends questioningly. "You don't think…" he started to ask, his voice low.
Racetrack shook his head firmly. "Nah…"
