wasn’t known for his sense of humor, Pinky ribbed Joe all the time; it was her way of showing affection. But if anyone else took a swipe, watch out. Louis couldn’t hear what Pinky said to the young detective, but he saw them having a heated discussion in the parking garage the next day—if you could call Pinky chattering away and poking the big guy’s chest a discussion. Whatever she said, there were no more comments from that particular detective about Eddie and Joe.
Every once in a while, though, Louis wondered if there might be any truth to the joke. Something about Eddie made him suspect there might be more going on than the inscrutable bit that rose to the surface.
Chapter 10
At precisely 8:00 p.m., Joe stomped back down the stairs, carrying a bowl of popcorn and Eddie’s sixth and final Friday night can of Sparkle.
Tonight he also carried something else: a videotape called Funniest Ads of the ’70s, which he’d ordered from a late-night television ad. It had arrived a week earlier, but he’d been waiting for just the right moment to spring it on Eddie, which was going to be a little tricky. But just as Joe had predicted, the Mariners lost. That, along with today’s successful job and the good news about Jolie, made Joe figure that tonight was about as good as it was going to get.
No one knew better than Joe how much Eddie could resist change. But it was Joe’s responsibility to take care of his little brother. Eddie had been obsessed with the Sparkle and Shiny Gold commercials ever since Joe could remember. Although it did have the benefit of keeping Eddie occupied most evenings, Joe had never liked it.
There was no particular reason that Joe could put his finger on for his irritation. Eddie went through phases. Sometimes all he wanted to do was read. He’d ask to go to the library, and come home with either a whole pile of books or a single thick, impenetrable-looking volume. Honestly, Joe didn’t pay enough attention to know if they were history texts, math books, romance novels, or what. One detail he did notice was that Eddie never seemed to check out paperbacks, because Joe had to return them, and the hardbacks Eddie preferred were damn heavy. Sometimes Eddie would plow through a huge stack in less than a week. Whether or not he was really reading them was an open question. Other times, Joe would catch his brother staring at the same page for an entire evening.
When a book phase ended, a Shiny Gold and Sparkle phase would invariably begin. Night after night. It could go on for weeks, or even months. This time, it had been nearly three months, and it was really starting to bug Joe. He couldn’t say why, but the commercials had always kind of creeped him out. They couldn’t be good for Eddie. He certainly wasn’t learning anything. If Joe could start moving Eddie in a new direction, convince him to try watching something new, it would be an improvement. And Joe had a selfish motive. The commercials seemed to affect Joe physically, making him feel weak and sick. He could hardly stand going down to the basement when Sparkle and Shiny Gold were holding their sway over Eddie, night after night after night.
Tonight, Joe was doing his best to be cool. He handed Eddie the popcorn, blew away the ash that had just fallen off his cigarette, and put Eddie’s last can of Sparkle on the coffee table. Eddie was rewinding.
“I got you a present, Eddie. It’s a video of, like, a million old commercials.” Joe tried his best to sound excited about it.
Eddie didn’t look at him, which wasn’t unusual. But Eddie didn’t start his tape over immediately, either.
“Really, Eddie, these are great. They’re all funny.”
Eddie didn’t seem to have any response. Encouraged, Joe walked over, bent down, and popped Eddie’s ancient tape out of the VCR. He had to fiddle around trying to get the new one going, though. He was horrible with anything mechanical.
Eddie’s leg began to bounce up and down, an
Every once in a while, though, Louis wondered if there might be any truth to the joke. Something about Eddie made him suspect there might be more going on than the inscrutable bit that rose to the surface.
Chapter 10
At precisely 8:00 p.m., Joe stomped back down the stairs, carrying a bowl of popcorn and Eddie’s sixth and final Friday night can of Sparkle.
Tonight he also carried something else: a videotape called Funniest Ads of the ’70s, which he’d ordered from a late-night television ad. It had arrived a week earlier, but he’d been waiting for just the right moment to spring it on Eddie, which was going to be a little tricky. But just as Joe had predicted, the Mariners lost. That, along with today’s successful job and the good news about Jolie, made Joe figure that tonight was about as good as it was going to get.
No one knew better than Joe how much Eddie could resist change. But it was Joe’s responsibility to take care of his little brother. Eddie had been obsessed with the Sparkle and Shiny Gold commercials ever since Joe could remember. Although it did have the benefit of keeping Eddie occupied most evenings, Joe had never liked it.
There was no particular reason that Joe could put his finger on for his irritation. Eddie went through phases. Sometimes all he wanted to do was read. He’d ask to go to the library, and come home with either a whole pile of books or a single thick, impenetrable-looking volume. Honestly, Joe didn’t pay enough attention to know if they were history texts, math books, romance novels, or what. One detail he did notice was that Eddie never seemed to check out paperbacks, because Joe had to return them, and the hardbacks Eddie preferred were damn heavy. Sometimes Eddie would plow through a huge stack in less than a week. Whether or not he was really reading them was an open question. Other times, Joe would catch his brother staring at the same page for an entire evening.
When a book phase ended, a Shiny Gold and Sparkle phase would invariably begin. Night after night. It could go on for weeks, or even months. This time, it had been nearly three months, and it was really starting to bug Joe. He couldn’t say why, but the commercials had always kind of creeped him out. They couldn’t be good for Eddie. He certainly wasn’t learning anything. If Joe could start moving Eddie in a new direction, convince him to try watching something new, it would be an improvement. And Joe had a selfish motive. The commercials seemed to affect Joe physically, making him feel weak and sick. He could hardly stand going down to the basement when Sparkle and Shiny Gold were holding their sway over Eddie, night after night after night.
Tonight, Joe was doing his best to be cool. He handed Eddie the popcorn, blew away the ash that had just fallen off his cigarette, and put Eddie’s last can of Sparkle on the coffee table. Eddie was rewinding.
“I got you a present, Eddie. It’s a video of, like, a million old commercials.” Joe tried his best to sound excited about it.
Eddie didn’t look at him, which wasn’t unusual. But Eddie didn’t start his tape over immediately, either.
“Really, Eddie, these are great. They’re all funny.”
Eddie didn’t seem to have any response. Encouraged, Joe walked over, bent down, and popped Eddie’s ancient tape out of the VCR. He had to fiddle around trying to get the new one going, though. He was horrible with anything mechanical.
Eddie’s leg began to bounce up and down, an
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