February blues

 

"You shouldn't be doing this," Gage said about the matter. Of course, he was thinking about his own life and not Alfie's, but Alfie did talk an awful lot about Oakley these days. "How does your brother feel about this? You two seeing each other all the time?"

Of course, Gage didn't want to talk about his own matters, especially with Nora. Possibly, she thought they were getting along because he never argued, but still, he felt bad. About everything he'd ever done. She thought he needed a better job than the hardware store. Even she said it was a job for teenagers and retired farts who needed to get out of the house.

Ever since she said that, nothing set well with Gage. Oh, he did his best to go on as if everything was all right. Even sleeping with Alfie usually meant a kick fight of some kind during the night.

"What do you mean?" Alfie winced about his going out with Oakley. They were folding towels and going through their undies there on the made bed. 

"You should be doing things with Boone. Not her." Gage was rather stern. He told him this was no time to be playing games.

"But..but I don't think he likes me. He just wants to be around Dad. Not me," Alfie said and Gage knew that pain. 

"OK, I get it, I can't be around my dad much, either. We might see each other once a year. He's not one of those who has that much interest in us. I always thought it was my mom's fault, but he likes to travel. He likes his friends." Gage sighed. "But you gotta be careful around Oakley. Don't make her think you two are dating. That would be so wrong."

Alfie nodded as if he knew Gage was probably right. 

"Nora wants me to take a Postal Service test," Gage fretted.