“After all that ass kicking you should be,” Pax said, “you’d better not piss her off, Mario. I know I won’t – not when she’s carrying that umbrella around anyway.”

“Yeah, right!” she said. “Look, Pax, we’re not getting high!”

“Alright, it’s cool – ‘Just Say No’, right?” Pax said, rolling his eyes. “I’ll just see you two couch potatoes later.” He rolled his box of cigarettes up in the left sleeve of his Iron Maiden t-shirt as he walked to the exit. They left a few minutes later, heading back to Pauline’s house to listen to new wave music.

It was past midnight when Mario fell asleep on Pauline’s bed. She nudged him. “You’d better put your shirt back on. My Mom will get the wrong idea if she walks in and sees us like this.” She laid down beside him, pressing
her forehead gently against his cheek.

“What? Oh – sorry. Did I fall asleep?” Mario asked.

“Pauline?”

“Yes.”

“Do you ever think that life is like a game? You know, like Donkey Kong?” he asked.

“Never really thought about it,” she replied.