Page 97 of In What World

“I cannot believeyou are forcing me to see a production ofGrease,” Dallas says.

He’s hitched a ride to the show with Priscilla and me, and he casts one of his most withering stares from the back seat, holding it until I look at him in my rearview mirror.

“Thank you for being so unbelievably brave,” I say. “I don’t know how you’ve found the strength.”

“You joke, but beneath your words there is truth. Playing the role of patient audience member might be my greatest work to date.”

“If you see him clapping, that’s all character work,” Priscilla says.

“Yes,” he confirms. “I have to understand how it feels to clap for something so foul. It’s important that even in my older age, I still get new experiences like this. It’s what I came back for, isn’t it?”

Priscilla reaches over and squeezes my leg. When I glance at her, she mouths,Tell him.

No, I mouth back, returning my focus to the road.

“Tell me what?” Dallas asks.

“It’s not actually my thing to tell,” I say. “It’s Priscilla’s.”

“That’s not true,” she counters. “You’re the one who got the school to agree.”

“You’re making me nervous,” Dallas says. “I hope you didn’t sign me on for another year of running the program. I know I’ve been making a fuss about you not replacing me, but that’s all an act. I don’t want that program back, and I don’t want you to have it either.”

“It’s not that,” I assure him. “And I don’t think I could legally arrange that job for you without your involvement.”

“Don’t hide behind your pretend worry of the legalities of a fake scenario,” Priscilla says.

“I’m not hiding. I’m just thinking this isn’t the kind of thing we tell him in the car,” I say.

“My therapist says the car is actually a great place to tell big news. Because then you don’t force the receiver into any kind of eye contact.”

“I’m the one who stole the costumes my freshman year,” I blurt.

Both Priscilla and Dallas say “What?” in equally disbelieving tones.

“That’s not the news she was supposed to share,” Priscilla informs him.

“I know, but it’s been weighing on me,” I say. “I had to express that before the real news.”

“Youstole the costumes?” Dallas asks. “How can that be possible?”

Priscilla relishes the opportunity to regale him with this tale, sharing it as if it’s her own lived experience. I let her,because she is the better performer and always will be, and I like the way she paints me. She manages to make me sound sympathetic, even when I don’t deserve it. She’s always ready to die on my hills with me, no matter how ridiculous.

Her telling woos Dallas, too. When she gets to the part about Lana revealing that she thought the dresses were hideous, he’s in hysterics, giving his best thundering claps.

“I’m really sorry,” I say once we’ve all stopped cackling. “I was too scared to come clean.”

“I’m glad you did,” he says. “I’ve always wondered. Never in a million years would I have suspected you.”

“Always suspect Marlowe,” Priscilla says. “She smoked pot once in high school. She’s dangerous!”

“Can I hear the real news now?” Dallas asks.

“You don’t want to reprimand me?” I ask.

“It’s about twenty years too late for that. And you two are the ones who made all the fuss about the past not controlling me. So what would there be for me to say?”

“You always manage to find something,” I tell him.