Highly Illogical Behavior(34)
“Yes. He needs us, believe me.”
“What kind of parents let their child act that way? Never leaving the house? Not going to school? Sounds like he needs a beating to me.”
“Wow, Mom.”
“No one wants to go to school, Lisa. Most kids would stay home all day if you let them. That’s why you don’t let them.”
“I told you, he has a legitimate mental illness, Mom. Be more sensitive, please.”
“They say that about alcoholics, too. They have a disease. Yeah right. The rest of us are supposed to feel sorry for all the drunks? Gimme a break.”
“You should write for Psychology Today or something. Very inspiring stuff.”
“Sorry. Well, good for you. And Clark. Just don’t get into any trouble.”
“Trouble? I don’t even think that’s possible with Solomon.”
“I didn’t think it was possible with three different husbands, but look where I am now.”
“With an intelligent, beautiful daughter and a stable job?”
“Funny,” she said. “You know what I mean.”
“Mom,” Lisa began, wanting so badly to just be honest, to tell her she had to stop looking for her happiness with these deadbeats. But she couldn’t do it. “I love you.”
“I love you, sweetie. Want me to make you some lunch?”
“No thanks. I’ve got to go talk to Janis. I’ve been neglecting her for weeks and I’m pretty sure she’s pissed at me.”
? ? ?
Janis Plutko worked in the Montclair Plaza Mall at a kiosk that sold perfume and Fossil watches. Before Solomon, Lisa would stop by several times a week and they’d eat cookies from the Great American Cookie Company in the food court and watch YouTube videos on their phones. On the rare occasion that Janis had a customer, Lisa would inundate them with free samples and usually end up talking them into at least buying something from the clearance rack. Janis always had her best sales days when Lisa showed up.
“Hey, you,” Lisa said when she walked up to the kiosk. Janis turned her way and gave a sort of half smile.
“Look, I know you’re pissed. Just let me take you to lunch so we can talk it out.”
“What’s to talk out?” she asked. “Some people just grow apart.”
“Oh my God, really?”
“Lisa, I’ve barely seen you for a month. Do not treat me like I’m being irrational.”
“Sorry. Just come to lunch with me. Can you take a break?”
She grabbed her keys off the counter by the register. “I’ve only got fifteen minutes.”
They sat in the fairly crowded food court and shared some fries and a milk shake. Lisa couldn’t get much out of Janis, but she tried her best. They’d been fighting on and off about stupid things since the fifth grade but she seemed really upset about this one, and Lisa knew she’d have to come clean about Solomon to be forgiven.
“Can you keep a secret?”
“Maybe,” she whispered, leaning forward over the table.
“I’ve been working on a project. For college.”
“What kind of project? Your cousin? Did you talk to him?”
“No. Do you remember the fountain kid?”
“Of course.”
“I found him. He hasn’t left the house in three years. I’ve been hanging out with him for weeks. He’s going to get me that scholarship, Janis.”
“Are you being serious right now?” she was still whispering, but it was getting louder with every word. “You found him? Are you insane?”
“No,” Lisa said calmly. “I’m going to save his life.”
Janis leaned back in her seat and shook her head for a few seconds with her eyes fixed on Lisa.
“Anyway, I’m really sorry I’ve been so flaky lately. But, I’ve made a lot of progress with Solomon. I think I could really be on to something here. With the right combination of game therapy and long-term social exposure, I could have him ready to face the world again by this fall.”
“Lisa . . . you’re pretending to be this boy’s friend so you can write about it and get a scholarship.”
“I’d hardly call him a boy. He’s just a year younger than we are.”
“Do you not understand why this is wrong? Because you’re the smartest person I know and if you can’t see this then I need to reevaluate a lot of things in my life.”
“I get it,” Lisa said. “But just like I told Clark—it’s a means to an end. It’s effective. If something works, if it cures him, then why does it matter how it works. He will never know and he’ll be better. At this point, finding out is the only thing that could hurt him.”
“And I guess you made it that way on purpose?”
“God, you act like I’m a con artist. I want to help him. I’ve wanted to for a long time. You remember. Now I get to help him and go somewhere to learn how to help more people. What’s wrong with that, Janis?”
“Let me meet him.”
“No way,” Lisa said.
“Why not?”
“He’s not ready. He’s still getting used to me. And he just met Clark. I can’t overwhelm him.”
“He’s hanging out with Clark, too? Geez, Lisa, what kind of therapy is this?”