The Boy on the Bridge

by Sam Mariano

dogs when you need them?” she jokes.

I get the feeling she’s used to apologizing for her husband. I get the feeling this sort of thing isn’t a rare occurrence.

Their easy familiarity bums me out even more. Hunter and I have that; he’s not supposed to have it with her, too.

“Wasn’t it your buddy Tolstoy that said ‘Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the company of intelligent women’?” I finally look up at him, reluctantly impressed. “Your behavior is not my responsibility. And don’t think you can just buy me purses and quote Tolstoy at me and I’ll like you again.” “Didn’t you get the flowers? I sent flowers, too.” “Yes. I threw them away.” “How ’bout the teddy bear?”

but then you cut in. She didn’t want to do it to you, so she called it off. I knew I

sycophantic