The restaurant was small and family-run. Mr. Álvarez knew us from the neighborhood, and when I discovered that Evan was working there, I allowed him to continue because his Saturday shifts only consisted of picking up tables, doing a light cleaning and helping in the dishwashing area.
I looked around the restaurant.
“Where did the money go?”
Evan crossed her arms.
“It’s mine.”
“Yes, it is. And you are 13 years old.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re going to know everything, Mom.”
“No, sir. But when your boss calls me because you’re trying to give an adult their entire salary and breaking dishes for it, privacy is a little reduced.”
Then I noticed something near his feet.
His backpack had opened when the bus cabin crashed.
Several envelopes had been scattered alongside a folded city bus map.
I squatted down.
Evan moved immediately.
“Mom, no...”
That just got him picked up.
He was completely paralyzed.
I displayed the map on the nearest table.
Red circles covered it.
Six, maybe seven.
Next to several circles there were notes written with the tight lyrics of Evan.
TIRES
Mr. T
HAIRCUT
LADY OF THE STORE
One of the addresses had been crossed out three times and rewritten later on the street.
Two circles had dollar amounts next door.
$180.
$65.
I looked at Evan.
“What is this?”
“Nothing.”
Mr. Alvarez made a sound of irritation.
“That’s his favorite word.”
I pointed to the circles.
“Have you been using the bus to get around town?”
“Sometimes.”
“Alone?”
“I’m not five years old.”
“You’re 13, old enough, apparently, to create a secret map of the people you pay behind my back.”
“I don’t pay anyone, Mom.”
Cal arched an eyebrow.
“You just tried to give me a check.”
“That was different.”
I pressed the word tires.
“What is this?”
Evan looked away.
Cal answered in his place.
“The Mason Street Lanter.”
I turned to him.
“How do you know?”
“Because I followed him there last month.”
Evan exploded.
“What did you say?”
Cal shrugged.
“I had already tried to give me money twice. Then he kept telling everyone he was saving for a bike. I wanted to know what the rest was spent on.”
“Did you follow me?”
“I walked behind you for three blocks.”
“That’s going on!”
“No matter!” Cal sighed. I got tired and took the bus.
The border in Mason.
