Sasquatch in the Paint by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

don’t know. I really don’t. I think I joined because I was asked. I’d never been asked before, and it felt good.”
    â€œOkay, now you can check it off your bucket list and move on. You can quit, you know.”
    â€œI know. I just…” Theo watched the kids drifting back to classes. “I just don’t want to. I kinda like it, Brian. It’s hard to explain.”
    â€œIs it? Or maybe you just—”
    Suddenly a familiar voice interrupted them. “So, what are we discussing, boys?”
    Theo spun around.
    Crazy Girl.

“YOU’RE Crazy Girl!” Brian burst out. His eyes widened as if he were staring at the slasher in a hockey mask from a horror film. He actually leaned away from her.
    She laughed. “Is that what Sasquatch calls me?”
    Brian nodded.
    Theo sighed. In the presence of a girl, Brian was powerless. All he could do was tell the truth.
    She shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.”
    â€œI bet you have,” Theo muttered.
    â€œBut most people call me by my name. Which is Rain Kadinski.” She offered her hand and Brian reluctantly shook it.
    â€œBrian Horowitz.” Brian looked her over as he shook: black leather Doc Martens boots that laced to her knees. Purple-and-black-striped tights. Denim shorts. White T-shirt with the word LESS printed on the front in tiny black letters.
    â€œYour name is Rain?” Theo asked.
    â€œYup. My parents wanted to ruin my life from day one. Every time I introduce myself, I have to give an explanation. Yes, it’s my real name. Yes, I get teased. No, I don’t want to be a weather forecaster. No, my parents aren’t hippies. Just once I’d appreciate it if someone said, ‘Pleased to meet you, Rain,’ and that was that. Can you imagine if I added up all the minutes of explanation throughout my lifetime? I’ve wasted years talking about my name. Like right now, for example.” She picked up Theo’s half-eaten pizza, plucked off the pepperonis, and took a huge bite. “Jeez, I’m starving. I missed lunch.” She tossed the remaining crust back onto his plate. “Thanks.”
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Theo asked.
    â€œChillin’ with my new buds.” She laughed again, drank some of Brian’s milk.
    Brian recoiled as if she’d licked a toilet. When she put the milk back on his tray, he said, “That’s all right. You can finish it.”
    She did.
    Brian and Theo exchanged looks that said: “Who does that? Who eats a stranger’s pizza? Drinks his milk?”
    â€œWhat are you doing at our school?” Theo demanded, like a cop who’s just caught a burglar and wants to know where the stolen loot is hidden.
    â€œAttending classes, dude. I go here, too. Have been for a month. That’s why I was at your basketball game yesterday. I just got the bleachers mixed up and sat on the opposing team’s side.”
    â€œYou go here?” Theo said. “How come I haven’t seen you before?”
    â€œFor one, we’re not in any of the same classes. For another, you’re not very observant. But that’s typical for a resident of Walla-Walla Land.”
    â€œWalla-Walla Land?” Brian asked.
    â€œDon’t encourage her, Brian. Let’s go.” Theo started to get up, but Brian didn’t, apparently under Crazy Girl/Rain’s spell.
    â€œWalla-walla,” she explained, “is what they call the background noise in movies. You know, when the main characters are having dinner and discussing their relationship, but you can still hear the other diners in the background muttering and clanging their silverware. That background noise is called walla-walla. I have a cousin who’s a film major at UCLA.”
    â€œWhat’s that got to do with me?” Theo asked.
    â€œThat’s where you live, isn’t it? Both of you? In the background? A dim noise that can’t