Found it
It is late afternoon and Brian has asked Gary to bring him to Javier's shop. Brian's eyes move about. He has never been someplace where the color of humans is not predominately beige. However, he is used to having his every move being watched whenever he walks on Earth. What does he care about the color of skin, humans have only one species to deal with? On his planet four different species have to get along, so the thought is quickly replaced to what he may expect to accomplish with mystery Javier.
Brian was sure it was going to be difficult to get Gary to bring him here, but on the contrary the Youth Corp staff member seemed delighted. The only thing was Gary was reluctant to bring the money that is given to each officer and staff member to spend. It is not a lot of money, but it is there for their use. It will make points with Javier if they show they will pay for what they get.
"This is it Brian," Gary points to a window that has painted on it, BEAUTIFUL SMOKE.
"Ah, Gary I thought it was against Earth law to smoke herb?" Brian asks. "I am confused."
"Yeah, it is against the law. He won't sell it in the store though. Guess, I never thought of the name before, but I only came here the first time." They both stare at the name intently with their own thoughts as to the meaning.
"What the hell do you want?" A tall and very fit black man comes out; his eyes hold a firm look. "Don't know what you want, but I ain't buying!"
Brian looks around others with dark skin have come out or stop, and stare at them. He can't help himself, and smiles. "I wish to buy. May I come in?"
As Gary reaches to his side pouch Brian stops him, and shakes his head. Pointing to the door they follow the man into the shop.
"You sure are one cocky shit. Get out of here unless you have a bunch of those helmet guys." The man says his voice hard.
"I am not sure what a cocky shit is, but if someone is pushing boundaries I would say it is you." Brian takes a long steady breath, "I simply want to speak to Javier. Rather Gary does." He looks to Gary, and to Gary's pouch, and back to Gary.
Gary opens his pouch, and shows the money to the man. "I have come to pay Javier."
"About time," The man nods to another door. "He's out back, follow me and you can pay him."
Brian begins to walk with them, and the man pointedly stops. Then he says in a hard voice, "Not you. You stay here."
This was not what Brian was looking for. He wanted to become involved with Javier so he would not have to use Gary as his go between. However, the look on the man's face says it all. NO. He can't hide his unhappy tone, "Sure I will be right here."
The smell in the shop is not of herb. He can't make it out. Then he hears a sound like a slap against something hard. The sound came from the room behind the counter. Looking around there is no one in the shop, and he has nothing else to do. So curiosity wins.
He enters the room; the room is not as small as he had assumed it to be. There is a very large cabinet, and a table and more shelves. There is a window with heavy plastic blinds. Sitting at the table there a boy about seven or eight who is as dark as the man he just spoke to. The child looks miserable so he asks, "You okay?"
"No. Go away, red suit!"
Brian walks towards him, and can see the numbers that he has been writing on paper. "Math?"
"I can't do it," says the boy.
"I like your shirt. Funny, Masters of the Universe. Does that mean you are a master of, ah math?" Brian pulls up a chair and sits down. "Why, don't you work one of the problems for me?"
"I just said, I can't do it red suit."
"Why, don't we just work on it for a bit, and then decide if you can or cannot do it." Brian says. "If that is okay with you. I have time. I guess you do, too." With that they work together on the assignment. He shows the boy a trick he used to use when he was a child. He is actually enjoying the experience. It reminds him when one of his assignments was to help those struggling with homework when he was sixteen as part of his Youth Corp services. Sometimes helping people for no benefit for yourself, but crucial to that person; well it is important for your own self-esteem.
Forty-five minutes go by, and he and the boy are laughing. Then the boy says, "Hey I am a master of math." The boy then makes a fist, "Now you do it."
Brian makes a fist uncertain what he is doing.
"Okay, bump mine with yours," They bump fists and then the boy opens his hand says, "Ka-bam." Then he laughs. "Next time do the ka-bam part."
Suddenly a loud voice, "What the hell are you doing in here!"
Brian is thrown, and not sure if he understands what has happened. He takes a quick breath, and goes for a more upbeat approach. "I was just talking to the master here. I am Brian." He stands, and holds his hand out to the man who stares at his hand for a moment. Then the man goes back to glaring at him. Finally, he lowers his hand, it was going to be one of those times. He finds a smirk crossing his face, one of those times where the only good alien was a dead alien.
"Nick he helped me with math." The boy holds up the paper he has been doing his math assignment on. "He's better at teaching this stuff then my teacher."
Nick looks at Brian and all, but snarls. "Look your thing with Gary and Javier is done. You can go now."
Brian shrugs, "I am sorry I did not mean to insult you or hurt anyone. I honestly thought I was helping." Okay, what did I do this time? I helped the kid, I didn't try and eat him.
Gary comes in smiling and laughing, "Brian this Javier. Looks like we have patched things up so to speak."
The two men shake hands and Javier says, "I was told you would like to come from time to time. Nick here has agreed. He's just a bit touchy."
"Thank you, and Nick as well." Brian says, "May I ask what do you sell here?
"Oh, this is Nick's shop. Belonged to his father. We sell tobacco, cigars and cigarettes. Not a lot of business though." Javier says, and he gestures to Nick. "He's been kind enough to allow my wife Zelda, and I to live here."
Brian nods to both men, "Thank you I appreciate this. We, as you must have come to understand are not really allowed to buy this. So if it helps, we can both get each other in trouble. Therefore, I promise I will do all I can to protect you."
Nick stares at Gary for a moment, and then shifts his gaze to Brian. As Brian and Gary walk out, Nick stops Brian grabbing him roughly by the arm. With a hiss he says, "You're the one my eyes are going to be on. Not sure if I am bringing a snake into my life, or something else. You are different than your brainless friend Gary. You don't belong here."
Brian shrugs, and removes Nick's hand from his arm. "Nothing is magic. Time shows either trust or disgust, does it not?"
Nick nods his head, "Odd way of phrasing it, but you are right."
"Then as time goes on we will each decide which it is." Brian gives him a nod, one to empathize that only time will tell if they stand together, or destroy each other in the end. Then he walks away with Gary to go back to the shuttle.