—Walter, no puedes cerrar todas las aplicaciones solo porque te molestan.
—¿Por qué no?
—Porque los teléfonos no funcionan así.
—Deberían, Nikki. Sería mucho más fácil.
—Porque los teléfonos no funcionan así.
Le devolví el teléfono deslizándolo hacia él.
—Enséñame la foto que no podías ampliar.
Sonreí y le mostré cómo pellizcar la pantalla.
Mientras él practicaba, le comenté que el baile de graduación era el sábado siguiente.
Walter levantó la vista.
—Una gran noche.
Le devolví el teléfono deslizándolo hacia él.
—Supongo.
—No suenas entusiasmada.
—No tengo pareja.
He returned his attention to the phone.
“Could be worse.”
“How?”
“I never went to mine.”
“I don’t have a date.”
That stopped me.
“You didn’t?”
Walter shook his head.
“I planned to. I even bought a tie. Then my military plans changed. Later, I ended up in Vietnam. By then, prom felt like something that belonged to another person’s life.”
There was no self-pity in his voice.
“You didn’t?”
That made it land harder.
I watched him shrink the photo he’d just enlarged.
Then I said, “Come to mine.”
Walter looked up.
“What?”
“My prom.”
“Nikki, I’m 78.”
“Come to mine.”
“I noticed.”
“People will stare and think you’re crazy.”
“I’m sure I’ll survive that.”
His mouth twitched.
I leaned forward.
“You never got to go. I don’t have a date. Come with me. But I’ll handle the technological stuff, okay?”
“I’m sure I’ll survive that.”Walter studied me long enough that I thought he’d refuse.
Then he nodded.
“All right.”
I grinned.
“Really?”
“Before you change your mind.”
Walter studied me long enough that I thought he’d refuse.
***
That evening, Mom stared at me across the kitchen counter.
“You’re taking a 78-year-old man to prom.”
“Yes.”
“And Walter is comfortable with this?”
“He said yes.”
Mom folded her arms.
“Nikki, I’m not worried about what people will think.”
“You’re taking a 78-year-old man to prom.”
“I know.”
“I’m asking whether Walter knows you aren’t treating him like a charity project.”
“He does.”
“You’re sure?”
“Mom, he’s my friend.”
She watched me for another second.
Then she nodded.
“Okay, baby.”
“Mom, he’s my friend.”
***
On prom night, Mom zipped my dress and fixed one loose strand of hair.
