Though he had been asked to do something else, Noah had distracted himself looking at the shiny toys and pretty photos, not that he wouldn't buy the food, not that he would spend the money his parents had worked so hard to get on something worthless, but, once in a while, he considered going far away from that town, far away from problems, screams and–
For what have I worked every day? For the drugs you want? For the sake of the owner of that who–, his arms are waving wildly around him and his face is red and scrunched, the shadow in the wall looks like a spider while his mum is quiet but trembling, just a few seconds away from her mouth to open and for the rage rain to begin. He's not noticing, he's too angry, Noah thinks, knows. At least he gives me something nice; she takes something shiny out of her pocket and nearly rubs it in his face. From red to white, his father goes and Noah knows he is mad and then he just wants to go to his room but he can't tear away his eyes from them so . . . YOU'REAWHOREYOUCHEAPWOMANANDWHATCANYOUDOABOUTITYOU 'REALOSERJUSTLIKEMELIKEEVERYONEWHO'SSTUCKINTHISHELLHOLEDOYOUWANTHIMTOHEARSHUTUPAT LEASTDOTHATYOUTRAMP–
"–sweetie, do you want help? Because we changed the vegetables to the other side, near the meat section, so maybe . . ." someone had poked him in the shoulder and suddenly he's looking at the clerk he always meets when he goes out to buy; her apron and her eyes and her voice have him focused on her and then he feels stupid because he's staring at her without having answered her question and probably looks like a gaping fish.
Damn. "Eh– No, no! I just– I . . . I was going right–" He tries to point in the direction of the spice aisle but all his finger points at is the laundry aisle and he turns as red as the tomatoes he should be buying.
She smiles at him unlike the people in that town should, no one could be so joyful in Lima of all places, and then she tells him where have they placed the vegetables and other things he often goes to buy. Maybe he should ask people for directions, to avoid being lost, she says before motioning for him to follow her and he does, goofy faced and only thinking of her and hope she gets out of here soon.
The giddiness lasts till he is two blocks away from his house and curiousness takes over at the sight that is his father running to the bus stop in his work clothes which are wrinkled and without the briefcase he always carries. He gets on the bus with other people, the bus passes in front of Noah and their eyes are caught on each other, they don't know– aren't sure if– this is the last time they will see the other.