The Truth About Faking

block out the world at a moment’s notice.
    “So,” Jason jumps in. “Did you guys meet at church?”
    My dad glances at him as if he suddenly remembers two other people are also at lunch. Then he stabs at his plate. “We met at State.”
    “What, you two had classes together or something?”
    “No, Harley’s mom introduced herself to me one day.” He smiles, glancing at her again.
    I know this story. “Mom was a stalker,” I say with a giggle.
    “I was not,” Mom argues, smiling. “I just noticed your dad walking around every day with his nose in a book, and I wanted to know what in the world was so engrossing.”
    “That’s about how it went,” Dad says. “I was reading and the next thing I knew there she was in front of me asking about it.”
    “That must’ve been sweet,” Jason says. Then he glances at my mom. “I mean, you know, like a nice surprise or something.”
    “I was very curious,” Mom says. “And Stuart was very interesting to me. He was the first boy I’d met who actually thought about important things and wanted to talk about them.”
    “Important things?”
    “Oh, our purpose. What life is really all about. Spiritual stuff.”
    “Well, I’d see my friends with their keg parties, and don’t get me wrong, occasionally I’d be there with them blowing off steam…” Dad’s eyes flicker to mine as if he’s embarrassed I might learn some shocking truth about him I don’t already know. “But at the end of the night, I just felt like there had to be more to it all.”
    “What were you reading, Stu?” Mom frowns. “Rousseau’s Confessions ?”
    “Probably. Or something else I was too inexperienced to understand.” He smiles at her.
    I can tell they’re about to launch into one of their “romantic” philosophical discussions, and if we don’t dash, we’ll be stuck. I check Jason’s plate, and see he’s as close to finished as I am.
    “Hey, Mom? Dad? Would it be okay if Jason and I go for a walk? I can help clean up later.”
    Mom looks at my plate and then smiles at me. “Don’t worry about cleaning up. Your dad’ll help me.”
    I grab Jason’s arm and we head toward the door.
    “Thanks, Mrs. Andrews, Dr. Andrews,” he says as I pull it open and jog outside.
    The door closes behind me, and I let out a whistle. “That was close.”
    “What?”
    “They were about to take Navel-Gazing Lane all the way to the Meaning of Life Superhighway.”
    “I think it’s nice. Your parents really like each other.”
    “I know, but jeez. Try living with them.”
    We’re walking down the sidewalk, and I watch him slide off his tie and unbutton his top button. He stuffs the tie in his back pocket, and it hits me. I haven’t seen the Gremlin anywhere. Not even at church.
    “So where’s the monster mobile?”
    “I left it at home. We’re not that far from here.”
    I think about it a second and realize I have no idea where Jason lives. “Where is your house?”
    “Down at the other end.” He waves his hand. A cool breeze swirls around us, and although it’s a sunny day, I cross my arms at my waist.
     He frowns, watching me. “Are you cold? Want to borrow my coat?”
    “Which end?” I press, ignoring his attempt to change the subject.
    My house is almost in the center of the neighborhood, with the church a few blocks away as the actual center. At the front are the older homes that were built here first, and in the back the developers have recently expanded into what they’re calling Shadow Creek. In that part they’re building huge mini-mansions that have lawns backing up to the school’s namesake.
    “Oh, you know,” he says. “That end. It’s no big deal.”
    “Wait.” I stop walking and catch his arm. “You’re saying you live in Shadow Creek?”
    He seems a little embarrassed. “Yeah.”
    “Jeez, Jas! You could’ve told me your dad was a zillionaire.”
    “He’s not a zillionaire.” He lifts the arm I’m holding and scrubs the back of his head, looking away from me. “He just, you know. Manages well.”
    “I’ll say. Give me my ten bucks back.”
    “Okay.” He laughs softly. “I told you I didn’t want it.”
    I started walking again, one arm still crossed over my waist. Jason follows me and the soft breeze gently moves my hair across my cheek.
    “And here I was feeling bad for Mr. I Drive a Hooptie Clown-Car and not wanting to take your money.” I push my hair behind my ear.
    “Does that change things?” He catches my arm