The Neutron Show
by Gary D. Snyder
Chapter 3:
The prospect of his date with Betty that evening would have made the morning seem to drag on forever for Jimmy had he not daydreamed for most of it. He barely heard the questions put to him by Miss Fowl and his answers were far shorter and much less technical than those he usually gave. He was glad when the bell for lunch period finally sounded, partly because he had not eaten anything for breakfast and partly because he wanted to discuss the upcoming evening with Carl and Sheen. Before they reached the lunchroom, however, Nick Dean stopped to talk with him. Nick, much like the rest of the student body, seemed to know all about Jimmy's planned evening with Betty.
"Heard about your date with Quinlan tonight, Neutron," he said. "Nice going."
Jimmy attempted to downplay the news. "Aw, it's nothing, really. Just a concert in the park. No big deal."
"So what've you've got planned for the lady?"
"Well," Jimmy confessed, "that's really about it. Just the concert in the park."
Nick seemed taken aback by this. "You mean, you're just going to take her to the concert, listen to the music, and take her back home? That's it?"
"Well…yeah." Jimmy shifted uncomfortably. "Why?"
Nick shook his head. "Neutron, it's a good thing you ran into me."
"Well, we do all share the same classroom," Sheen pointed out. "The odds of that happening seem pretty good to me."
Nick ignored Sheen's comment. "Look, Neutron, take some advice from the Nickster. If the music was what the lady wanted, she could borrow the CD from the public library. The reason she's going with you is because she wants to be with you. You dig?"
"With you so far," Jimmy answered slowly. "I think."
"It means that you're the main attraction," Nick explained patiently. "You're going to be what determines whether she has a good time. That means making conversation, paying her some attention and a some sincere compliments, and throwing in a few extras to let her know you think that she's special. You follow?"
Jimmy nodded. Nick was actually making sense. "So maybe I should bring her some flowers when I pick her up, and maybe take her to the Candy Bar afterwards for some conversation and a bite to eat?"
"Now you're talking."
"And maybe…umm…you know…kiss her when I take her back home?" Jimmy's face reddened at the thought.
Nick shrugged. "Depends on how things go. Just don't try anything she doesn't feel comfortable about."
"But…but how will I know if she feels comfortable about it?" Jimmy looked worried.
"Trust me. You'll know. She'll make sure that you know."
Jimmy sighed, still looking worried. "I just don't want to offend her."
Nick smiled. "No girl is going to be offended by an honest mistake. In fact, I think they like someone who's willing to learn from them than someone who never messes up sometimes." He straightened and turned to go. "Well, good luck with your date tonight."
"Thanks, Nick," Jimmy called as Nick walked off.
"Boy, that Nick really is a pretty good guy," Carl commented as they entered the lunchroom and took their place in line.
"Yeah, he really has it going on with las señoritas," Sheen observed. "I think even I might be able to learn a thing or two from him."
As the three stood in line, waiting to be served, Jimmy had a chance to observe the other students in the lunchroom. After a few minutes he nudged Carl. "Hey, Carl, take a look at that."
"At what?"
Jimmy pointed ahead. 'At the students up at the cash register. Notice anything weird?"
Carl looked and shook his head. "Nope."
"Keep watching."
Carl watched and shook his head again. "All I see is students paying for their lunches."
"Yeah, so do I. But look at how they're paying for them. Everybody is handing the cashier exactly two dollars."
"That's what lunch costs here," pointed out Sheen, who had been listening to the conversation.
"I know. But you'd expect someone to sometimes pay with coins, or maybe give the cashier a five- or ten-dollar bill and get change, or something. But every one of them is handing her two one-dollar bills." Jimmy looked baffled. "And another thing…"
"There's more?" Carl asked in amazement.
"Yes. Listen to the cash drawer when it opens and closes."
All three listened as the next student paid for his lunch. "I didn't hear anything," Carl said. "Just the drawer being opened and closed again."
"Exactly," Jimmy said. "No sound of change jingling in the drawer. It's not natural."
"And cafeteria food is?" Sheen quipped.
Jimmy refused to be sidetracked. "Save my place, guys," he said as he headed towards the cash register. "I've got to check something out."
"Sorry, but no cuts," the cashier said as he came up to her.
"I'm not cutting in," Jimmy said, proffering a five-dollar bill. "I was just wondering if I could get some ones. My friend forgot his lunch money today and I wanted to loan him a couple dollars."
"I suppose so." The cashier accepted the note and made change from the cash drawer. She smiled. "Five dollars change."
"Thanks much," Jimmy replied with a smile and headed back to where Carl and Sheen were waiting. "I was right," he said. "There's no change at all in the cash drawer. The only money in there is a lot of one dollar bills…except for the five dollar bill I just gave her."
Sheen looked a little nervous but Jimmy was too preoccupied to notice it. "So what exactly is your point, Jimmy?" he asked.
"I don't know. It's just that this is the second strange thing that's happened today." He frowned. "Okay, maybe it can all be explained. But I keep thinking that something weird is going on. I just can't figure out what."
"Maybe it's just the first time you noticed these things, " Carl suggested. "I mean, there are a lot of things that I never noticed before but that were always there. Like, did you know that the "O" in "OF" on the back of pennies is smaller than the other letters?"
Jimmy looked unconvinced. "Maybe you're right," he admitted. "But I still think –"
"Hey, the line is moving again," said Sheen, nudging Jimmy. "We can talk about this later. Right now I want to get something to eat and find out what exactly your plans are for this evening."
The reminder of his date with Betty was enough to divert Jimmy's attention from the odd events he had experienced that day, especially as there were a number of details suggested by Nick that he had to work out. He spent most of the remainder of his lunch hour discussing with Carl and Sheen his ideas for the evening and considering their opinions on the type of flowers to bring, reasonable dessert options following the concert, and possible topics of conversation. Two topics immediately suggested by Carl and Sheen and just as quickly discarded by Jimmy were Ultra Lord and llamas, but aside from that Jimmy considered the time well spent. When the bell rang to signal the end of the lunch period Jimmy had the details for the evening worked out.
"It sounds like you're going to have a blast this evening, Jimmy," Sheen said as they headed back to Miss Fowl's classroom.
"Yeah, it does," agreed Carl.
"I hope so," said Jimmy. "I have to admit I'm pretty nervous about it." He paused and said, "Maybe you and Libby could come and make it a double date, Sheen," he suggested. "I think I'd feel a little less nervous if you two were there as well."
Sheen shook is head emphatically. "No way, Jimmy. This is your night to solo. Besides, you know the old saying that two's company and three's a crowd."
"There would be four of you," Carl pointed out.
"Oh, yeah," Sheen said. "I wonder what the saying is for four people on a date."
Carl thought about it. "That they should go bowling?" he offered as they reached the classroom.
"I don't think so, Carl," Sheen replied as they entered. "I've suggested bowling to Libby before, and to tell you the truth –" He stopped dead as he, Jimmy, and Carl froze and stared at the blackboard at the front of the room. Miss Fowl and the rest of the class was also staring in mute amazement at the message written in large chalk letters:
THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE
End of Chapter 3.