Page 14 of Solo Stan
Elias peered around the doorjamb to sneak a glance. Dakarai’s body couldn’t have been more folded up. He must have been used to trying to make himself look small so he didn’t intimidate anyone with his height. As Dakarai adjusted his position on the box, he grew like a shadow lengthening in the sun. He was tall and lanky, with limbs like branches. He had a small head with little braids, and a big crystal hanging from his neck. His T-shirt was just a little bit too small, and one of his shoes was untied. Elias clenched his fists, fighting the urge to stoop down and tie the laces for him.
He’s really going to sit here and cry,Elias thought.Everybody wants to cry. I want to cry. You don’t see me boo-hooing.
Eventually, Elias couldn’t take it anymore. He dug around in the side pocket of his backpack and pulled out a pack of tissues. “Here,” he said, extending it toward Dakarai, his head turned purposefully toward the front of the store so as not to make eye contact. There were few things he hated more than seeing someone cry.
“Thanks,” Dakarai said softly, dabbing his face with one of the tissues. “I swear I’m not usually like this.”
“You really don’t have to explain yourself,” Elias said, clenching his jaw.
“Sorry.”
“Again with the apologies?”
Dakarai pulled himself to his feet, and Elias was momentarily surprised by his height once more. It only made him tense his jaw further.
“Did you need something?” Dakarai asked.
“Never mind, I’ll manage,” Elias replied, feeling a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite place. “Take as much time as you need.”
The door jingled with Uncle Moodie’s arrival the moment Elias returned to the front of the store.
“Morning, Eli,” Uncle Moodie greeted. “How’d you sleep?”
“I slept fine,” he lied.
“Where’s Kai?” Moodie asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
He took a step toward the storage room, but Elias blocked him. “He needs a moment.”
Moodie’s expression remained serious. “Why? Are you two getting along?”
Elias rolled his eyes, unable to hide his annoyance. “Of course we’re getting along. What do you think I did to him? It’s only been, like, twenty minutes.”
Moodie circled the counter and used a knuckle to lift Elias’s chin, his attention focused on the light bruising under his nephew’s eye. Elias instinctively pulled away.
“I’ll stay until Kai comes back,” Moodie said. “I want to see him.”
“He just had to take a phone call,” Elias said, his stance stiffening. “Whatever he was upset about has got nothing to do with me.”
Moodie raised his hands, palms out. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I just look out for him is all. He and his folks are good people.”
“And what about me? I’m not good people? I’myourpeople.”
“That’s not what I’m trying to say—what I’m trying to say is that he’s not like you.”
Elias let out an incredulous laugh. “Why don’t you tell me about myself, then, because clearly, I must not know?”
Somehow, he thought his uncle would give him the benefit ofthe doubt, but he was doing what everyone else always did.
“I’ll go, but why don’t you come over for dinner later? We’re going to talk.” Moodie clapped a hand on Elias’s shoulder.
He rejected Moodie’s touch with a rough shrug. “Do I have a choice?”
“No,” Moodie replied, and then turned to leave.
Elias folded his arms defiantly over his chest. “Who does he think he is?” he muttered under his breath when Moodie was already halfway across the street. “Are you two getting along?” he said in a mocking tone. “If Moodie wants us to get along, then fine, we’ll get along.”
Elias eyed Moodie’s truck until it rounded the corner.
