Read Online Everywhere That Tommy Goes by Howard K. Pollack - Free Book Online
Authors: Howard K. Pollack
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rolling up the sand in soapy white splashes, making it look like the ocean is scrubbing the beach clean. My head is pounding, and I can’t think straight, so I take four of my migraine pills and swallow them dry. How did the cops find me? I just can’t believe this actually is happening. Now I can’t even stay here, I’ve got to keep moving.
I turn around fast to see if anyone is watching me. There’s a couple of old folks holding hands and walking barefoot in the sand. Their pant legs are rolled up, and they’re smiling at each other like they’re in some corny Cialis commercial, so I start looking around for a pair of clawfooted bathtubs. Off in the other direction, a group of little kids is playing in the sand with pails and shovels. Two women, wearing big hats and sunglasses, watch from low-slung beach chairs. I turn toward the shops along the strip and see some guy in a suit standing alone. He’s holding one of those color maps that they sell locally. He seems way out of place. He must be following me. I’ve got to find a way to ditch him fast.
I start walking along the boardwalk, away from the guy, and make like I don’t know he’s following me. At the next intersection, I cross the street and start walking past the storefronts until I find just what I’m looking for—a tourist shop that sells all kinds of clothes. I go inside, pick out a pair of colorful board-shorts, a bright T-shirt, and cheap sunglasses. I top it all off with a Quicksilver baseball cap. Then I grab a pair of beach thongs and walk up to the register, like some cornball tourist. I dump it all on the counter.
This cool-looking Goth chick, with a diamond in her nose and steel bracelets on her wrists, smiles at me.
“Is that all, or could I interest you in a surfboard?” she asks.
“Nah, surfing isn’t my thing. I’m just fine here on dry land. Water’s still too cold this time of year.”
“Not so for the hardcores,” she says, as she rings up my stuff.
“Well, I’m no hardcore, that’s for sure.” I start looking at her more closely because something about her looks familiar.
“You could get a wet suit. With one of them, you won’t feel the cold.”
“Things must be slow around here,” I answer, smiling.
“Why do you say that?”
“Only because you’re trying to sell me shit I don’t need.” I laugh.
“Just a little bored, that’s all. I mean, it’s real nice out today, but the season hasn’t actually started yet. There’s not much going on.”
There’s something about her smile that won’t let go. “Hey, do I know you?”
“Are you serious? Is that the best line you could come up with?”
“No, really, it’s not a line. You look so familiar, I just can’t place it. What’s your name?”
She cocks her head to the side and stares at me. “Aurora. What’s yours?”
“Tommy. I used to come down here every summer when I was a kid.”
“Wait a second. I’ve lived here for most of the last twenty years. I remember a boy named Tommy, too. We played on the beach together. In fact, he was my first kiss. Tommy, is that really you?”
“Well, my first kiss was here in Cape May, but it was with a girl named Alice.”
“Holy shit, it is you! I’m Alice, I mean, I used to be—before I changed my name.”
“You changed your name? Why?”
“We used to go to Alaska sometimes. My father worked for an oil company. And when he traveled up there he took me with him every so often. He always told me that I was the light of his life. Some nights, we would sit together on the porch watching these crazy, colorful lights flash across the sky. My dad told me that it was the Aurora Borealis and there was nothing better than seeing it live. We truly were lucky enough to witness the phenomenon first hand. He died suddenly one day, and it turned my whole world upside-down.”
“And changing your name made you feel better?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Yes, and it keeps his memory alive inside
I turn around fast to see if anyone is watching me. There’s a couple of old folks holding hands and walking barefoot in the sand. Their pant legs are rolled up, and they’re smiling at each other like they’re in some corny Cialis commercial, so I start looking around for a pair of clawfooted bathtubs. Off in the other direction, a group of little kids is playing in the sand with pails and shovels. Two women, wearing big hats and sunglasses, watch from low-slung beach chairs. I turn toward the shops along the strip and see some guy in a suit standing alone. He’s holding one of those color maps that they sell locally. He seems way out of place. He must be following me. I’ve got to find a way to ditch him fast.
I start walking along the boardwalk, away from the guy, and make like I don’t know he’s following me. At the next intersection, I cross the street and start walking past the storefronts until I find just what I’m looking for—a tourist shop that sells all kinds of clothes. I go inside, pick out a pair of colorful board-shorts, a bright T-shirt, and cheap sunglasses. I top it all off with a Quicksilver baseball cap. Then I grab a pair of beach thongs and walk up to the register, like some cornball tourist. I dump it all on the counter.
This cool-looking Goth chick, with a diamond in her nose and steel bracelets on her wrists, smiles at me.
“Is that all, or could I interest you in a surfboard?” she asks.
“Nah, surfing isn’t my thing. I’m just fine here on dry land. Water’s still too cold this time of year.”
“Not so for the hardcores,” she says, as she rings up my stuff.
“Well, I’m no hardcore, that’s for sure.” I start looking at her more closely because something about her looks familiar.
“You could get a wet suit. With one of them, you won’t feel the cold.”
“Things must be slow around here,” I answer, smiling.
“Why do you say that?”
“Only because you’re trying to sell me shit I don’t need.” I laugh.
“Just a little bored, that’s all. I mean, it’s real nice out today, but the season hasn’t actually started yet. There’s not much going on.”
There’s something about her smile that won’t let go. “Hey, do I know you?”
“Are you serious? Is that the best line you could come up with?”
“No, really, it’s not a line. You look so familiar, I just can’t place it. What’s your name?”
She cocks her head to the side and stares at me. “Aurora. What’s yours?”
“Tommy. I used to come down here every summer when I was a kid.”
“Wait a second. I’ve lived here for most of the last twenty years. I remember a boy named Tommy, too. We played on the beach together. In fact, he was my first kiss. Tommy, is that really you?”
“Well, my first kiss was here in Cape May, but it was with a girl named Alice.”
“Holy shit, it is you! I’m Alice, I mean, I used to be—before I changed my name.”
“You changed your name? Why?”
“We used to go to Alaska sometimes. My father worked for an oil company. And when he traveled up there he took me with him every so often. He always told me that I was the light of his life. Some nights, we would sit together on the porch watching these crazy, colorful lights flash across the sky. My dad told me that it was the Aurora Borealis and there was nothing better than seeing it live. We truly were lucky enough to witness the phenomenon first hand. He died suddenly one day, and it turned my whole world upside-down.”
“And changing your name made you feel better?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Yes, and it keeps his memory alive inside
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