“Hey,” he said. “Didn’t the Rat tell you anything?” “Nope.” “That’s strange.” “Really?” J stood there for a minute, polishing the glass in his hand. “I bet he wants to talk to you about whatever it is.” “Then why doesn’t he?” “He’s afraid. That you’ll make fun of him.” “I would never do that.” “Still, it looks like that sometimes. That’s how I’ve always seen it, anyway. You’re a sweet kid, but part of you seems—how should I put this?—above it all, like a Zen monk or something…It’s not really a criticism.” “No offense taken.”
