It was a typical Friday afternoon. The sun was menacing, but we're safe, Larry and I under the shade of an old Molave tree. I've abducted him from his tormentors, the Larry Fan Club when I thought he's about to split his face in two by smiling incessantly at them.
I was leaning against the sturdy bough of the tree and he was lying on the soft bermudagrass, half-asleep listening to my walkman. He's developed a kind of liking to my playlist.
"Do you have plans for this weekend?" He asked with eyes still close. His guttural voice dragged in his throat.
"Nah..." I responded nonchalantly.
"Wanna hang-out with me?" He followed through coyly.
"Where...?"
"In my room..."
"What are we gonna do in your room Larry?"
"Things?"
"Things? What things...like smile rehearsals?" I asked.
He chuckled softly.
"My smiles ain't that bad you know...!"
It's perfect...
"Your little Larry Fan Club sure likes it..."
"Don't be jealous, you know I only have one best friend..."
"And who would that be...?
Said I, without looking.
"Florante Mendoza..."
"Did he consent to that...?"
I pursed my lips.
"He sure doesn't mind..."
"Well, he does..."
He rose and opened his eyes into tiny slits.
"Florante Mendoza, do you mind being my best friend...?
Said he, challengingly.
"Larry Davis, if I become your best friend...half the schoolgirls would wage war against me...I will surely be damned..."
He laughed and shook his head.
"So you're coming over this weekend, right...?"
"Fat chance...!"
"C-mon Florante...please? Mom and dad want to meet you..." he said with his odd squeaky voice.
"Don't drag your parents into this..." I said and flipped the book I was reading.
"But they do buddy!" Said he. I did not know why but I felt my cheeks burned when he called me buddy. Nobody has ever called me that way before.
"I'll think about it..."
Buddy...what did he mean by that? We're not even friends as far as I was concern. Are we?
We fist-bumped when we parted at the crossroads, one leading to the city, one leading to the hills. The sun painted the sky with blood as it retreated West.
I looked back at Larry as he walked home. His elongated shadow stretched and touched the tacit blades of grass by the river.
He turned around and screamed at the top of his lungs. "See you tomorrow...!"
"You wish...!"
I bet he smiled. But I can no longer see it from where I stood.
I wish I could.