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New York City is inland. We’re not getting hit by tides here.”
    “That’s what I said to my wife,” Joey said. “But she says the whole city will erode. I guess the question is how long will it take. Weeks, months, centuries.”
    Alex smiled. “I’m going with centuries,” he said. “The Empire State Building isn’t eroding anytime soon.”
    “Tell that to my wife,” Joey said. “Meantime, I don’t see how I can stay in business, and I don’t know what else to do. Become an undertaker, maybe. But since you’re here, I should settle up with you. How long since I paid you?”
    “Last Friday,” Alex said. “I worked a full day Saturday, three hours on Monday and Tuesday, and four hours on Wednesday.”
    “That’s right,” Joey said. “You were here when the cable went out. I never did find out if the Yankees won. Okay, that’s eighteen hours I owe you for. You got all your tip money?”
    Alex nodded.
    “Here, take this,” he said, handing Alex a batch of bills. “It’s all I got in my wallet.”
    Alex looked over the money. “Too much,” he said, handing a ten-dollar bill back to Joey.
    Joey shook his head. “Take it,” he said. “I got cash at home.”
    “Thank you,” Alex said. “When you reopen, I’ll put in a couple of hours for free.”
    “Deal,” Joey said. “Look, Alex, take care of yourself. You’re a good kid, best worker I ever had. Kids like you, you’re the future. Especially now. Pray for us while you’re at it. All of us.”
    Alex nodded. “I’ll do that,” he said. “I’ll see you soon, Joey.”
    “I hope so,” Joey said. “Here’s to better days.”
    “Better days,” Alex said. As far as he was concerned, they couldn’t come too soon.
     
    Sunday, May 22
    Much to Alex’s relief, at Mass Father Franco made no announcements. After the service was over, Briana and Julie found friends and joined them. After a minute or two, Bri ran over to Alex.
    “Kayla’s mother invited us for lunch,” she said. “She said you could come, too.”
    Alex looked over to where Julie was standing. She and her friends were giggling as though nothing had changed.
    “I don’t think so,” Alex said. “Thank her for me, though.”
    “You sure?” Bri asked.
    Alex grinned. “Positive,” he said. “Thanks anyway. Have a good time.”
    He was glad his sisters had friends to talk with. It would make Monday with no school that much easier for all of them. But he was just as glad to have some time alone.
    He used the free time to walk around the west side, not sure what he was looking for. There were more people on the streets, but they seemed as dazed as he was.
    Just when Alex became convinced nothing would ever be open again, he chanced upon an open hardware store. He was taken aback by the sight of the normal: paint cans, screwdrivers, duct tape all neatly in place.
    Alex spotted a couple of flashlights. It wouldn’t hurt to have another one, he thought, in case the blackouts continued.
    “Thirty dollars,” the man behind the counter said.
    “Thirty dollars?” Alex said. “For a flashlight?”
    “I only got two left,” the man said. “Supply and demand. The last one’ll be forty bucks.”
    Alex put the flashlight away. They could live without it. But as he reached the door, he turned around. “Batteries,” he said. “You have any batteries left:”
    “They’ll cost you,” the man said.
    Alex pulled out his wallet. He had fifty-two dollars on him. “I need Cs and Ds,” he said.
    The man looked behind the counter. “I got a four-pack of Cs for twenty bucks,” he said. “Two Ds’ll cost you ten.”
    They had food, Alex told himself, plenty of canned goods, and starting on Tuesday when school reopened, they wouldn’t have to worry about lunches. But who knew when electricity would get back to normal.
    “I’ll take them,” he said, handing over a twenty and a ten.
    The man put the batteries in a bag. “You won’t regret it,” he said. “Next guy