Dex (7 page)

CHAPTER
teN

Another morning gone by and Sarah still hadn’t confirmed Dex’s friend request on Facebook. He was taking out his frustration mixing an innocent batch of chocolate cherry chip cookie dough when Alicia bounced into the room too awake for the hour. Dex thought she looked about ten years old. She was in bunny pajamas and her hair was in a messy ponytail on top of her head.

“It’s really early,” Alicia yawned. “What are you up to?”

“The usual. Making lunches. I sell them every day before I get on the bus.”

“You do? Why?” Alicia asked.

“Uh...’cause I need money.” Dex got a small bottle of vegetable oil from the pantry.

“Can’t you just ask Dad?”

“I need more than that.”

“For what?”

“Nothing. I’m just saving up.”  Couldn’t she just shut up and leave him alone? Suddenly he missed having mornings all to himself. He began greasing and flouring cookie sheets hoping she would figure out he was too busy to talk.

“You’re not going to tell me?” Alicia went to the refrigerator and nearly tripped over the wheelbarrow. “What’s this thing in here for?”

“I just told you. I make lunches. That’s how I get them outside.”

“Okay, I guess. I’m not usually up this early.” She kicked the wheelbarrow out of her way with a light tap.  “So I’ll ask you again, why do you need all this money? Why is it such a big secret?”

Alicia slammed the juice on the counter. “Oh my God! Dex, are you doing drugs?” She was near tears. “Because if that’s why you need money, I’ll kill you way before they will.”

“Leesh, did you leave your brain in L.A.?” Dex handed her a juice glass. “No. The closest I’ve come to doing drugs is sitting with Kyle when he’s popping Tums, which he says taste like moldy chalk. But thanks for thinking I’m that dumb.”

“I’m sorry. Of course you wouldn’t be that stupid.” She poured herself a glass of juice. “I’ve got it. You’re finally getting that ice cream machine you always wanted for your bedroom.”

“That’s not it either.” Dex was rolling the dough he prepared into small round balls about the size of a walnut and was placing each on the pans.

“When I was your age,” Alicia recalled, “I was babysitting for a nose job.”

“Must’ve been a scary-looking baby.”

“For my face, genius.”

“Guess you didn’t find enough kids to watch.” Dex laughed earning what he thought was the upper hand in this match.

“Shut up, Dex-lax.”

“Go away,” Dex finally said, “you’re making me late.” He put two pans in the oven.

“I don’t get it. I thought you could tell me anything,” Alicia sighed.

“Oh fine, just don’t tell anyone or I’ll post videos of you snoring on YouTube.” Dex took a deep breath. “You know those infomercials for the
Gymbuff
2000?”

“Uh huh. The guy looks like ‘The Terminator’ on steroids.”

“Right--”

“What- you think you’re too skinny or something?”

“Well, look at me.” Dex turned around in a slow circle.

“Dex, you’re twelve. You look fine. I’d even say you’re cute.”

“Thanks, but I don’t want to look fine or cute. I want to look like the guy everyone chooses first in gym. I’m sick of people feeling like they have to hold me down when it gets windy.”

“Dex, I’ve seen guys smaller than you.”

“Maybe, but yesterday when I was climbing the ropes, I almost lost my shorts. The girl next to me was practically talking to my butt. And she’ll never like me.” Dex kicked the garbage pail. “Because her boyfriend is a wrestler. And I can never be a wrestler because no matter how hard I try, I can’t make weight.” He shoveled down a huge cookie letting chunks overflow from his mouth.

“I’m a loser,” Dex moped. “Most of the time no one even notices me because they don’t see me there.” He checked the oven. “But that’s gonna change. I’m getting the Gymbuff even if it costs as much as a car. I have to.”

Alicia gave Dex a small but consoling hug.  “I had no clue. I’m sorry. Can I help?”

“Not really, but you can spread some
aioli
on that
ciabatta
.”

“So...what are we making?” Alicia took an approving lick of the spread.

“Sandwiches for my regulars. But, I’m always trying out new stuff, like this.” He pointed to an interesting pile of meat, cheese, and grilled vegetables on a platter.

“That looks great.”

“Thanks, it’s a work in progress.”

Those words buzzed in Alicia’s head and she suddenly jumped up and rushed out of the room.

“Where are you going?” Dex was now talking to the air.

Moments later Alicia returned with Poppy’s movie camera and began filming Dex’s preparations.

“Dex, you really are a genius. Don’t pay any attention to me. Just keep working. Like I’m not here.” Alicia toyed with the camera’s control panel.

“But you
are
here.”

“I know! You’re my documentary.” Alicia was filming him at every angle.

“I am? Okay. I guess that’s kinda cool.”

Unsure of how to work the camera, Alicia caught Dex in an extreme close-up. She accidentally zoomed into his ears, his nostrils, and his mouth while he was taste-testing his spinach dip. By the time Alicia figured out how to use the buttons, Dex was hauling the wheelbarrow onto the lawn to set up for the morning shift.

