Page 20 of Personal Foul
“You okay?” I whisper under my breath to him.
He ducks his head, moving to stand while shrugging his backpack over his shoulders.
“Yeah.” He nods, giving me a half-hearted smile, turning toward the van.
Smoke billows out of the window when she rolls them down.
“C’mon, we gotta get goin’. I need to get home. I’ve been waiting on Charlie to show up.”
One hand holding her cigarette in the air, she reaches over, hitting the unlock button, and the van door slides open.
“Thanks for waiting with me,” Isaac says, one foot on the step before he climbs in. He turns back to look at us, flashing Colson a brave smile, holding his hand up to wave.
“Of course, bud! You have a good night.” Colson smiles, flashing a wave to Isaac and the woman driving.
She doesn’t bother to return the gesture, turning somberly back to face forward, rolling up the windows again.
My eyes follow Isaac climbing into the last row of the van. His half-hearted smile is back on his face, waving to us again before resting his hand under his chin as they drive off.
“Why was that so heartbreaking to watch?” Colson asks, sighing heavily.
“Because it was.”
