Charlie only one thing went the days became this hot. They only became this hot in the summer when school was out. His parents would force him to go to the motel with them during the day. Couldn't afford daycare. Wasn't even a daycare center in town actually. The rich parents in big cities could afford that stuff. But not Charlie's ma and pa.

They at least let him watch TV all day at the motel lobby. Ma bought him a math and history workbooks that he had promised to complete throughout the 

summer

. But now it was already halfway through July. He was only 20% into the math book. Halfway through the history one. There was no way he'd make good on his promise.

Charlie's mom seemed okay with that though. She bothered him less about it. At first this was a relief. With time it began to irk him. His mind wondered why she no longer nagged about his workbooks. Did she lose all confidence in him? He still didn't want to touch the books of course, but now he felt a guilt about it.

In the summer there was nothing good on TV. Charlie didn't want to open his workbooks. Hated reading altogether. So he was stuck seeking some other stimulation. There was a 

vending machine

that dispersed refrigerated soda. Whenever a customer went up to it and the machine made the noise of slowly accepting a dollar bill, Charlie's mouth began watering.

He wanted a cold coke so bad. Something about the vending machine coke. Tasted better than the store. Ma would never let them drink anything other than a 2 liter bottle. But those never tasted as good. Charlie couldn't help but watch the customers. Sometimes they'd notice. And sometimes when they noticed, they might ask him, "hey kid, you want anything?"

This day was one such. A very clean shaven man with no hair on his head, chin, chaw, or lips asked Charlie. "Hey, kid. You want anything?"