“Damn! The battery’s dead. Good thing I just saw a new one in the attic. Don’t move.”

Dex froze in place playfully for a few seconds as Alicia dashed into the house. He was setting up sandwiches when someone unfamiliar approached him.

“How ya doin’ mate?” said an Australian accent. “I’m not even sure if I’m in the right place.” He looked at a hand-scribbled note. “I’m looking for a store called ‘Dex-something?’ My uncle sent me...to pick up a sandwich?”

“Who’s your uncle?”

“Clive Kent. He works in construction.”

“You have the right address,” Dex nodded. “Clive gets the sliced ham and cheddar with minced apricot and mustard glaze on a Kaiser roll.” Dex prepared his order.

“Tell your uncle today’s cookie is chocolate cherry chip. It’ll make his day.”

Jazz walked off to the side, took out his cell phone and texted the message. He was facing away from the house when Alicia came back ready to work. She had just begun to film when her camera caught another face in the frame.

“Hey there!” Jazz’s eyes widened.

“Whoa! Hi!” Alicia yelped in shock and quickly turned off the camera. “I totally wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“Ditto,” Jazz chuckled. “So, why are you here?”

Dex gave Alicia a quick wink the moment he saw her blush. He started helping customers as a small line formed and was hoping Kyle would show up before the crowd got too busy for him to handle on his own.

Alicia couldn’t contain her embarrassment. “Here?” she giggled nervously and pointed to Dex. “He’s my brother. And, and usually, I’m Dex’s sister with my hair down loose and wavy, wearing jeans, and—and-- really cool eyeliner.”

“Oh, well no worries.” He looked her over. “You’re quite lovely.”

“Thank you,” Alicia gushed.

“Your camera-”

“I know. It’s old. It was my grandfather’s.”

“I was going to say it’s amazing. My Uncle Clive gave me one that looks just like it.” He went to take the camera from her. “May I?” He examined it and gave it back to her. “They sure don’t make them like they used to.”

“You’re so right.”

“Since you’re filming, my guess is you’ve found your idea for class.”

Dex finished serving the last customer a lot sooner than he had anticipated. He walked over to see what his sister was doing and wasn’t very surprised to see her still talking to the guy. “Dex, I was just about to tell Jazz that you’re my project.”

“Yup. That’s me,” Dex sighed. “A project.”

“A superior one.” Alicia said proudly. “I’m going to film my brother building his gourmet foods empire.”

“Yeah, like Caesar, but with better dressing,” Dex quipped. “Why would he care?”

Alicia gave him a look that warned shut up just in case he was going to take his questions too far.

“Jazz is in my class.” She couldn’t contain her smile.

“Okay,” Dex said, “this is starting to make sense.”

“Well it sounds like you have a fine subject in order, Alicia.” Jazz offered. “And lucky you, you’ll never have to worry about ordering lunch.”

Alicia was floating. Jazz remembered her name.

Dex put an extra cookie into Jazz’s bag and handed him the order. “Thanks for waiting.”

“The pleasure was mine.” Jazz was gazing at Alicia as he paid Dex.

If Dex had wanted, he could have easily kept the change and Jazz would have never noticed. But, he wasn’t that kind of businessman.

CHAPTER eleven

The cafeteria was even more crowded than usual when Dex finally showed up to eat lunch. It was hard to imagine there were any students in actual classrooms. He would have been there earlier, but when class ended his Italian teacher asked him for tips on how to keep her stuffed shells from getting mushy. He didn’t mind staying after, but the idea of sitting at some table by himself and scarfing down his sandwich was not very appealing.

He gazed through a sea of people standing on line at the vending machines and was relieved when he saw Liza and Jordy wave at him from their usual table.

“What up wit you, Flour Child?” asked Jordy, chewing a wad of gum.

“Yeah. You’re late today,” Liza chimed in.

“Forgot my lab notes in my locker,” Dex explained and sat down. “Anything exciting happening?”

Liza and Jordy both nodded toward a table of geeky kids.

“Oswald asked his parents if he could get his tongue pierced and now they’re sending him to military school.” Liza took a bite of an orange segment.

Jordy popped a bubble with his gum and added, “Those folkers be jokers givin’the boy that go-by.”

“Yeah, at least I was named after a diva,” Liza boasted.

“We know, we know, Miss Liza Minelli,” Jordy sighed. “Your daddy Chris’s cousin like eighty times removed.” He popped another piece of gum in his mouth. “And don’t be singing that nasty New York, New York song again or I’m’a spit gum beebees at you.”

“Oh hush, you don’t know good music,” Liza defended.

“I sure know bad music,” Jordy confirmed. “And don’t rap a word about my dad, Liza. I mean it.” He blew a huge bubble.

“Now kids,” Dex interrupted, pulling a bagel out of a small paper bag, “Play nice.”

