Paying for College - The Novel Page 16

  ***

  I woke up one in the morning. Drew was in a deep sleep, snoring.

  I slipped out of bed and slipped on those old, ragged clothes from the second-hand store. I also slipped a change of clothes into my backpack.

  I grabbed my backpack and removed the heavy textbooks and pads of yellow paper. I reached under the bed covers and pulled out my crowbar and pipe and slid them into the backpack with them jutting out. Then I slipped the brown paper bag over the tops of the crowbar and pipe.

  I headed out and reached the Library within thirty minutes. I entered the entrance to the enclosed catwalk on the other side of the street and crossed over to the Library’s side.

  I looked around. No one lurked around on a Wednesday night. The frat boys must be past out, granting their livers a little mercy from the ravaging alcohol.

  Reaching the mosaic window, I slid my gloves onto my hands and pulled the tape off the windowpane. I reached inside and unlatched the window and opened it. I tossed the pane of glass onto the cushioned seat of the booth, which caught and muffled the sounds of the windowpane.

  I tossed my backpack onto the booth seat, climbed in head first, and closed the windows.

  I grabbed my backpack and tiptoed to the office. I opened the office door slowly and entered the dark room. Then I closed the door. Turning on my cell phone’s flashlight, I approached the safe. I pulled the tablecloth off the safe and tossed it into the corner.

  I took off my backpack and removed the pipe and crowbar and placed the instruments on top of the safe.

  I used my index finger to trace the lip of the safe’s door.

  Crash! It sounded like someone fired a canon inside the office. Skiddy-cock! I ran to the door opened it and raced to the window. I laid down on the seat of the booth.

  Once my beating heart slowed, I rose and returned to the office. I saw my phone on the floor with the flashlight still on while the light was dimming. I picked up my cell phone, turned off the flashlight, and slipped it into my pocket.

  I turned on the office light and spotted the culprit. The pipe rolled off the safe and hit the floor. I went to work. I slipped the crowbar into the top lip of the safe near the top hinge and slipped the pipe onto the top of the crowbar.

  I pushed and pulled, back and forth several times while the safe’s lip bent out slightly.

  I kept pushing and pulling, but the lips remained sealed.

  I jumped onto the top of the safe and continued pushing and pulling, back and forth for several minutes while I threw my body weight behind the crowbar.

  The safe’s lips opened a little more.

  I slid the crowbar down several inches and continued pushing and pulling. Then I slid the crowbar father down and continued.

  After fifteen minutes of dripping sweat and exhausted muscles, I peeled the upper lip on the safe. It looks like it would take much longer than two minutes, but it’s not like I would film a video and post it onto YouTube.

  I continued praying and prying and moving along the safe’s lips until I worked on the area where the bars slid across the safe. Finally, after thirty minutes, the safe’s door opened slightly. After another twenty minutes of exhaustion and sweat, the safe’s door squeaked opened.

  I dropped the crowbar and pipe onto the floor and slipped on my gloves. Then I kneeled and opened the door all the way.

  I pulled out folders and documents until I came across a manila envelope. I tore it opened and revealed a stack of cash and checks. I dumped the envelope’s contents onto the floor and sorted the cash from the checks. Then I shoved the money into my pocket. Making sure I didn’t miss anything, I shoved the crowbar and pipe onto my backpack, and fitted the paper bag over them. I slung the backpack over my shoulder.

  My phone started ringing, and I pulled it out – Phaedra was calling.

  I answered, “Hey girl. How are you?”

  “I’m fine. What’re doing?”

  “Oh, not too much. Just writing my essay for English.”

  “Really. I just wanted to know. Do you miss me?”

  “Of course. I miss holding you in my arms, I miss the sweetness of your lips. I miss -”

  “Do you want to come over?”

  “Oh, I really want to see you. But this English assignment. I must finish it by tomorrow.”

  “Ah. That’s a pity.”

  “You know. This assignment is not that important. How about we meet in an hour?” Of course, I thought if I’m not in jail by then.

  “Okay. Just come to my neighbor’s house.”

  “I’ll see you shortly.”

  “Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  I slipped the phone into my pocket. I rose, shut the light off, and entered the bar area. Brothers, would you believe my cell phone started ringing again. “What the fuck?” I mumbled.

  I pulled out my phone, “Hello.”

  “Hey Jax. Where are you?” Drew asked.

  “Hey dude. I’m a little busy at the moment.”

  “What’re doing?”

  “I’m entertaining a certain female species.”

  “Oh, cool. Do you think she can hook me up with one of the friends?”

  “Let me ask her. And I’ll get back to you, okay.”

  I hung up and returned the phone to my pocket. I went behind the bar and grabbed a can of coke. I flipped the tab back and popped it open. I gulped the entire contents in one gulp. Then I slip the empty can into my backpack. I grabbed another coke and slipped it into my backpack as well.

  I approached the window and looked out. A dense fog covered the landscape.

  I opened the window, climbed onto the booth, and was ready to jump out. Then I remembered the glass pane that was taped together. I looked around for it and saw a reflection on the booth’s seat. I grabbed it and slipped into my backpack as well.

  I climbed onto the booth’s seat and jumped out the window head first. Then I turned around and closed the window but did not latch it. Besides, the owner will know he was robbed tomorrow anyway.

  I pulled off my gloves and tucked them into my jacket pockets. Then I peeled the remaining scotch tape from the window. I slipped that ball of used scotch tape into my jacket pocket. I almost turned to leave and then remembered to use my coat sleeve to wipe any incriminating fingerprints off the window.

  I walked along the catwalk and descended the stairs on the other side. I avoided the main road that cut through the center of town. I turned right and then left and walked along a side street that followed along the river. Occasionally, glittering twinkles of light from the river filled the empty spaces between the buildings.

  Two blocks ahead, flashing red lights cut through the darkness.

  I turned left at the next alley and ducked behind a corner.

  “Buddy, could you spare some change?”

  “What?” Then I looked down.

  Two white eyes stared up at me.

  A homeless man stretched out an opened hand. “Please. I’m hungry.”

  I slipped my hand into my front pocket and pulled a bill out and handed it to him.

  “Thanks buddy.”

  I peered around the corner, and the neighborhood became dark again.

  I walked along the desolate street and approached the suspension bridge that connected the two halves of the city. I climbed a steep hill to main street and walked on the sidewalk onto the bridge.

  I walked to the mid-point and looked around.

  Approaching headlights sliced through the darkness while the car rattled from the heavy bass of rap music.

  I watched as it drove by while four shadowy faces stared back at me. Perhaps, they thought they would watch a Wednesday show as a depressed student plunged to their death from the bridge. Sorry brothers, but tonight is not the night, or at least I’m not jumping.

  Once the music faded into the night, I slipped off my backpack. I crumpled the brown paper bag and tossed it into the river. Then I pulled the crowbar and pipe out and tossed them into
the dark waters below.

  Plopped.

  Then I pulled out the windowpane with scotch tape holding it together. I let it slide from my hands into the water.

  Plunked.

  I grabbed the can of coke and pulled the tab back. Oh brothers, the sweet song of the soda’s fizzle beckoned me. I drank a large swallow. I swung the backpack on my shoulder and walked to the other side of the bridge to meet Phaedra.