What did this guy do that kept him always at work, leaving his son unattended? “Don’t you know that you can’t sit in the hall like this? It’s getting dark outside, and anyone could come along and snatch you.”
The kid looked even more confused. “But they’d have to know the code.”
“The code?”
“If someone was going to snatch me, they’d have to know the code to the door.”
“A minor detail,” she said with a sniff. “The point is, if they got the code, they could come in and snatch you while you eat cookies and pretend to do homework. Tell your dad that.”
She didn’t know if he heard her, because just then Martin came in, wearing his over-the-ear sound system. He saw the kid and slid the giant cups off his ears. “Bruh,” he said. “What up?” He held out his fist.
The kid bumped Martin’s fist with his. “Hi! Wanna playMine-craft?”
“Can’t right now, buddy,” Martin said. “Maybe later this week.” He glanced at Lorna standing there and shifted his gaze to the kid. “You okay?”
“Excuse me?” Lorna protested. “What do you think I’m going to do, steal his cookies?”
Martin shrugged. “They look pretty good.” He started up the stairs, then paused. “Hey, is this a Hot Wheels track? I haven’t seen one in ages!”
“Yeah,” the kid said, smiling proudly. “I lost my car. But when my dad comes home I can get some more and you can try it.”
“That would be fire,” Martin said. “But I’ve gotta bounce.” He jogged up the stairs to his apartment.
The kid picked up his cookies. “I like his locs. They’re cool.”
Lorna looked at him, confused.
The kid gestured to his own fine brown hair. “I’m going to have locs when I grow up.”
Lorna guessed he would not have them, given the texture ofhis hair, but she let him have that fantasy. “Okay, well... be careful out here. And you’d better pick up that track. It’s not allowed, you know.”
“It’s not?”
It wouldn’t be once she owned the place. “Nope.” She turned and went to her apartment. Agnes tried to get past her when she opened the door, but Lorna pushed her back and shut it behind them. She was going to melt with anxiety, right here. The authorities would find a giant puddle of sweat where she’d once stood.
A loud knock made her jump a foot in the air. Agnes started pawing the door.
Lorna looked around her apartment in a panic. No one ever came in here. She didn’t like anyone in here but her and Agnes.
She opened the door a crack, peering out with one eye while trying to contain Agnes. She expected to see one of her neighbors, but no one was eye level. She lowered her gaze.
“Hi,” the kid said.
“Hi.” She moved her leg so Agnes couldn’t get out.
“Can I use your bathroom?”
A bead of sweat dripped down her back. “Umm...”
“I really need to go,” the kid said, and began to dance around. Agnes barked again.
She did not want the kid in her apartment for a lot of reasons. But she wasn’t heartless. “Okay, but hurry. You’re about to give Agnes a heart attack.” She pulled open the door, and the kid came through, scurrying past the dog in the direction Lorna pointed.
When he emerged moments later, he was wiping his hands on his shorts.
“Hold on, kid,” Lorna said sternly. “Did you wash your hands?”
“I forgot.” He sprinted back and took longer to return thistime. Finally, he came out, Agnes trotting alongside him, looking up at him with devotion.
