So Tom
Lee's footsteps matched the beat of the song echoing through the streets. He was only a block away from the concert now and increased his pace, curious to hear more from the man who sang "When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose." He surprised himself by breaking from his morning routine, choosing to follow the music instead of going to the pool. He supposed some part of him was eager to find any excuse to avoid standing in front of the water.
When Lee arrived at the amphitheater, a short line snaked out of the entrance. He joined the line behind a guy about his age and a woman in her thirties who was talking adamantly to him.
"This was such a good idea, don't you think Jose?" The woman said, placing a hand on who must be Jose's arm. "Mr. Maitland is such a thoughtful man."
Jose did not look like he was enjoying the conversation. Stiff backed, he forced a smile and said, "I'm sure being a millionaire makes it easy to be thoughtful. Where's the rest of your family today, Ms. Kemp?"
"Lizzy is out with her friends, she's always with those girls, and my husband is working today. So I could use some company," Ms. Kemp said suggestively. Jose looked desperately around, but Ms. Kemp had a strong grip on his arm.
Lee, feeling suddenly brave, stepped forward, trying to look as casual as possible. "Jose!" He said, smiling brightly. "You're still going to the concert with me right? I've been looking for you everywhere."
Jose knit his eyebrows together in confusion, then a look of relief washed over his face. "Yeah, of course. Sorry Ms. Kemp, I'll have to talk to you later, I promised I'd show... uh... Tom around, he's new in town."
After moving a safe distance from Ms. Kemp, Jose asked, "So Tom, what is your actually name?"
"Lee," Lee said. "I just moved here two weeks ago".
"Bad timing, things aren't usually this morbid here. Where are you from?"
That was always a complicated question to answer. With his short chopped black hair, narrow eyes, and tan skin tone, it was obvious that he was of a different nationality. He could never tell if people were asking for his nationality or his hometown. So Lee decided to answer with both, "I was born in Vietnam but moved to Michigan when I was in middle school." He did not elaborate as to why he had moved to this town. He was not ready to think about that yet, much less voice it.
When Lee arrived at the amphitheater, a short line snaked out of the entrance. He joined the line behind a guy about his age and a woman in her thirties who was talking adamantly to him.
"This was such a good idea, don't you think Jose?" The woman said, placing a hand on who must be Jose's arm. "Mr. Maitland is such a thoughtful man."
Jose did not look like he was enjoying the conversation. Stiff backed, he forced a smile and said, "I'm sure being a millionaire makes it easy to be thoughtful. Where's the rest of your family today, Ms. Kemp?"
"Lizzy is out with her friends, she's always with those girls, and my husband is working today. So I could use some company," Ms. Kemp said suggestively. Jose looked desperately around, but Ms. Kemp had a strong grip on his arm.
Lee, feeling suddenly brave, stepped forward, trying to look as casual as possible. "Jose!" He said, smiling brightly. "You're still going to the concert with me right? I've been looking for you everywhere."
Jose knit his eyebrows together in confusion, then a look of relief washed over his face. "Yeah, of course. Sorry Ms. Kemp, I'll have to talk to you later, I promised I'd show... uh... Tom around, he's new in town."
After moving a safe distance from Ms. Kemp, Jose asked, "So Tom, what is your actually name?"
"Lee," Lee said. "I just moved here two weeks ago".
"Bad timing, things aren't usually this morbid here. Where are you from?"
That was always a complicated question to answer. With his short chopped black hair, narrow eyes, and tan skin tone, it was obvious that he was of a different nationality. He could never tell if people were asking for his nationality or his hometown. So Lee decided to answer with both, "I was born in Vietnam but moved to Michigan when I was in middle school." He did not elaborate as to why he had moved to this town. He was not ready to think about that yet, much less voice it.
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