Re: log: easy + miles; reunion
Easy wasn't real familiar with neighborhoods like this one. This one looked like something off a TV, where dads would teach a kid how to knock around a soccer ball while mom baked pie. The heat simmered off asphalt with a long, oily shimmer that stuck his shirt to his back, pasted sweat at the back of his neck but Easy felt the guy's arms tighten around his midsection and clapped Miles on the back, awkward-hard.
First time he'd hugged anyone in a while. Hugged Miles's mom, once. Felt like it was illegal, without a guard to yell. He cracked a smile, craggy in a face all lines and broad chin. Miles looked drunk, or half-way there, soggy in the heat and with beer. "Yours'n all," he said, and his hand dropped from Miles's back, like Easy didn't know what to do with it. "Face only your ma could love."
But the haint spoke. Turned out she knew Miles by name, a kind of name. Haint spoke like she was used to getting listened to, and Easy watched Miles's face clock the haint, even if he was digging in his back pocket. Fact was, you learned to watch people in jail. Faces told you a whole lot, and this one said something else. Didn't look at the haint. Didn't even twitch when she spoke.