Liza’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped when she saw Dex’s lunch.

“A bagel?” Jordy smirked.

“Sometimes it’s nice to keep things light and simple.” Dex took a guarded bite. “Just ask poor Oswald.”

Kyle came over to the table eating a corndog. “What’d I miss?”

“Kyle, are you crazy?” Liza scolded, pointing to the greasy dog. “That thing would make my granny burp like a frat boy! Why don’t you just jump off a bridge?!” She grabbed the corndog from Kyle just as he was about to take another bite and tossed it toward a trash can a

few feet away. It ricocheted off the rim of the pail and hit Tracey Waters, the most popular girl in school, right in the center of her forehead. Everyone at her table, including Sarah, gasped as the corndog found its intended goal and sunk into the pail.

Tracey stood up, screamed a few words that surely would have gotten her detention, and scanned the room in search of the offending dog pitcher. Sarah left the group and went to speak to her gym teacher who was posted at the door on hall duty. Enlisting the rest of her entourage, Tracey stopped at each table asking for leads like she was an agent on CSI.

“Uh-oh! Dat sweetbeast on da hunt!” Jordy grabbed Liza by the arm, “C’mon, slick ya heels.” He ushered her out of the cafeteria just before they could be
questioned.

Sarah walked back into the cafeteria to get a soda and watched as Tracey and company continued to walk around in search of clues. No one seemed to have noticed the event and if they had, no one was talking. Kyle and Dex remained calm as Tracey reached their table.

“Did one of you freaks hit me with that disgusting corndog?”

“No. Why would we want to do that?” Dex asked smugly.

“Death wish,” Tracey glowered.

“No. We like life,” Kyle affirmed with several nods.

Tracey rolled her eyes like she’d been wasting her time. “Losers,” she jabbed, giving Dex and Kyle one more disapproving sneer before turning back to her crew for supportive hugs. The love-fest ended and then, as if on cue, they all spun around in the same dramatic way and walked out.

“Well this was fun.” Kyle zipped his book bag. “I gotta go. Spanish test.” He left making sure to head in the opposite direction of Tracey.

Then, almost out of nowhere, Sarah was sitting down next to Dex. He was peeling a banana and her presence made him feel awkward. Her silence was even worse.

“So...you excited about your bat-mitzvah?” It was the only thing Dex could think of that would make her talk long enough for him to finish eating.

“Yeah, it’s going to be amazing,” Sarah exclaimed. “But, I have a little problem.”

So much for that strategy. Dex looked at his banana and sighed. “What’s wrong?”

“I need a favor. And I can’t think of anyone better to ask than you.” Sarah sounded worried.

“Me?”

“It’s about my uncle, Yan Yan.”

“Yan Yan? Gourmet Chinese straight from your grocer’s freezer?”

“Yes, that’s him.”

“He’s your uncle?!” Dex grinned. “Wow. That’s awesome!”

“Nice man. Anyway, his daughter in Hong Kong went and had twins last night, a month early.”

“Congratulations!”

“Thanks,” Sarah answered, clearly underwhelmed. “But now my uncle can’t come to my bat-mitzvah.”

“Sorry.”

“Me too. He was supposed to run the stir-fry station during my cocktail hour.”

“That sounds so cool!”

“So, you’ll do it?” Sarah asked, perking up.

“Do what?”

“Run the stir-fry station at my bat-mitzvah.”

“Me?”

“Well you always look like you know what you’re doing in class. You get ‘A’s on everything you make. And my parents said they can’t find anyone on such short notice. The catering place only has guys that slice meat, serve pasta. Stuff like that.”

“I guess.” Dex couldn’t imagine disappointing her.

“Great!” Sarah got up to leave. “My parents will call you later to go over the details.”

“Sure,” Dex said, tossing his banana into the trash.

#

Everyone was in the family room watching TV, except Dex who sat at the kitchen table eating a croissant. Between homework, corndogs, and Sarah’s bat-mitzvah, he couldn’t focus on any one thing. He was still amazed at how cool his parents had been when he asked if he could work the stir-fry station. Not only did they agree, but Marla said she would go with him in case

he needed help. He didn’t think that was necessary, but Marla loved catered parties and this one
promised to be exceptional.

Alicia came into the kitchen just as Dex answered the phone.

“Hello?” he paused, “Mr. Rosenbaum?” He paused again. “Yes, this
is
Dex.”

Alicia got a bowl from the cabinet and then went to browse through the pantry for a snack. She was taking her time about it and Dex figured she was listening to his conversation.

“Sarah told me about everything,” Dex relayed, wondering what she had said to her father about him.

“No,” Dex assured, “it’s not a problem at all.” He jotted a few notes on a piece of paper. “Yes, my parents signed the forms and my mom is coming with me.”

Dex was surprised when the conversation continued. “A videographer? Your videographer broke his arm? Oh wow. Uh, no I don’t really know anyone--”

“Yes you do!” Alicia beamed.