I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Deadly. Enjoy!

Normally Darry was tensed up and worried about bills, work, anything you can think of. But today he seemed very relaxed so I took the opportunity.

"Darry, I want to get a job" I said. I wanted to sound confident but it came out all wrong, like I was begging.

He put down his paper.

"Sure. Have you started looking?" he asked with a big smile on his face.

This took me by surprise. "Well, I saw a sign at the drug store. They're looking to hire someone to unload boxes, stack the goods on the shelves, things like that"

"Go for it then" he winked then went back to his newspaper.

I ran out of the house before he changed his mind. 

The man hired me on the spot when I told him I was Darryl's brother. He said he'd known Darry since he was a little boy and never knew someone more well mannered in his life. I tried to imagine Darry as a little boy but it was hard. I've seen him in pictures but it still seemed like it was somebody else.

When I came home and told Darry, he said, "Pony, if this job interferes with your school work, you have to quit"

"Ok, ok" I knew he was going to say that. I'd already thought it through. I'd do my work as soon as I came home from school and then go to the drug store. I only had to work 3 days a week. On other days I could hang out with Mark and the other guys or maybe go to the movies. It wasn't much of a life, but it was fine for now, until I could get into college and leave this place.

After a week on the job I already had to make games for myself to make it more fun. How many magazines I could put on the shelves in 60 seconds. How many boxes I could lift in one turn. I couldn't understand how people could have jobs like this for a living. It was so boring. Sometimes Mr Hill, the owner, had to go home for a little while (he never told me why) and left me at the counter to serve customers. He said he could trust me and would even give me extra for my help. How could I refuse? Besides, dealing with money was better than dealing with boxes and I got a good view of the sunset from the counter.

I would sit there watching the people that came in. I'd try to guess their story. If they were married or had children, why they were buying the things they were buying. I had to do that or I'd go insane.

I was carefully lining up the cigarettes behind the counter when M&M walked in. He looked different somehow. Older. He was just 13, yet he looked like he was weighed down with worries.

"Hey what are you doing out so late?" I asked M&M when he came over to the counter. It was almost 7pm but it was already dark.

"Just wandering the streets"

"You should be at home" kids his ages shouldn't be out by themselves.

"No" he said quickly. Then he smiled, "I'm sick of home. Can I stay here for a while? I'm just waiting for someone" he walked over to the magazine stand and flipped through one.

I decided to take a risk. "How's your sister?"

He didn't look up from the magazine.

"She's ok. She's with Bryon Douglas. They're always together."

"Oh" I said.

Why did I ask?

After he finished flipping through all of the magazines on the stand, he came over to the counter picking up a pack of M&Ms on the way.

"Just this thanks" he said, "I better go. bye"

I have no idea what M&M's dad does for a living so forgive me if its wrong. I don't remember it being mentioned in the book.